GALVESTON, Texas – During severe storms and hurricanes, information about current conditions, forecasts, and other emergency-related information is vital to public safety.
However, one source of this information for Galveston residents has been down since March.
On March 25, a fire knocked out NOAA’s weather radio transmitter in Hitchcock. The transmitter in Hitchcock broadcasts NOAA’s KHB-40 frequency at 162.550 megahertz.
A message on the National Weather Service website reads, “We do not have an estimated time for a return to service."
When KPRC 2 contacted NOAA directly, officials could not provide any additional information on when the signal would be restored.
This frequency can be heard on special radios or scanners that pick up VHF band frequencies that make up the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network. These radios are battery or solar-powered, so the devices are included on every severe weather preparation checklist.
"NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week‚" NOAA’s website reads.
A transmitter in Tomball, KGG-68 at 162.400MHz, serves the northern part of our region, but does not reach the Galveston coast. However, this transmitter is still able to send alert tones to coastal residents.
NOAA reports there are currently 1,035 transmitters operating, with 63 listed as “out of service.” Another transmitter in Corpus Christi is also out of service. NOAA reports KHB-41 is in the process of being moved to another location, and “we do not have an estimated time for a return to normal service.”
During calmer times, this type of information can be found online or through any number of smartphone apps. For the Galveston area, listeners can also call the National Weather Service office in Dickinson for this information. However, when power and cell service are knocked out, the NOAA broadcast becomes a critical source of information.
“For Ike, we were out almost three weeks without any electricity. No cell phone, nothing. The only thing I had to communicate with the outside world or to hear the outside world was the NOAA Weather Emergency Radio,” said Galveston resident, Al Clements, Jr. “That was a lifeline, big time for me. I had no connection with the outside world, none of us did.”
Clements said that during Hurricane Ike, the NOAA broadcast also provided information on where to find resources.
“We were just running out of food, and it told us when and where to get our food from the Red Cross, and that was amazing,” said Clements.
Clements is a retired Navy man, as well as an avid surfer, sailor, and fisherman. He said he’s been listening to NOAA Weather Radio since he was 12 years old.
“I didn’t even realize how much I relied on it until I didn’t have it,” said Clements.
The Hitchcock fire marshal has not yet determined the cause of the fire at the transmitter.
