NOAA Weather Radio as an emergency communication vehicle in west Tennessee

Abstract

In March 1994, a telephone survey was conducted in west Tennessee to determine the extent to which NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is used by residents of the region. The study revealed that 24.6% of west Tennessee households have NWR receivers, but only a third of those, or 8.1% of regional households, continuously monitor the service. A test alert message was broadcast on NWR just prior to the telephone survey, only 6.4% of west Tennessee households can be expected to actually hear an emergency notification on NWR. A fundamental problem appears to exist in the way citizens with NWR receivers use the service. Most turn on their receivers only when they already know severe weather is in their area. The research supports the view of NWR as communication technology with a significant, though somewhat limited, direct niche audience. -from Author