Emergency Radios For Natural Disasters and Terror Attacks

From Corey Deitz, Your Guide to Radio. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Dateline: 09/06/05

It should be obvious to anyone following the news and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina most people were terribly unprepared - even those who evacuated.

The effect of Katrina - damage, loss of life, and general chaos - has been compared to a terrorist attack and even an atomic bomb exploding.

The only communication that dependably continued after all the power grids, cell phone and other infrastructure collapsed was one radio station: WWL-AM.

The question is: are you prepared? Are you prepared for a natural disaster? Are you prepared for a terrorist attack? Any preparations you make should absolutely include a radio. But, not just any radio - one designed for emergency situations and preferably, one manufactured to operate independently from electricity or batteries.

A week after the Gulf Coast was pummled by Katrina Sfgate.com reported: "To expedite the rescues, the Coast Guard requested through the media that anyone stranded hang out brightly colored or white linens or something else to draw attention. But with the electricity out though much of the city, it was not known if the message was being received."

My point exactly.

Emergency Radios are varied and affordable. Every family should have one. Below I have put together some of the best options for emergency radios and radio/apparatus combinations you can find. If you are serious about the safety of your family, you should seriously consider these options.

Emergency Radios For Natural Disasters and Terror Attacks

(For more information and prices, click on the pictures)

HUMMER Self-Powered Radio (Buy Direct) HUMMER® radio is powered by hand cranking so you don't have to worry about depleted batteries when blackouts or emergencies hit. Just two minutes of cranking generate up to 15 minutes of radio, including AM/FM bands, 24-hour weather-band and severe weather signal. Removable LED flashlight provides up to 30 minutes of light with just two minutes of hand cranking.

Solar Am/Fm Stereo Radio Headphones (Buy Direct) Using an ultralight and durable solar module, this headphone radio recharges its NiMH battery in sunlight while you listen. When the battery is fully charged, you can listen for more than 20 hours inside or outside. A unique dual headband is comfortable and secure for all your outdoor activities. There is an internal antenna for clear reception and extended bass for great sound.

Solar Dynamo Flashlight and Radio (Compare Prices) The Dynamo Solar Rechargeable Flashlight with AM/FM Radio & Siren is a must have for every household.

Freeplay Solar-Powered Summit Radio (Compare Prices) Covers four radio bands FM AM SW and LW for local and world radio. It's powered by a rechargeable NiMH battery pack. Charge with the built-in solar panel or with the built-in dynamo crank or with the included AC/DC power adapters that include world plug adapters. An indicator light shows optimum charging.

5-In-1 Emergency Radio & Spotlight Flashlight (Buy Direct) Features an AM/FM radio, spotlight, flashing light and siren. Wake to the digital LCD alarm clock with snooze. To recharge, pivot solar cell collection panel toward the sun. Also recharges by hand crank or by plugging it into a 12v DC power socket.

AM/FM/TV And Weather Band Portable Radio (Buy Direct) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) broadcasts weather forecasts and alerts 24 hours a day at special frequencies most radios can't receive. This 4-band AM/FM radio can pick up any of the 7 NOAA frequencies as well as audio from twelve VHF TV frequencies (channels 2 through 13). You'll have a reliable source of information in emergency situations and a little radio entertainment the rest of the time.

Self-Powered Emergency Radio & Light (Buy Direct)