Friday, 10 February
Storms … bad weather days … the nemesis of every RVer. If we pay attention to weather forecasts, we can avoid the worst. If we have enough warning, we can move out of the way if we happen to be in the path of a storm. That’s the beauty of having a home on wheels.
But what about those sudden-onset storms that show up when least expected? Like the one that hit last spring while we were in the Outer Banks. We monitored the radar on our computer — luckily we had an internet connection; we spoke with the staff at the campground office to confirm that they were monitoring the imminent storm as well; and we were prepared to move to a cinderblock structure should the sirens go off. In the end, the storm passed to our west and north, and we just bore the brunt of some wind and rain. Those in mainland North Carolina and nearby states were not so lucky.
Being forewarned is being forearmed. So, a few weeks ago we ordered a Midland WR300 digital weather/all hazards alert radio. I won’t go into the features since the website (linked above) lists them all. (We bought it on Amazon for less than the stated price on the website.) Mui got the strobe light as well since I sleep with ear plugs.
We set up the radio at the condo and dialed in the appropriate county code. Now we wait. Don’t get me wrong. We’re not wishing for a storm or anything; that’s the last thing we want. But if the radio doesn’t go off with an alert, how do we know it’s working? That’s the dilemma!
That looks like a terrific radio! We have one in the coach, in a tote box, up on the shelf where it's absolutly doing us zero good! time to get it back out! thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteOur Brave dash radio is a weather radio and we really used it the spring of last year with all the tornados in Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. We don't keep it on all the time but we do keep an eye on the weather all the time with the computer so we can use it when things look tricky. We did find that on the road, they do the weather alerts by COUNTY so you really have to know where you are to know if you are affected.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Always good to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteWe don't yet have a weather radio, but with plans (maybe just hopes) of heading southeast next winter, and plans for sure for South Dakota this summer, I put this baby on my Pinterest list of stuff to buy for the MoHo. You always have good judgment this way and did all the research for me. thanks, Erin!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jeannie, I need to get mine out of the overhead cabinet.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of our "before we hit the road" purchases and we use it all the time. Every time we move, I look up the new county code and reset the radio. I always loved a good storm but not so much in Lucy. They sound 10x louder in a motorhome and you rock with the wind too :) I think they're a very good idea and everyone should have one.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be very interested in how well your new wx radio works. Ours you cannot dial in the country and it goes off constantly with alerts for areas hundreds of miles from where we are, no filter system by location.
ReplyDeleteIt is so annoying we seldom use it. We monitor wx on the TV and internet.
Smart! This device might have prevented the awnings of our Airstream from being so rudely lopped off.
ReplyDeleteWe have an Oregon Scientific weather radio and have used it for years now.
ReplyDeleteOnce a week, on Wednesdays, they do a "test." That's a good way to know if it's working or not.
Ours sits on the bedroom dresser and is always turned on.