(MADISON) - May 11, 2011 is NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Awareness Day. This campaign encourages Wisconsin residents to own a NOAA All Hazards Alert Weather Radio, a 24-hour source of weather forecasts, watches, warnings and non-weather emergency information provided by the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Weather radios are "smoke detectors for danger." A NOAA Weather Radio with an alarm and battery back-up is one of the best ways to protect your family, especially at night when the alarm feature can wake you up during severe weather and give you and your family time to seek appropriate shelter. If there is no severe weather or emergency your radio can be switched to a silent, stand-by mode.

"Emergency weather radios save lives," says Tod Pritchard, Wisconsin Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. "The early warning of possible danger gives you and your family time to act and stay safe. It's like having your own personal emergency siren."

"We've seen in recent years across the country, and now here in Wisconsin, that weather radios save lives," says Jeff Last from the Green Bay office of the National Weather Service. "They should be as common in homes as smoke alarms are."

The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network started in 1972 and is the sole government operated radio system to provide direct warnings for all hazardous conditions that pose a threat to lives and property. There are 37 stations that broadcast weather and hazards information to the residents of Wisconsin, and over 1,000 stations nationwide.

Weather radios come in many sizes, with a variety of functions and costs. They can be purchased at most electronic stores. Most weather radio receivers are either battery-operated portables or AC-powered desktop models with battery backup. The portable weather radios are an important item to take along when you are enjoying outdoor recreation such as camping and boating. Many receivers have digital technology called Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) that allows users to program their radios  to alarm only for hazardous conditions that affect their county.

For additional information about weather radios including real life stories of Wisconsin residents who survived a tornado thanks to the early warning from an emergency weather radio, go to http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. You'll also find a Q & A section with the most asked questions about emergency weather radios. For more information, contact Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Tod Pritchard at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A weather radio is an essential part of a severe weather safety plan. Every home, school, business, and public area should have a NOAA Weather Radio.  

For additional safety tips and information, visit the ReadyWisconsin Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin ) or Twitter account ( www.twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin ).