Welcome to Skagit County

August 5th, 2005

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) WEATHER RADIOS DISTRIBUTED IN SKAGIT COUNTY

The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management recently placed NOAA Weather Radios in local school district offices, city halls, and other governmental offices in Skagit County. The placement of these radios will help insure emergency warning notifications are disseminated in a timely fashion to help prevent the loss of lives and property.

NOAA Weather Radio is an All-Hazards radio network that provides comprehensive weather and emergency warning information. All-Hazards warning messages may be issued via NOAA Weather Radio for the following types of events: Flood, Earthquake, Severe Storm Event, Tornado, Hurricane, Chemical Release, Oil Spill, Maritime Accident, Train Derailment, AMBER Alert, and Terrorist Attacks.

NOAA Weather Radio is directly available to approximately 70 to 80 percent of the U.S. population. Coverage depends on the location of the transmitter, local terrain and the quality and location of the receiver. NOAA Weather Radio capability is currently available on some automobile, aircraft, marine, citizens band, and standard AM/FM radios. Weather Radios, with or without special alerting features, are available from several manufacturers and can be purchased online or at most stores carrying electronics.

For more information about NOAA Weather Radios, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS) website at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/