WLTX is your Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador in a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help improve the Midlands readiness, responsiveness, and resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events.
As part of that effort, this year we are partnering with Midland Radio Corporation to make weather alert radios available throughout central South Carolina. The radios will be available at all area Academy Sports, Kroger, and Walgreen stores. (A list of locations can be found below)
Why are weather alert radios important today in the era of social media and weather apps? The only effective monitor of severe weather while you’re asleep is the weather alert radio. In addition, cell towers are vulnerable in extreme weather and power outages can affect transmissions. Only weather alert radios are designed to function through severe weather even when the power is out. Examples of this are Hurricane Sandy and more recently the South Carolina Flood in October of 2015.
Don’t confuse weather band with weather alert radios. Many radios have a weather band, but these only function when you manually tune to them. Weather alert radios are automatic and will sound an alarm when a warning is issued. The weather alert radios are not difficult to set-up, but keep in mind that NOAA transmits on 7 different frequencies. You will need to select the one that has the best reception in your area.
Weather is dynamic and often changing. It is the function of the National Weather Service along with WLTX to keep you updated on changing conditions. Spring is our severe local storm season with severe thunderstormsand tornadoes frequently making their way through the region. Summer and fall are our hurricane seasons while winter is a time for snow and ice storms.
You can prepare yourself with a weather alert radio along with the News19 weather app. Download for Apple | Download for Android
List of Locations:
Walgreens:
Batesburg-Leesville:
127 West Columbia Avenue
Camden:
2407 Broad Street
Columbia:
4467 Devine Street
3501 Forest Drive
1223 Saint Andrews Road
175 Forum Drive
2725 Clemson Road
7801 Garners Ferry Road
1941 Blossom Street
1532 Lake Murray Boulevard
9001 Two Notch Road
4520 Hard Scrabble Road
1215 Averyt Avenue
Irmo:
7412 Broad River Road
1251 Dutch Fork Road
Lexington:
423 West Main Street
1903 South Lake Drive
5220 Sunset Boulevard
2480 Two Notch Road
Newberry:
3704 Louis Rich Road
Orangeburg:
1290 Chestnut Street
1106 John C. Calhoun Drive
Sumter:
1000 Broad Street
1990 McCrays Mill Road
201 North Lafayette Street
West Columbia:
1010 Old Barnwell Road
2224 Augusta Road
1537 Charleston Highway
Academy Sports:
237 Park Terrace Drive Columbia, SC
730 Fashion Drive Columbia, SC
Kroger:
3403 Forest Drive, Forest Acres, SC
7467 St. Andrews Road, Irmo, SC
10136 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC
