WHERE IS MY FAMILY?
Local News and Scanner Apps
How to find live local news, alerts, and police scanner apps so you know what is happening around you and your family.
Grandpa TJ’s Tip
I’ve located videos on how to find local news sources, which can give you time-sensitive information about local events that may affect you and your family. Getting that information to your family can be as simple as a Group Text to warn them of areas to avoid as they travel home.
- Grandpa TJ -
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Finding Live Local News
Local TV News: You can normally find your local TV news sources by doing a search with the phrase “{your city name} news stations”. This search should show you the local TV stations’ websites. Those sites will have pages for news, weather and sports stories, which can be useful. But for the most current information, look for a live video page where recent videos are posted. These videos are usually edited before being posted, so there is a built-in delay from the time the incidents are reported.
Local Radio News: You may also find local news radio stations by searching with the phrase “{your city name} news radio stations”. Radio is usually even more current than TV news, often providing live, at-the-scene reporting of incidents by either reporters or actual witnesses.
Disaster Alerts: Check your local government websites for city or county alert systems. Many, after you opt in, will send you alerts via text or email with information on local emergency conditions.
Reverse 911: This is another opt-in, regional alert system set up to deliver recorded emergency messages to phones located in a specific geographic area. Here in California it is commonly used to notify a community that wildfires may force an evacuation.
HDTV Antennas
These antennas bring local broadcast TV stations to your TV even if you don’t have cable TV service. Indoor antennas can be connected to most TV monitors via the antenna input and let you watch local stations without the internet.
This video reviews 5 indoor HDTV antennas which range in price from $15 to $50. However, if you are so inclined, you can actually build your own antenna. Search for “build hdtv antenna”.
Thanks to Reviews.org for the YouTube video
Where to Find Indoor HDTV Antennas
Police/News Scanner Apps
Everything from traffic accidents to civil unrest gets reported via police radio, and scanners let you hear those incidents almost immediately after they happen. The biggest obstacle before the smartphone era was that you needed specialized radio receivers and a lot of patience to listen to every call to see if any were important and might affect you and your family.
Today’s scanner apps relieve you from having to listen 24/7 by listing the various incidents from around the country (and the world) in a news or alerts section. You can then choose to listen to the live radio traffic associated with that incident.
Grandpa TJ: My favorite is the Scanner Radio app. Besides providing a list of incidents, it will pop an alert when a certain number of people are listening to a given station. I have mine set at 2,000. Whenever 2,000 or more people are listening to a station, I want to know what is happening.
This video shows 4 radio scanner apps for iPhone and Android. Listed apps: 5-0 Radio Police Scanner, Broadcastify, Scanner Radio and Police Scanner X.
Thanks to Make Tech Easier for the YouTube video
This video shows the Radio Reference scanner app for your desktop or laptop computer.
Thanks to GuruBrew for the YouTube video
So between local news feeds and scanner apps, you can be hyper-aware of your local surroundings, especially during an emergency. You will be able to keep yourself and your family members from accidentally inserting themselves into a bad situation.
Prefer a Dedicated Scanner Radio?
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