During any type of disaster, information from authorities is essential to planning your short and longer-term response to emergency conditions. The most simple and reliable source of emergency and disaster information is a durable radio able to receive the most important emergency stations and radio bands.
Your disaster preparation plans should include one or more emergency radios. Your emergency radio is a stand-alone device; it does not rely upon access to ordinary electricity supply or cable TV, internet, or satellite service. The key functions of your emergency radio should include reception of AM/FM and NOAA Weather Alert bands. You will also need reliable power and back-up power sources.
Our Choices for Disaster Radios
RunningSnail AM/FM NOAA Weather Emergency Solar Digital Crank Radio
This radio receives all AM/FM frequencies as well as 7 NOAA Weather channels. The radio has an automatic search function for active frequencies and NOAA alerts when activated. The radio’s alert function operates automatically when on and NOAA alert bulletins are broadcast. This radio has a built in bright LED flashlight and will charge any of your USB devices. This radio can be powered by AAA batteries, USB cable, solar power, or hand-crank charging.
Midland ER210, Emergency Compact Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
This radio receives all AM/FM frequencies as well as 7 NOAA Weather channels. The radio has an automatic search function for active frequencies and NOAA alerts when activated. The radio’s alert function operates automatically when on and NOAA alert bulletins are broadcast. This radio has a built in bright 130 lumens LED flashlight and will charge any of your USB devices. This radio can be powered by AAA batteries, rechargeable battery (with up to 25 hours of radio usage per charge), USB cable, solar power, or hand-crank charging.
Powering and Storing your Radio
Plan for the power and a back-up power source for your emergency radio to be independent of any other power source requirements for other devices or equipment. In the event of extended loss of services, your emergency radio is likely to be your single most important power-dependent asset.
Most modern emergency radios have hand cranks, which allow for wind-up power in the event all other power sources are out of service, or all available batteries have failed. Many also have solar charging capability that can be useful during daylight hours.
Your emergency radio should be stored in a waterproof container in the primary location for first-needed tools, along with emergency lighting and fire/heating equipment.
Bands your Radio Needs to Receive
During disaster-related loss of services, the AM band is generally the most reliable for emergency broadcasts intended for local instructions and bulletins. It is also essential that your emergency radio is designed to receive broadcasts from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio service. NOAA transmits National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and emergency information twenty-four hours a day at all times. The NOAA network has transmitters in all fifty states and covers virtually all of the U.S. domestic population.
The NOAA standard broadcast includes recorded information including your local weather forecast and current conditions in your local area. If you live in a coastal area, you will also receive forecasts and current conditions related to the tidal and water conditions. Most models also offer emergency NOAA notifications in the event of extreme weather alerts.
All emergency radios are not equally serviceable, and you should look beyond just AM/FM/NOAA reception when selecting the right radio for your disaster preparation.
Additional Features
You should consider what you need your emergency radio to be able to do. Generally, what homeowners will need is reliable and powerful reception of local AM and NOAA radio as the indispensable function. As you look at different radios, you will see many models offering two-way radio and shortwave reception. You may have a need for two-way communication, but if you know that your emergency plan will require outgoing transmissions, you will be looking for an entirely different class of emergency radio. Almost all home disaster survival needs only involve reliable reception of local emergency information.
NOAA Endorsements
There are different endorsement logos on certain radio models. The NOAA and National Weather Service authorize two different standards. One logo will indicate a radio has “Public Alert” availability, and another will indicate “NOAA NWR All Hazards.” The Public Alert logo indicates some higher technical capabilities, such as light and vibration services for the seeing or hearing impaired. You should look for an NOAA credential of some type on your emergency radio.
SAME
Some radio models also offer Specific Alert Message Encoding (SAME). This technology allows you to adjust your radio’s emergency alerting to be targeted to your specific geographic area in the event that you live in an area densely populated enough to receive alert messages from multiple areas.
Emergency USB Charging
Your emergency radio should be stored along with at least four sets of fresh batteries, ensuring that the batteries are safe from water also. The radio should also have an AC adapter so that you can use normal power when your house has ordinary access to your electric grid or generator-provided AC electricity. Many emergency radios have a solar charger in the event of battery failure. Any emergency radio should have a hand crank as an independent source of last-resort power. Most radios do not draw much electricity for their normal use, but you want to be positive that you have no issues with powering your radio under all circumstances. The ability to charge USB devices by hand crank, even temporarily, is an important consideration all by itself. Don’t underestimate the importance of delivering power to a child’s electronic device to ease stress and provide comfort.
Many available emergency radio models include power accessories, including USB charging capacity for your mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Some also feature flashlights or other emergency lighting, which is a simple but highly valuable add-on.
Shopping for radios of any type can result in some overkill — there are virtually endless features available, and some models have high-end enthusiasts in mind. Outline the features that are most important to your disaster preparation plan to find a model that delivers the things you need most. Most homeowners are looking for strong reception of the essential bands and reliable power, and there are a multitude of very good models covering those bases.
Product Details
RunningSnail AM/FM NOAA Weather Emergency Solar Digital Crank Radio with 3W LED Flashlight, SOS Alarm & 2000MAh Power Bank?Yellow? ?
Midland - ER210, Emergency Compact Crank Weather AM/FM Radio - Multiple Power Sources, SOS Emergency Flashlight, NOAA Weather Scan + Alert, & Smartphone/Tablet Charger (Red/Black)
MD-093-Y
ER210
- Receives NOAA stations -- This radio receives all AM/FM frequencies as well as 7 NOAA Weather channels. The radio has an automatic search function for active frequencies and NOAA alerts when activated.
- Automatic Alerts -- The radio’s alert function operates automatically when on and NOAA alert bulletins are broadcast.
- Bright Flashlight and USB Charger -- This radio has a built in bright LED flashlight and will charge any of your USB devices.
- Multiple Power Sources -- This radio can be powered by AAA batteries, USB cable, solar power, or hand-crank charging.
- Receives NOAA stations -- This radio receives all AM/FM frequencies as well as 7 NOAA Weather channels. The radio has an automatic search function for active frequencies and NOAA alerts when activated.
- Automatic Alerts -- The radio’s alert function operates automatically when on and NOAA alert bulletins are broadcast.
- Bright Flashlight and USB Charger -- This radio has a built in bright 130 lumens LED flashlight and will charge any of your USB devices.
- Large and Bright LCD Display of all Radio Functions
- Multiple Power Sources -- This radio can be powered by AAA batteries, rechargeable battery (with up to 25 hours of radio usage per charge), USB cable, solar power, or hand-crank charging.
RunningSnail
Midland
RunningSnail
Midland Radio Corporation
Yellow
Multicolor
3.00 X 1.80 X 6.10 X 0.61 in
6.50 X 2.75 X 9.00 X 1.00 in
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1
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N/A
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Pricing / Order Info
Lowest price
Lowest price + 47.8% more
35563
2580
1
90
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1
2.01 X 4.80 X 8.82 X 0.85 in
2.36 X 5.59 X 7.72 X 1.00 in
Product Identifiers
B06XZ7R128
B015QICDD2
B07GSMN6WH
B07P56CBML
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606825664740
722544757461
0606825664740
0046014752108
Model;
Part Num;
Sku;
MD-093y
MD-093-Y
MD-093y
MD-093y
ER210
ER210
ER210
ER210
Electronics
Electronics
Weather Radios
Weather Radios
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mens
