Governor John Engler has issued an executive declaration in observance of February 4th through 10th as NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Week in Michigan. In conjunction with national Weather Service offices serving Michigan, this is the fifth annual NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Week in the state.

NOAA Weather Radio is a service provided by the national Weather Service. It provides continuous broadcasts of the latest weather information and forecasts from your local National Weather Service office.

With NOAA Weather Radio, you will always have access to potentially life-saving emergency information. During severe weather, National Weather Service personnel can interrupt routine weather broadcasts and insert warning messages concerning immediate threats to life and property. A special alert tone can also be activated that triggers an alerting feature on specifically equipped receivers. In the simplest case, this signal activates audible or visual alarms indicating that an emergency condition exists within the broadcast area of the station being monitored. This alerts the listener to turn up the volume and stay tuned for more information.

In the most sophisticated alerting system, receivers equipped with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology allow listeners to choose which counties their radio will sound an alarm for when official NWS watches and warnings are issued. Digital coding employed by SAME not only allows for life-saving messages to be targeted to a specific area, but also can activate specially equipped radio and cable television receivers to provide a short text message identifying the location and type of emergency. SAME is the primary activator for the Emergency Alert System.

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards, both natural and technological. Working with other federal and local agencies, NOAA Weather Radio is an "all-hazards" radio network. This makes NOAA Weather Radio the single source for the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public.

NOAA Weather Radio is not just for emergencies. It is a round-the-clock source of weather reports and information to help you prepare for the day ahead. Routine weather information is normally repeated every 4 to 6 minutes, and is updated at least once an hour. The routine broadcasts are specifically tailored to the weather needs of our listeners within the service area of our transmitters. For example, during the boating season, nearshore marine forecasts are issued for Michigan recreation boaters for the Michigan nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.

NOAA Weather Radio currently broadcasts from over 450 stations on seven frequencies in the VHF band, ranging from 162.400 to 162.550 megahertz (MHz). These frequencies are outside the normal AM or FM broadcast bands.

Special radios that receive only NOAA Weather Radio, both with and without special alerting features, are available from several manufacturers. For less than the cost of a new pair of shoes, you can own a special weather radio that provides instant access to the same weather reports and emergency information that meteorologists and emergency personnel use. This information can save your life! In addition, other manufacturers are including NOAA Weather Radio as special features on an increasing variety of receivers. NOAA Weather Radio as special features on an increasing variety of receivers. NOAA Weather Radio capability is currently available on some automobiles, aircraft, marine, citizens band, and standard AM/FM radios.

By nature and design, NOAA Weather Radio coverage is limited to an area within 40 miles of the transmitter. The quality of the signal depends on such things as distance from the transmitter, terrain, and the quality of the receiver. In general, those on flat terrain, or on the Great Lakes, using a high quality receiver can expect reliable reception beyond 40 miles. Those living in cities surrounded by large buildings and those in valleys with standard receivers may experience little or no reception at less than 40 miles. If possible, a receiver should be test in the location where it will be used prior to purchase.

NOAA Weather Radio is the voice of the National Weather Services and is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It provides the most timely forecast and warning information from your servicing National Weather Service office. Please take the time this week to learn more about NOAA Weather Radio. More information is available for your local National Weather Service office, and through the Internet at the National Weather Service's NOAA Weather Radio Web Site.