Getting reliable, up-to-date weather information during threatening, critical situations is essential to any hurricane preparedness plan. The National Weather Service operates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio system across the country to provide a convenient and rapid means of receiving weather forecasts, weather warnings, and other weather information helpful to you.

Information is broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio 24 hours a day from National Weather Service Offices. Along the immediate Gulf Coast area of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, weather radio transmitters are located in Gulfport, MS, Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL. Other transmitting locations can be found throughout Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.

Weather radios can be purchased at many stores at affordable prices, and some AM/FM radios have "weather bands" to receive NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts. Look for a radio with an alert mode, one that has backup battery power and one that has the capability of receiving all seven NOAA weather radio broadcast frequencies. Some of the newer radios will allow you to have the radio only alarm for specific counties in your area. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts will include the latest information prepared on tropical storms and hurricanes by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, as well as local information on the weather, it's impact on the local area, and information from emergency management officials.