Bill,
On our lake (region) channel nine is ONLY used for emergency contact.  
Channel 16 is for hailing only. My VHS has the weather channels and will  
automatically switch to it if there is a weather alert issued. It happened to us  a 
couple of years ago waiting on the boat for the fourth of July fireworks. The  
alarm went off and we just made it to our dock as the squall roared through.  
Many boaters were not as lucky. In fact, we were chased down by the CG for  
speeding in a slow no wake zone. He didn't have a clue the storm was  coming.
 
R