Weather experts advise all homeowners ─ plus businesses, schools, health facilities and community centers ─ to be alert to Central Texas’ ever-changing and sometimes dangerous weather. A special early-warning radio can help keep you safe and up-to-date on weather and other hazardous situations.

Along with reporting warnings about bad weather, NOAA all-hazards radios alert owners to such crises as threats to homeland security, terrorism, nuclear and hazardous materials warnings, AMBER Alerts and other urgent messages affecting public safety.

The radios are part of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Hazard Radio Broadcast System, a division of the National Emergency Alert System.

The radios are available at 45 participating H-E-B stores. Because of a special safety promotion, they are offered at a discount of $29.99 through June. This is the third year of the springtime campaign, during which stores sold more than 30,000 radios in the first two years.

For every radio sold, the manufacturer, Midland Radio Company, donates $2.50 to Austin-based KXAN-TV’s Make a Difference program. This puts the money back into the communities through grants to worthy organizations. So far the total donated to nonprofit groups is close to $100,000.

A store display features Jim Spencer, KXAN chief meteorologist, encouraging citizens to be aware of the weather and hazardous conditions so they can take appropriate action and be safe. Watch what he has to say about the radios. (LINK)

“It is so gratifying to be part of an initiative that directly impacts the safety and well-being of our community,” Spencer said. “This is truly the most important public service campaign I know because of its life-saving results. With our partners, we’ve been able to make a difference.”

Promotion sponsors are Midland Radio Company, KXAN-KXAM-TV, H-E-B, LCRA, 102.3 The River and KVET Austin.

WR-100 model.