How Important is Having NOAA Weather Band on Your Portable AM/FM Radio During SHTF?

I'm currently re-evaluating and tweaking what's in my prepacked get out immediately pants, jacket and backpack, and I was wondering if I should carry a palm sized super light AM/FM radio that works on batteries only and does not have NOAA Weather band instead of a larger one that does for space reasons. The larger radio with NOAA has a crank and can also be powered by USB as well as batteries.
How important is NOAA during SHTF if you have AM/FM?

 

I would say it could be handy to have . How many more ounces are you adding with NOAA ?? If you're on foot , trekking thru the hills , and can have a 12 to 24 hour notice of a major storm coming thru ,, would sure be nice to know so you could find or build a nice safe shelter . JMO.

 

Ed,
Why not invest in Baofeng F8HP handheld which costs a whopping ~$60. It would give you dual-band (VHF/UHF) and would allow you all the NOAA freqs plus it works as a FM Radio (88-108Mhz) too, fits in your pocket, good battery life and you can even program it via CHIRP which is free and a great program. You would have to spend a few bucks more to get a better antenna (~$15-$20) but I think this is what you need.

Yes, I realize you probably don't have a license but you could also easily rectify that this winter (good winter project) and you don't need a license to just listen.

 

I figure the real event will be broadcasted on all frequencies.
And if it's real bad there won't a noaa.

 

a decent weather station to follow and do some predicting at home and any BOL makes sense for severe SHTF situations - never going to have the week ahead guess-a-mation of the US Bureau - but any weather determination is better than nothing >>> especially with the minor $$$$ involved ....
if you are connected by ham in a network there's always the possibility of collecting enough data for a weatherperson to make some decent scientific predicting ....

 

Will look into it, thanks

 

I just found this online which I ordered because of the size so I can carry this in a jacket pocket. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K33JX5G/?tag=survivalmonke-20

Its 3.5 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches; 0.15lb and has AM/FM & NOAA

 

Pick up a Baofeng UV5R from fleebay. FM+NOAA+Walki Talki+HAM+Small Flashlight for $25

 

@ED GEiN Even the lower wattage (5 watts) Baofeng like @BenP suggested (UV5R) would be better and costs only ~$25 as you could use it to transmit in an emergency. So, even though you purchased the pocket radio, which is really handy, I still suggest you purchase a Baofeng UV5R off Amazon or eBay for ~$25 as they are a no-nonsense must have item in crisis scenario. Actually, each member of the family should have one.

 

There is no iron clad guarantee any information coming across the radio is accurate, but you can assume the there is some one live making the transmission.
Amateur radio is some what more reliable especially if you know the people you are talking to.

 

Picked up one of these the other day?

 

Lol,This I will have to take time and figure out the book,My understanding is a call list for monkeys does exist?

 

i have a am/fm/noaa radio.i know it'll be useful in the here and now.but that's if a thunderstorm blow's in and the light's go out..if not a similar situation. but if a shtf situation happens.unless i find a station up n running.it'll be a paper weight with batteries. which is good.on account it'll recharge the batteries with the solar panel.

 

I think a scanner is a good idea as well especially as things deteriorate a scanner can do the hunting for any live signals . It may take more than one and probably a tunable long wire antenna as well.

 

NOAA gives me important tide and wind information. I have a portable radio that only gets NOAA.

During Hurricane Florence we were down to one distant FM station as most were on generator power and ran out of fuel.

When the power is out, any information is comforting. Too easy to get to do without.

 

I guess it depends on the event. in 89 rain came after the quake, not big deal right, but it adds weight to already damaged structures, concert absorbs it so may be important.