Scary stuff. In particular and in general. Sending good thoughts out to all those affected.

As far as weather radio, whatever kind you get, make sure it can accept an external antenna - then get one and use it. Many don't accept one. If you live in hilly terrain, in heavy forest or on the wrong side of certain buildings, you may find that without an external antenna, your radio can only receive signal from the weather stations on the lee side of your prevailing winds. Not a whole lot of good to be getting the alerts fifteen minutes after the storm's passed you. If you're in a valley you may not be able to get any signal at all without an external antenna.