Tool · NOAA Weather Radio

Set up your NOAA Weather Radio

A weather radio sounds an alarm the moment a warning is issued for your county, even when the power and cell service are out. Get your county's code here, then follow the steps.

Last reviewed October 2026

What you need to program

A SAME code is a six-digit code for your county. With it, your radio alarms only for warnings in your county instead of every county the station covers.

A frequency is the channel your local station broadcasts on. Every NOAA Weather Radio station uses one of the seven frequencies below.

The seven weather radio frequencies

• 162.400 MHz
• 162.425 MHz
• 162.450 MHz
• 162.475 MHz
• 162.500 MHz
• 162.525 MHz
• 162.550 MHz

Radios label these channels differently, so match the frequency, not the channel number.

How to program most radios

1. Put in fresh batteries and plug the radio in, so it keeps working if the power goes out.
2. Choose your station's frequency from the official list, or use the radio's auto-scan to find the strongest station.
3. Open the SAME or location menu and enter your county code. Add neighboring counties if you want a heads-up before storms reach you.
4. Set the alert mode to alarm (siren or voice), not silent or off.
5. Put the radio where you'll hear it at night, like a bedroom or hallway.

Make sure it works

Most stations broadcast a weekly test, usually midweek around midday. If your radio is set to receive tests, it will beep or flash during that test. Your local National Weather Service office posts its exact test schedule.

Choosing a weather radio

• Look for the Public Alert logo, which means it meets federal standards for alerting.
• Make sure it has SAME programming and battery backup.
• For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, choose a radio with a jack for a strobe light or bed shaker.
• Most good models cost about $25 to $60 at hardware and electronics stores.