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In Memory of Lahaina

August 8, 2023

On this day, wildfires swept through Maui, Hawaiʻi, claiming over 100 lives and becoming the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Many families did not receive clear warnings in time. The pain is felt across all of Hawaiʻi — and for us, it is deeply personal.

This is why KidsRadios.com exists. We believe that understanding how emergency alerts work — knowing what to listen for and when to act — can help protect the people we love.

E ola mau ka haʻaheo o Lahaina — May the pride of Lahaina live on.

Welcome to Kids Radio

Scout Edition

BE PREPARED

Your family-friendly guide to weather radios, outdoor listening, and wilderness safety.

What is KidsRadios.com?

KidsRadios.com is a hands-on weather radio training site. We teach kids, scouts, and families how to tune real NOAA Weather Radio stations, understand alerts, and stay safe during storms and outdoor adventures.

Your Mission

Learn to use NOAA Weather Radio – an essential wilderness survival skill!

These stations broadcast real weather alerts, storm warnings, and emergency information 24/7. Knowing how to find and understand these broadcasts could save lives on your next camping trip or outdoor adventure.

FIELD RADIO RECEIVER
SIG
STANDBY SELECT A STATION --- MHz
VOL

Field Station Setup (Real World)

This is similar to the real Kids Radios listening posts we use near major airports and remote areas. A handheld radio is tuned to a weather broadcast, and a phone relays the audio so our software can convert it to text and track changing conditions.

Handheld aviation/weather radio tuned to NOAA or ATIS frequencies
Phone connected by audio cable to relay broadcasts
Portable storage box / camp kit for field deployment
LIVE AUDIO Software transcribes weather audio to text for tracking

How to Use This Page

  1. Find your region (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, etc.)
  2. Look for a city near you or pick any station to explore.
  3. Click "TUNE IN" to hear the live NOAA broadcast.
  4. Listen for alerts – watches, warnings, and advisories.
  5. Practice explaining what the broadcast means to a friend, parent, or troop leader.

Bonus: If you have a real weather radio, tune it to the matching frequency (for example, 162.550 MHz) and compare!

REGION

West Coast

Pacific States Weather – learn about earthquakes, wildfires, and coastal fog alerts.

162.550 MHz KLAX

Los Angeles, CA

Southern California weather

162.550 MHz KSEA

Seattle, WA

Pacific Northwest weather

162.400 MHz KSFO

San Francisco, CA

Bay Area marine weather

162.475 MHz KSAN

San Diego, CA

Southern California coast

REGION

Gulf Coast

Hurricane & Marine Weather – great for learning about hurricanes, tropical storms, and Gulf flooding.

162.450 MHz KHOU

Houston, TX

Texas Gulf Coast alerts

162.400 MHz KAUS

Austin, TX

Central Texas weather

REGION

Midwest

Great Plains & Great Lakes – hear about blizzards, lake-effect snow, and severe thunderstorms.

162.550 MHz KMDW

Chicago, IL

Great Lakes & Midwest storms

162.550 MHz KEC63

Detroit, MI

Great Lakes weather

REGION

Mountain West

Rockies & High Country – learn about mountain snowstorms, flash floods, and high-altitude weather.

162.550 MHz KDEN

Denver, CO

Front Range & High Plains

162.400 MHz KWN54

Durango, CO

Rocky Mountain weather

REGION

Northeast

New England & Mid-Atlantic – great for learning about Nor'easters, snowstorms, and coastal storms.

162.550 MHz KHB35

Boston, MA

New England weather alerts

REGION

Southeast

Atlantic Coast & Gulf States – hear about hurricanes, tropical systems, and severe weather.

162.400 MHz KHB31

Wilmington, NC

Hurricane & tropical alerts

HIGH ALERT ZONE

Tornado Alley

Critical severe weather zone – learn about tornadoes, supercells, and dangerous storms!

162.400 MHz WXK85

Oklahoma City, OK

Tornado & severe storm central

162.475 MHz KID77

Kansas City, MO

Central plains storms

Earn Your Scout Badges!

Complete quizzes on each page to earn badges. Progress: 0 / 5.

Click on any page to start learning and earning badges!

🌺

Our Story from Hawaiʻi

KidsRadios.com was created in Hawaiʻi by a family who loves the outdoors and believes every kid should know how to listen to the sky, the wind, and the warnings. Living on the islands means living with powerful forces of nature – hurricanes, floods, high surf, and, in recent years, fast-moving wildfires.

The Maui wildfires were a turning point.

They became the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years, taking at least 100 lives, destroying the historic town of Lahaina, and leaving deep heartbreak across our islands. Many families, including our own loved ones, suffered loss, and too many people did not get clear warnings in time or did not realize how quickly the fire would spread with strong winds and dry conditions.

This site is one small way to honor them.

By teaching kids, scouts, and families how to use NOAA Weather Radio and understand alerts, the hope is to give the next generation one more way to see danger earlier and act faster. Radios are simple, battery-powered tools that can still work when cell towers, power, and sirens fail – and knowing how to use them is a real survival skill, whether you are camping in the mountains, living near the coast, or at home on Maui.

Every quiz, every "TUNE IN" button, and every practice alert on this site is built with love for our island community and respect for those we lost. The goal is not to scare kids, but to give them courage, knowledge, and a voice so they can help protect their families, neighbors, and friends when the next storm, fire, or emergency comes.

Learn more about Hawaiʻi wildfire safety

Scout Radio Skills

Emergency Weather Terms

WATCH

Conditions are favorable for severe weather. Stay alert and be ready to act.

WARNING

Severe weather is occurring or imminent. Take action immediately!

ADVISORY

Weather conditions may cause inconvenience but are not immediately dangerous.

Made Possible By

We're grateful to these organizations for making Kids Radio possible

Special Thanks to Telnyx

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Telnyx for providing the phone services that power our live radio broadcasts. Using their rapid calling system, we connect to broadcast stations and relay live NOAA Weather Radio feeds directly to your screen in real-time — helping us teach the next generation how to stay safe when it matters most.