Reddit mentions: The best weather radios

I have been posting this in relevant places to people I think might take it into consideration:

You can survival prep very quickly. Buy a water filtration system (I prefer the Platypus brand gravity filter) and at least a couple spare filters. Alternatively, you can purify water with bleach (info here). Buy at least 2 weeks of canned food that you won't touch for at least a week after the event (unless you plan to be moving). Dry beans and rice are better for your calorie/weight ratio. Buy a shotgun or pistol with a decent amount of ammo (I'm thinking 500 rounds for a pistol or at least 100 shotgun shells) and get familiar with using it safely. Cash, if cash isn't working, gold and silver ain't either. Also, a hand crank or solar battery charger, which can be found for around $20 combined with a flashlight and radio. Bam!, you're now better prepped than 95+% of the population.

Some other additional items: MEDICATION RESERVES (if possible to acquire), flashlights, hunting knife, rope, tarp, Bic lighters, padlocks & chains (heavy so wouldn't be great for travel), enough gas to drive to a location you believe would be safe, hiking backpack. US Air Force Survival Manual for reading

I recognize guns are a touchy subject with many people here, but in this day and age, I would encourage you to look at the world around us and maybe see that we could be in a more precarious position in our society than we would like. I would hope that the US would never come to a point in which gear like this might be necessary, but it is better to build dikes than just to pray for sunshine. Anyway, if guns truly aren't your thing, just don't get one.

If you do choose to become a gunowner, and you do not have experience with them, I seriously cannot overstate the importance of taking some sort of class or training with someone experienced that you trust.

This is a simplified, but relatively comprehensive survival prep guide for everything from natural disasters to total societal meltdown. I would encourage everyone to do at least some of it. The Boy Scout motto simply says "Be prepared". It doesn't say what to be prepared for.

Gun people of Reddit: I recognize a .22 rifle is probably the best for hunting small game and ammo expense/weight/availability. I also realize the AR-15 is probably your best jack-of-all-trades gun. I personally feel that a 9mm pistol or shotgun is a better option for a new gunowner to get started. We can argue about it til we're blue in the face, and I respect your opinion, but I'm not changing it.

Being in an apartment I can appreciate that space is tight. If you're looking to have enough calories to survive for a while, the all around best option is white rice. Grab 2 50 lb bags of the stuff, find 3 food grade 5 gallon buckets with lids. Dump them, put the lids on, stack them vertically in a closet. Yeah, doing them up in Mylar inside of the buckets and adding O2 absorbers is a much better way of storing them, but they'll still last for a decade or so stored this way. That's 160,000 calories stored for probably less than $50 in US money. May be more or less equivalency for you. So long as you have water and some kind of way to heat, you can enjoy nice, bland, non-nutritious calories for a good long while. Have some multivitamins and spices on hand.

Hopefully you can also have propane tanks. I'm not sure what apartments look like there, but here they frequently come with a patio and a basement storage area. If you can have propane tanks, you can get a propane burner along with a High Pressure Hose so that you can use normal propane tanks. (Note: I didn't dig too deep into direct compatibility of those two items. I just listed them as an example so you could see what I was talking about.)

Water in an apartment is more iffy. Assuming you have a bath tub, get a Water Bob. It's an easy 100 gallons of water if you have time to fill it before/if water lines go out. With more space you could do more, but once that's full also fill every container and glass in the house and cover them with cling wrap to stop evaporation. Normally I'd advise a tarp and an extra 5 gallon bucket to catch rainwater... but I'd imagine there might be the risk of airborne radioactive particles coming down so I don't know how relevant that advice would be here.

The other major thing is that you'll want to have a radio that you know will work. I'm not sure of the range of an EMP from a nuke, but it might be worth looking into that and also how to construct a faraday cage. Then get yourself a hand crank radio along with batteries and store them in there. You'll need to know what's safe and what's not, and realistically you're going to be relying on your government a bit for that. Your job, assuming you're out of the immediate kill radius, is to ensure that you and your family have water, food, shelter, and know what to do to stay safe.

So far as avoiding radiation... surrounding yourself with dirt or water are the best ways to stop it from getting to you. The deeper the better. There probably aren't a lot of options for that in an apartment complex, but knowing that is important so that you can react to whatever the situation is. The other thing is that you'll want to have a supply of Potassium Iodide tablets. If you are exposed to radiation, other than getting the radioactive particles off of you (strip clothes, thoroughly rinse off) those are your primary recourse.

Best of luck. I hope our crazy guy doesn't trigger your crazy guy into doing anything that forces you to need this.

You can do a LOT at your age, but it will be mostly research and learning skills. That's what a lot of us did at your age. Scout groups used to teach a lot more bushcraft and survival skills than they do now. Some really excellent books on wilderness and emergency survivial were written more than 50 years ago. The American Boys Handy Book (1882) is one you can download. Boy's Own Book 1834 is another. they will have information in them on how to snare animals, catch fish, build shelters, with only sticks, ropes and a pocket knife.

You can find a lot of how to videos on Youtube that will teach you outdoor craft and survival skills.

Do all the research for your family: Diagram your house and its exits, and map your neighborhood, try to get your family to agree on a meetup place outside your house in case of emergency if you get split up. ...say a relative or friends house. and then choose one outside your neighborhood, then one outside of your city so you all know where to meet.

Gather all the emergency information and contact numbers you can find. put em in a paper notebook and keep them current. Write in the Rain makes some very nice notebooks that are practically indestructible. Find out where your town's emergency shelter is.

Scan all your family's important documents, birth certificates, vaccinations, health records, insurance policies, and the med records for your pets! and put them on flash drives, keep one, put one on your parents key chain. Paper copies are also worth putting in more than one location.

Monitor all the batteries, flash lights and detectors in your house. use maskng tape and markers and a notebook to keep track of how old the batteries are. usually people change the batteries when the clocks get changed.

Start your bug out backpack, start simply - compass, maps, flash light, Swiss Army pocket knife, sweater, glowsticks, rain poncho, first aid kit, hand warmer, candle, matches. Get an old cell phone that has no service and keep it charged. put IT and its power cord and and whatever cables you need to charge it. This phone will be able to dial 911 even without a service contract. Ask for an Eton Crank Radio/Flashlight Phone Charger for a present or buy one. I like to have a seperate crank flashlight besides the radio.

In case of emergency you will probably end up in a shelter with other people. Collect all the things that will be helpful in that situation....

Shelters will have bottled water, snacks, and maybe sandwiches. You should carry hard candy, power bars and flavor packets for the water. Keep them fresh. basically take them out and eat them and replace them with fresh ones every so often.

Shelters may not have anything cool to keep you and others from being too bored, bring small games, like ones with dice -Yahtzee, card games like UNO, a book of short stories or a classic novel that can be read outloud in pieces, like Tolkien. Basically stuff that everyone knows and takes up a small amount of space in your back pack. This is something everyone forgets but will make you very popular.

Do you have pets? Pets need their own prepping..Research sites like Pets and Disasters at American Veterinary Association etc... and gather the things you need for your pets evacuation bag. Make sure you can gather it all up quickly.

There is a lot more to emergency preparedness than stockpiling food. You are very wise.

>What do you guys recommend for a lantern?

Redundancy:

• Get a good LED lantern and test it out while camping, make sure it is bright enough to let you cook in the dark and also doesn't drain batteries super quick or inconvenient for some reason. If it sucks, try a new one.
  
• Get a headlamp. If you've had to cook in the dark while camping, you'll realize how damn useful it is to have. You've got both hands to work with and you see everything you look at. Test out while camping.
  
• Some non-electric alternative
  
• I love this thing. It can be a NOAA radio, it can charge a USB device, it can be a flashlight. It can be powered by charging through USB, through hand cranking, and through solar. Loved it when I was camping. Don't even have to worry about batteries.
  
  I've discovered camping is the perfect time to test out lots of your preps. You don't know how useful this stuff is until it's pitch black and trying to fry up some burgers and also mix your girlfriend a margarita and multi-tasking. I've found some things awesome (headlamp) and some things just impractical this way. It's made me remove and add stuff to my BOB. I highly recommend taking your BOB and other prep gear camping and trying it out for real.
  
  Going by amazon.com reviews is almost always a good idea in my experience. Whatever battery lantern has 4.5 or 5 stars and 150 reviews is almost always a good pick. Buy spare batteries too!
  
  Q2: Do you have a tub?
  
  I think the main thing here is you want >72 hours of spare water already without doing anything fancy. You should have some water ready without having to filter anything. If your faucet turns off, you're not going to go start filtering ocean water. The sidebar has info about requirements, suggesting 2 gallons of water per person per day, and 5 per if it includes hygienic purposes.
  
  Chances are you'll way more often deal with not having water for a couple of days rather than not having water ever again. If you can't go a few days without water comfortably, you should focus on that. Get something to store water and fill them. Buy a few packs of bottled water and keep it in the closet. Get that waterBOB. Have at least 72 hours worth for your family just directly from stocks. After you've got that done, then maybe consider "long term solutions"... but arguably you've probably got a lot of other stuff you should take care of before that, like extra beans and rice and cans of food.
  
  I don't think there's any easy way to handle ocean => potable. Here's the thing. Let's say you'd benefit from something like that. That means you have no more water? Your city is completely water-free, as in everyone is trying to get water? Shit will get hellish. What are you going to do, go to the ocean, grab a few buckets of water and take it home? Either you've got a stealthy way of getting a lot of salt water to your house (live near the ocean?) or you are going to be noticed and people will start begging you for water for their grandmother, infant, etc. Get ready to have families lining up on your door step, begging for your help, fighting over half cups of water.
  
  My point is, if you're prepping for never having water running again, you've got a lot more to handle and it'd be absolute chaos. It'd be better to make sure you can go 2 weeks safely at home without food and water, and if you've got that covered, then you can maybe consider long term homestead craziness. You prepare for a flat tire before you prepare for lightning striking your car, know what I mean?

Never been through a storm here but just some general answers to your questions:

> Other than getting their stuff together, any special advice for pets? Shelters probably won't be open to three cats, two big dogs, and a bunny, most of whom are disabled in one way or another.

Red Cross does provide animal & human shelters. Make sure to get chips and recent pictures of your pets (and you with your pets) for when you pick them up.

> Without regular broadcast television to feed those old battery operated sets, how do you get info once power and cell service are gone?

Emergency radios. Preferably crank radios like this one: Crank Radio

> How long does the power usually stay out?

Varies on where you live but plan for about 3 to 4 days.

> How do you protect your shit if you do gtfo.

How do you protect it when you go on vacation? You secure it the best you can and just have faith people don't go full looting asshole.

> How do you deal with window A/C units?

You take them out if you are boarding up or evacuating and secure the windows. How do you handle them when you go out of town and don't board up your windows?

> At what point do you board up windows, and how?

Most cases it is plywood cut to the size of your window frame and screw them in the frame. Some houses have shutters or bermuda shades you can close to secure the windows.

Look at the used list from the universal-radio.com site. Try to ignore 1990's-era design--this is a good site that sells enthusiast and professional-grade radios. Go down and explore your options for radios within your price range.

The Grundig G8 Traveler is good, as well are many other older, tried-and-true Grundig models.

Almost anything from Crane is good. I bought one of these as a gift (actually got a lightly-used one through universal-radio.com), and it has reception like you wouldn't believe. FM was perfect, and the AM reception was so good, you wouldn't mind listening to AM music.

Sangean also makes some famous pocketable models.

Oh, and always try and read reviews on radio enthusiast blogs. Check out the comments here for some very useful commentary on pocketable radios.

edit: Here's a nice review of the Sangean DT-400W. I'd go either with it or the DT-200VX if you're looking for something that's pocketable.

https://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/splitters-c159/hdmi-c162

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Powered-Converter-Support-Projector/dp/B07KZMTQMP/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=HDMI+splitter&qid=1556210889&s=electronics&sr=1-5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Techole-Aluminum-Bi-direction-Switcher-Black/dp/B079FLNWJY/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=HDMI+splitter&qid=1556210910&s=electronics&sr=1-8

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Just some I found via google and amazon, specifically for the word splitter.

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Mileage may vary. It might be a good idea to contact some PS4 Pro streamers on Twitch/Youtube/Whatever platform PS4 Pro streamers use and ask them directly. Seems like something they would be using as apposed to most of the people here.

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Edit :good luck with your search, I hope you find what you need :)

The Cliff bars really were the best for on the go, although after three weeks of at least one peanut butter cliff bar a day I got sick of it. Protein is important for energy, not to mention plenty of water. Beans, beef jerky, and camp food sold at walmart (I mostly ate the beef stew ones).

I did not use traditional bike travel gear - I had a camping backpack on my back, with the tent and sleeping bag fastened with bungee cords. The food and water rested on a bike rack in the back, and I had a bottle on a holder that was fastened to my handlebar cap with some tweezers and strong wire. A year after my trip I got one of these. Really wish I had it at that time.

I used a mountain bike instead of a traditional road or hybrid bike - it got me out of several tight spots. Bike gloves saved me from blisters and gave me a unique tan for conversation starters. And there really IS a difference between bike glasses and regular sun glasses. You can get a decent pair at walmart for 20 bucks. Don't forget bike lights, and lots of them. You'll be traveling in some very rural areas that don't have anything but the moon and stars to light your way.

You want to pack as light as you can, though eventually you'll get used to the weight. There are plastic camping sporks, one knife. Walmart sells this really compact set of aluminum cookware, it's really impressive because it doesn't look like much until you unfold it all. An extra aluminum cup for tea won't hurt (oh yeah, no caffeine, dehydrates you like hell). You want water proof matches. Fire starters and wood can be bought in the camp store. Always buy wood at the store, don't gather it yourself. Take a can opener as well (I didn't and ended up just using my axe. It impressed some people though.)

I had my biking clothes (spandex) and a pair of jeans and two shirts, plus socks and underwear. Detergent was bought at camp store (they sell in one-use sizes) and I had quarters for the machines. I had a camp towel (it's amazingly absorbent) and emergency foil blankets for the really cold nights. No pillow.

I concentrated the weight on emergency gear. An axe, flares, walking pole, whistle (which I wore at all times), flashlight that was both solar and battery powered, two first aid kits (one with bandaids and basics, the other more specialized with water sanitation pills, burn ointment, bite and sting kit, needles, lighters), an emergency phone, solar-powered radio (oh yeah did I mention that my trip occurred in 2011 at the same time as all those freak storm and tornado activity up north? That was SUUUPER fun, staying up listening to the radio).

The radio is awesome - I got an American Red Cross eton emergency radio. It's compact, solar powered of course, comes with a USB port so you can plug your phone in for emergency power. There are also compact power banks for extra power.

When I reserved a place, I always got an RV spot (no one says you have to have an RV to rent one). These are guaranteed to have power stations so you can plug in your electronic devices over night, and you can get adapters to connect USB devices to traditional power outlets. They're also not that much more expensive than traditional tent spots. Also depending on age and gender (I was 22 at the time and am female) you have plenty of elderly parents/grandparents who just come over and invite you to supper with them.

Speaking of electronic devices, ditch the smart phone because you don't want that out while you're sleeping, it's a thief magnet, and too expensive to replace. Also it's a power drain. Get a phone compatible with your sim card at walmart. A music player, sketch pad/diary, and one or two small paperback books are a must to keep sane. Don't forget a good camera (and extra camera batteries and storage).

Research animals before you leave - not just for safety, but it's something for you to look forward to. I specifically made a stop at Potato Creek because they had nesting Ospreys. Even though I lost the gorgeous pic I took (phone got rained on two days later) it was worth it.

You know the bottom padding inside your shoe? Rip them out and put the largest bills and a credit card, then put the padding back. You'll have to replace the credit card later as the magnetic strip will wear out, but the numbers are still visible. I didn't encounter any trouble at all besides dangerous drivers and the odd snake, but you never know.

You'll assimilate quickly, but, sleep early - 6 or 7 pm. Get up at 2 -3am, have a bite, some water, and head out by 3-4. Those early cool and quiet hours are crucial, especially in the southern areas and during the summer.

Know your route. There are national bike/hike roads that stretch from coast to coast. Recognize areas where you'll be most isolated and do some google street view research to check out the terrain and gauge risk. Amish places were awesome - the air smelled sweet and beautiful, and no one bothers you (though they may do a double take).

That's all I can think of for now. If I remember more, I'll PM you.

The tried and true Sony Walkman.

I did you one better and found the "weather radio" version. If there's a tornado or earthquake or something else, you can automatically turn into the National Weather Service frequencies and listen to updates for your area. Emergency news is usually broadcast on AM radio as well, so this particular Walkman has you covered. Best of all, it runs on a single battery, so you can listen for a long time on a pack.

EDIT:

But if you want a more portable version that also has a hand crank, antenna and a built-in flashlight, I recommend this model.

There are some very small radios that use 2xAAA. Hand crank doesn't save you anything.

The FM radio built into your phone is handy in a pinch but can't pick up weatherband and that is what you really want. Coincidentally I have been looking into radios lately.

The Retekess PR15 is the lightest option I could find at 68 grams.

Everything else comes in around 115 grams but there are some more trustworthy big names here:

• C Crane Pocket
  
• Sangean DT-400W
  
• Midland HH50
  
• Radioddity FS-T1 also a walkie talkie.
  
• Oregon Scientific WR601N
  
• La Crosse 810-163Twr
  
  Some of the more expensive models have automatic alerts. This will be a constant drain on the battery but could be pretty important if you are in an area with a flash flood risk.

Lots of good points here. Good to check on your preps once in a while to make sure things are charged / ready to go. And like others have mentioned to practice sometimes.

This radio has a handcrank and can charge a phone:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DVXDXQU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Goal Zero makes little solar panels that can charge a battery backup. Look up their switch 10 mulit tool. Back up battery / flashlight / fan...cool device!

Weather Spotter here!

I have this Midland HH54VP2 model and for the most part love it. The slight problem is Midland's batteries aren't the best, so you'll want to keep it charged and may need to order additional batteries. The thing I love about this model is it has Tone, Voice, and Visual alert modes (or all 3). Whenever it goes off in my house, I get a loud tone, the display flashes, and then it immediately tunes in to the Alert broadcast so I hear what it is. It also has a text read-out display so if I am not right by it, I can see what the alert was.

The other one I like is the Cobra CWR 200 Weather and Emergency Alert radio. Cobra has better battery life. This one is nice as it can charge your phone if you needed it. I had one before our move and left it with a friend who didn't have one at all.

I also recommend a desktop WX radio that can be left at home at all times. This way you have one that is on stand-by at home 24x7 and your portable can go with you in the car, hiking, or to work.

You may also find this Weather Station and Portable Alert Radio useful, although I haven't personally used this model.

Some apps, if you're on Android, I highly recommend are Dark Sky, RadarScope, and MyWarn. I also have the Weather Radio app but lately it's only advantage is Text-to-Speech reading of the warning like a Weather Radio, which can suck when you're in a crowded place and don't want your phone talking.

Fair enough. I have no issues with air raid sirens. They have those in Berkeley already.

It’s frustrating to see so many messages on this whole post of pessimists complaining, finding reasons why taking precautions won’t work. There is a lot of great info and positive solutions being offered, and some people are just finding ways it won’t work for them. It’s like a sense of entitlement that they want firefighters to literally come to every door and wake them. I’m not sure what people are expecting quite honestly. At some point people need to minimally be somewhat diligent. Can’t rely on everyone else all the time.

On the point about being glued to the radio: get a proper emergency radio which has a screeching alert notification These use the S.A.M.E. Localized alerts which are different than hand-crank radios, which just usually just have weather and AM radio.

I live on the coast of New Jersey and ever since Hurricane Sandy I realized I really need to be more prepared for emergencies so I would love this solar powered flashlight that is also a radio and cellphone charger. Or anything at all from my survival wish list would be amazing. Thank you for running these contests!

Speaking of a crank radio: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QTXKBA/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

I just bought this for my get home BOB (admittedly, it's a "travel 300 miles home" BOB, but still), and it works wonderfully. AM/FM radio, weather radio, and solar/hand crank USB charging, all in a small package. I know you've got a solar charger already, but you can't go wrong with a handcrank, and you might want some form of radio as well.

I bought this one. I like it a lot. It's my camping/backpacking radio. During the day you don't even have to touch it. I wish I got a little more time out if the cranks at night but it isn't bad at all. It was great when we had a 14 hour city wide blackout too and my roommate and I only had booze,snacks and this little guy to pass the time (who am I kidding, it was awesome).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QTXKBA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2G3GR4EQQPR74&coliid=I9HKU2Z69EFH2&psc=1

I bought a CC Pocket Radio in 2014 and it's still going strong. I do have one preset button that no longer works, but all I have to do is select the button before it and do a manual seek to get the station that was programmed there.

This thing has not been babied either. It's been in suitcases, lunchboxes, backpacks, pockets and purses. I say purses because I had a friend that went to a funeral and she wanted to hear the Kentucky Derby that year. She swapped out the antenna cable for the earphone cable (which acts as an antenna) and was able to do both with no one the wiser.

It has a sleep timer and gets the weather info for your area too and the battery life is fantastic.

I thought about getting a certain model Sony to replace this, but the button issue is not a deal breaker.

This one? https://www.amazon.ca/C-Crane-Pocket-Radio-Presets/dp/B00BSYCZZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537933419&sr=8-1&keywords=Crane+pocket

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Seems to be a very close contender and was one or my original prospects before I bought the DT200X but for some reason it's priced super high in my area. How much did you buy yours for?

I have had very good luck with this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYYUJAT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So, if you are going to use headphones, like at all I would suggest getting this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L1NP7YI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Handy for any headphone application. I carry one in my edc.

I mean, it was literally the first option that came up. There are better options with really good reviews for about $20-30, like this guy with a radio, flashlight, solar panel and 2000mAh battery. I'm okay with a little work for a 90-95% cost savings...

Hey, I'm a SF Neighborhood Emergency response volunteer. Here's what you need:

• Comfortable shoes at work ( in case you have to walk a long ways)
  
• A meet-up plan (how to find everyone again). The recommendation is something like "the backyard if safe, otherwise <landmark>" A nearby park/church/school/hospital are good choices, sutro tower is not.
  
• Cash
  
• Water ( 1 gal per person per day - 3 days minimum)
  
• Non-perishable food that doesn't need a lot of water to cook.
  
• Small first aid kit
  
• Copies of prescriptions
  
• Copies of ID papers
  
• A sturdy bin with a tight lid (for a toilet)
  
• A fire extinguisher
  
  Nice to have:
  
  
• Battery/crank/solar powered radio
  
• Solar charger for your car
  
• Inverter for your car
  
• Extra USB cables
  
• earphones
  
• toys/games

I have one of those Eton radios, and it works just fine. I don't know what reviews you're looking at, but from Amazon, they are mostly positive, as you see. It has everything you requested except short wave. But it does have a USB charger, flashlight, and a small solar panel. It's a solid piece of kit. I've had it for a couple years, camping in the rain, it's been tossed around a bit and its still fully functional.

Eh, I'd spend $10 more and get something like this with a built-in radio and crank/wall charging/solar charging/AA battery charging capabilities. It's a few dollars more for a lot more flexibility and functionality.

Between that, an 18650 headlamp, a solar-chargeable LED lantern, I've got reliable electronic light for months.

Ultimately it's up to what you think you need. Something like that hand-crank flashlight may be a good backup light source for a get home bag ... but I think there are better options for a multi-day bugout, especially if you need to keep on the move as much as possible.

Me too. And I got one of these things: American Red Cross FRX3 Hand Crank NOAA AM/FM Weather Alert Radio with Smartphone Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KFLVTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YQF1xbMDYE74Y

I'm like totally prepared.

Scrolled through the replies, so I won't repeat what everybody else has said as they are all correct. But I didn't see anybody mention getting a Weather Radio. Here's the one I have (non-affiliate link, and not promoting anything):


https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR300-MIDLAND-Weather-Radio/dp/B00009V2YV


You can set the alerts to cover not only your county, but those near you. I have mine set to alert on the counties to the southwest, west, and northwest of my county so that as storms develop I know what's coming. (Storms always track from West to East. And NORMALLY track Southwest to Northeast, but sometimes track from Northwest to Southeast.) When the radio alerts on a county that is west of us, I flip on the TV and start monitoring radar. The radio has a LOUD alarm so it will wake you up in the middle of the night if there is sever weather when you're sleeping.

TV channels to watch, 4, 5, or 9. Each one has pros and cons, so pick the person who is the least annoying to you. I flip between all three as their storm trackers are scattered all over the state during severe weather.

Also, if your the technical kind of person, get a scanner and monitor the Amateur (Ham) Radio repeaters. The storm chasers will use ham radio to report back to the National Weather Center in Norman. These folks are on the ground and will know what's going on before anybody else. You can normally find out about a tornado on the ground about 90 seconds earlier than they report on the news channels. Here's a good handheld scanner:


https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BC75XLT-300-Channel-Handheld-Emergency/dp/B00A1VSO9M/ref=zg_bs_172530_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4X5AMGKE7X3W7Z5NRNE3


The frequency to monitor with your scanner is 145.41. This is the WX5OKC repeater and is connected to a network of radio towers all over the state. This is the repeater that the Weather Center in Norman will monitor for updates from storm chasers, so it's usually pretty quiet except during severe weather. As an added bonus, the scanner will also pick up the different weather radio frequencies (pre-programmed), which can give you an update on warnings and watches.

Without knowing what gear your dad has or needs - it's going to be a crap shoot getting a winning gift.

There are items that we all like, but your dad may already have one he likes more.

Regardless... here are a few basic ideas from Amazon (hopefully available in the Canadian version too):

• Radio ($20): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K33JX5G
  
• Buff ($25): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJ3GF4M
  
• Mug ($25): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0773SN3GX
  
• Headlamp ($35): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077Z3LNX9
  
• Tarp ($85): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FKN766M
  
• Saw ($100): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBVGU5O

I've got the Midland ER310 and think it's a great radio with lots of neat features (like recording broadcasts so you don't have to be listening 24/7)

These are both quality products, but I think you're going to be hardpressed to find one that acts as a CB Radio as well, you're better off getting something separate for that.

https://www.amazon.com/RunningSnail-Weather-Emergency-2000mAh-Flashlight/dp/B01DVXDXQU/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498753723&sr=1-3&keywords=solar%2Fcrank+radio
/// https://www.amazon.com/Epica-Emergency-Flashlight-Smartphone-Certified/dp/B00CZDT30S/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498753723&sr=1-4&keywords=solar%2Fcrank+radio

I tossed in a bic mini and a clippers lighter. I personally prefer clipper lighters over bics and bought a bulk set online ages ago when I used to smoke. They are really good quality, refillable, and have a removable and replaceable Flint. From experience, they are better with wind too.

I also tossed a set of diamond greenlight matches I had laying around. They aren't waterproof but I know they are decent and last a long time since I just replaced them after buying bulk set 3 years ago.

As for radio, sadly this kit didn't come with one but I plan to find one to toss in. Looking for a quality mechanical light and radio combo. Like this one but wanting one that's an AOE one and not a targeted one.

Yea, there definitely things in this kit I would have never thought about

LOL, do you think we are stupid?

• New Design: 1000 mAh power bank for charging your iPhone & cellphone via Micro-USB cable directly, no need of adapter anymore;
  
• A Must For Emergency: Keep this AM/FM & NOAA weather radio with your family, get up to date with the latest weather and all hazard information for your area;
  
• More Than A Radio: Compact sized flashlight radio with 1W longer lasting powerful LED can be with you in camping, backpacking, hiking or any other outdoor activities;
  
• 3 Rechargeable Ways: Micro USB charging, Solar charging, Manual hand crank to wind up the internal battery;
  
• What You Get: RunningSnail emergency radio, Micro USB cable, instruction, appreciation card, our worry-free 12-month warranty and friendly customer service.
  
  ​
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=solar+flashlight+with+usb+charger+hand+crank&qid=1556493544&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Yeah see thats what I wanted to do, I was running a lot of my stuff on a charger but it wasn't worth it. The dollar store sells packs 8 double A's for a dollar and its worth just keeping them close to your core so the cold doesn't sap them and using them as you need them in everything. Plus I have nothing essential running on a battury mostly quality of life items like a radio and mini lamp. I might keep my charger for its cell phone attachment which does make it worth it for my longer excursions in the summer.

I do need to swap my gear over to AA, I need a new mini lamp and a decent AA radio. Maybe I could look for some more light quality of life shit as well. Might just get this actually:

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WR-77-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01BH6RPTY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1469723599&sr=8-5&keywords=pocket+radio+AA&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011

Sure. Just bear in mind that some prepaid phones minutes expire and have minimum purchase of minutes.

I have something similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WR-089-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B004068AWU/

Note that the solar panel only charges the flashlight/radio's internal battery. In order to charge a phone you have to use the crank. I have used it to charge my wife and mine's cell phones (HTC One M8 and LG G3) and I also use it along with a $1-2 USB battery charger to charge my eneloop batteries:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-USB-Emergency-Charger-for-Ni-MH-AA-AAA-2A-3A-Rechargeable-Battery-DC-5V-/161439332176

It's very easy to turn the crank and doesn't require much effort. I can do it for quite a long time.

edit: also worth mentioning that I have a car jumper that I got at Costco that is essentially a second car battery and has a USB charger, light, and air compressor built in.

Best option is to learn to use both screens on Windows, right click on desktop and play with "display properties"

But what you are looking for is a video switch:
https://www.amazon.es/Techole-Conmutador-Switcher-Bidireccional-Entrada/dp/B079FLNWJY/ref=asc_df_B079FLNWJY/?tag=googshopes-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=199020452837&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7413299005068201307&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9047061&hvtargid=pla-429894155940&psc=1

That's probably pretty solid. It's nice that it has a speaker instead of just headphones. As long as the batteries don't burst in it, or you drop it down the stairs, it should hold up for a long time.

For an emergency radio, I might want the weather band, for things like tornado warnings. I also like digital tuners.

I have a Sangean CL-100 which is a solid piece of kit that can run off an outlet or battery. It has excellent reception.

The Sangean DT-400W is more like your Sony, only with digital tuners and weather band, but it costs $50.

I want an NOAA alert radio for a friend in tornado alley. Used is fine. $22.

It's a bit special, but uses an 18650 and could be made to run on any 18650 pretty easily.

http://midlandusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ER310-Battery-Installation-Instructions.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/Midland-Consumer-ER310-Emergency-Digital/dp/B015QIC1PW

This guy says he's 18650 but I haven't heard of the company before (they sell them at Sears though): http://kaitoradio.com/ka500lyellow.html

For a full-featured radio, the Tecsun shortwave runs on 1x18650, no NOAA specifically, but it'll do am/fm.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-Conversion-Shortwave-Reception/dp/B00GJ51NVA/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_469_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A7EMVJ2CJB5E3FR452D0

It does not 'push' notifications or alerts out.

You would be better off with something like this.

Midland WR120/WR120EZ NOAA Weather Alert All Hazard Public Alert Certified Radio with SAME, Trilingual Display and Alarm Clock - Box Packaging https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00176T9OY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_TjjzybAEDFRB8

Yeah, I'm getting one of these for next time:

http://www.amazon.com/American-ARCFR160R-Microlink-Self-Powered-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKCE/

Solar/crank flashlight, weather radio, and cell phone charger in one. Awesome.

A first aid kit and fire extinguisher.

More than just drinkable water you are going to want extra water for flushing the toilet if pressure is lost. Clean your bath tubs with bleach and then plug and fill to the brim. Also works as an emergency water supply. Also you can get some good food grade plastic 30 gallon or 50 gallon bins at wall mart you can fill with water.

An emergency water filter. Can be found at Walmart or Academy in the camping sections. These can filter 100,000 gallons of water no problem and make them safe to drink.

I assume you probably have more than just non-perishable foods so it's good to have a couple full bottles of propane if you have a gas grill or charcoal if you have a coal grill. I have various steaks in my freezer that will be getting grilled if the power goes out for a while.

Get a couple of tarps. If you are not boarding up your house (which you probably don't need to) and have a broken window you can hang the tarp over it to keep the rain out. Can also use it to catch water if you run out.

Lights. Flashlights with batteries and candles.

Emergency radio. Crank powered is preferable but batter powered if you can't find one since they are all sold out probably. This will keep you in the loop with weather updates and PSAs.

A generator is great. After Ike our power was out for a week. Our generator kept us nice and cool running a small AC unit.

Make an emergency evacuation plan. Sit down with your family and figure out if the worst happens where you will meet and where you will go and how you will get there. It's a good idea to make a "go bag" that has all your important documents, cash, medications, a flashlight, map with evacuation route marked, rain poncho, cell phones, and the first aid kit.

Check out this checklist.

Edit: Stick an axe in your attic in case you have to escape to the roof.

Clean out your houses gutters so water will drain properly.

Take pictures of everything in your house for insurance purposes.

Bring in every loose thing from your yard. Everything.

Some ideas and comments that come to mind:

For your clothing you might check out this video which gives useful info on folding your clothes down to very compact, self-retaining rolls/balls.

Mountain house is good stuff, but you have to expend water to prepare it - not a bad thing exactly, but I don't see a water filter in your kit.

Next item refers to previous item: water filtration. Usually a fairly important component. Yes, I see the iodine tablets, but it would still suck to have to use dirty water, even if you know you've killed all the bacteria and parasites, dirty is still not fun (and often unsafe) to drink.

General backpacking tip: you always want the weight as close to your core as possible (and also the heaviest items as high as possible, see below video) - the more of the weight that sticks further out from your back, the more strain on your body due to leverage effects. I see from the pic of the full bag that it protrudes out pretty far - you might consider a taller/wider bag that isn't as thick when packed.

Another general backpacking tip: even though you have your weight down to a reasonable 23lbs, it will still be even less strain to carry if you have a pack with a frame & waist strap to let your hips hold the weight. WAY better and easier for you. Here is a useful video on load distribution inside your backpack.

Let's see, what else? Others have already mentioned toilet paper, good. Having a small pack or two of baby wipes or wet ones for cleaning is usually a handy thing to have.

Small medical kit: a few various size band-aids, alcohol prep pads, antibiotic ointment, cortisone ointment (anti-itch), a few doses each of aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol, benadryl, pepto-bismol (pill form), loperamide (anti-diarrheal), antacids, a bit of medical tape, one or two triangle bandages, tick/splinter-tweezers, small freznel magnifying lens, mini-bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. All of this can fit into a very small bag and is worth far more than the weight and volume taken up.

Pick of the options available for a solar/crank powered radio/flashlight. Gives you weather alerts, AM/FM radio for emergency broadcasts and music to stave off boredom. Worth the weight (and they don't weigh much, and they're cheap).

Sunscreen? Insect repellent?

Signalling: signal mirror (useful to have a mirror anyway), loud whistle?

Self-defense? Firearm/chemical spray/taser?

I see the rain poncho, so OK for rain. Now let's say you fall into (or your pack gets dropped into) a creek, is the stuff in your pack that you need to stay dry still dry? Consider ziplocks or a dry bag perhaps?

Emergency document? A sheet of paper with photocopies of your IDs, emergency contact #s, medical info for yourself (blood type, meds, allergies), etc...

Small sewing repair kit?

sangean radios are usually pretty good:

http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-MMR-88-Weather-Alert-Radio/dp/B00OJZOOLI/

Look into a weather alert radio like this one

While I can't say it's saved my life or protected any property, it's made me aware of potential storms coming my way.

> I was just like, what do people who are completely disconnected do like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504017144&sr=8-1&keywords=radio+storm

You'll be fine. In the worst case scenario (it goes around Florida and then comes up to hit you), you'll have ample time to prepare or evacuate.

For now, I'd just grab some extra supplies (Jugs of water, non perishable food) on your next grocery visit.

Edit: I've read a bit more about this storm, I think it's worth taking more seriously (Cat 4 is HUGE). Get all of those supplies you need, but also consider a hand crank radio/flashlight. I bought this item on amazon last year when I lived in Florida before Matthew threatened, it's a hand crank radio/flashlight/phone charger all in one. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DVXDXQU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have 3 of these and I think they rock. Seems like the same brand as the one you have posted but it has the solar panel that the review you posted said that it needs. It does not have the personal radio stuff though which I think could be nice.

Cheap, good sound quality and loud, sensitive, AA powered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BH6RPTY/

Make a wire 20ft long to throw over a tree branch for an extra antenna length.

I've tried several of the popular hand crank ones, underwhelmed, fiddlely.

My current one is a bit over the top: https://www.amazon.com/Skywave-Shortwave-Weather-Airband-Portable/dp/B00QMTI6YK/

Its overkill, but light and two AA batteries last forever.

The is the Midland emergency weather radio. It has a decent flashlight, radio, hand crank, solar panel, and the ability to charge a cell phone. It has a 18650 battery that should last years. About the flashlight I have many better lights but this would due in a long power outage but it is not the best. It's also highly focused so it goes a long way.

Here is the list of gear. It is meant for both myself and my wife, so I doubled up in some places. (Links where I have them)

• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
  
• yueton Shatterproof Stainless Steel Ultrathin Folding Travel Mirror
  
• S.O.S. Rations Emergency 3600 Calorie Food Bar
  
• Mini Foldable Folding Shovel
  
• Coleman Dome Tent
  
• GreenLight Diamond Strike on Box Matches,
  
• Zippo Typhoon Matches and Match Kit
  
• My Amazing Outdoor Inc Camp Mess Kit
  
• Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
  
• Aootek Upgraded first aid survival Kit
  
• AxPower Dust Masks
  
• Dust mask filter pack
  
• Esky Portable Emergency Weather Radio Hand Crank Self Powered
  
• Foxelli Disposable Rain Ponchos
  
• TOUGH-GRID 750lb Paracord/Parachute Cord
  
• Aquatabs AQT200 Water Purification Tablets 200 Pack
  
• REEBOW GEAR Hard Knuckle Tactical Gloves
  
• Sharpie Plastic Point Stick Water Resistant Pen
  
• Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top-Spiral Notebook
  
• Buck Knife 119
  
• 1 quart zip lock bags pack
  
• 1 gallon zip lock bags pack
  
• 2 Days worth of clothes
  
• REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Assault Pack Backpack, Capacity: 34L
  
  Total Combined weight 27.4969375 Lbs (assuming my measurements are correct, couldn't get a good read on the tent so I had to use manufacturer info)
  
  Stuff I don't have yet, but which I plan to include as I get them:
  
  
• Passports, and other document copies
  
• Extra cash
  
• 9mm pistol
  
• Better water storage
  
• Solar charging and power banks

I have used [this Sangean pocket Radio] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012YHQVE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BrWZCbN08JE0A) for the past two years and over 20 games. It works great and the batteries last forever.

I've used this for years and the reception is great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012YHQVE?pc_redir=1411930653&robot_redir=1

It sounds like you should just get something like https://www.amazon.com/iRonsnow-Emergency-Powered-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B00WIF2T7C if your concern is around camping.

Maybe find a water proof one if you're frequently at the river or lake.

For emergency rescue use this seems to be a good option although it does not include a weather radio. Satellite



I think an crank radio with a weather band will fill your other criteria: Radio

Yo lo compre en best buy (o walmart no recuerdo bien, ya fue hace varios años) en eua.

Este es el que tengo:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009V2YV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_4u9Tzb0BXTS0J

(Por lo que vi tambien esta en amazon mexico un poco mas caro y hay otros modelos mas nuevos).

Lo unico que tienes que hacer es poner la frecuencia 162.450 (creo) que tiene musiquita clasica y emite la alarma sismica cuando ésta es activada.

All of this is stored in the trunk of my Jeep strapped down in the black tote pictured. I didn't get all of these things at Amazon, but tried to find a link to purchase everything.

Not pictured is a rollbar mounted fire extinguisher

This isn't specifically for camping, just what I have on me at all times.

Starting at the top right:

• Three pack of road triangles
  
  
• Solar power bank
  
  
• Leatherman Super Tool 300 in black oxide
  
  
• Cyber Power inverter
  
  
• Bungee cords
  
  
  
• Ratchet and random sockets
  
  
  
• Ratchet strap
  
  
  
• Jumper cables
  
  
  
• 30,000 tow strap
  
  
  
• Target brand first aid kit
  
  
  
• Coast px20 with red beam
  
  
  
• Coghlans right angle flashlight
  
  
  
• Eton solar/ crank radio and light
  
  
  
• Tire pressure gauge
  
  
  
• Digital tire pressure gauge
  
  
  
• Military issue folding shovel
  
  
  
• 7 ton shackle permanently borrowed from my ship
  
  
  
• 75ft of paracord
  
  
• Harbor Freight wrench set
  
  
• Harbor Freight torque wrench
  
  
• 20'x20' blue tarp
  
  
  

I like the Morakniv and firesteel ideas, and also:

• Wood/tablet/alcohol stove, $19
  
• AccuSharp knife sharpener, around $12
  
• Stainless steel cup that fits perfectly on bottom of Nalgene bottle (can be used for cooking), $9, an Equinox Bottle Bag, $11, a Survivor HK-106 knife w/ fire starter (clip point), $10, and a Nalgene bottle, $10 (pick 2-3 to stay under $30) are the start of a Nalgene bottle kit. That's not an ideal knife and may need sharpening but it is full-tang and I can confirm it fits inside a Nalgene bottle, which the Morakniv for example will not.
  
• The book Where There Is No Doctor, $25
  
• Perhaps a keyring for EDC featuring such things as a Streamlight Nano ($7), firesteel ($10), something like a [Kingston SE9 USB drive](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00URLZTNU/ ($7), a universal handcuff key ($5), and a whistle ($8).
  
• A Leatherman Squirt PS4 (with pliers) for EDC, $30
  
• WaterBOB, $23
  
• Emergency hand-crank radio, $20+

This One! I fucking love this rugged little guy. AM/FM/Weather Alert / Emergency Radio. Solar/Hand Crank/USB/Flashlight(with low, high, sos), runs off of a cr123/16340 battery.

I have this one made by Esky - it's actually below your price range; but I've used it a fair amount and can vouch for it. Has crank, solar, and battery and can charge USB devices.

this is the one I like
https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR300-MIDLAND-Weather-Radio/dp/B00009V2YV/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=DFU0SYNLE7NN&keywords=noaa+weather+radio&qid=1558652689&s=gateway&sprefix=noaa%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A33O82Y9CWW4GL

This will suck as a spinner.


It will not spin freely as it will have a DC motor instead of a bearing, meaning that the only way for it to spin is if you push it constantly.


A way better alternative is a hand crank emergency device like this https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ these things work (not tried that model but you get me) you convert your energy into electrical energy. simple shit.

You can't convert fidget spinning into electrical energy as fidget spinners are just frictionless bearings with some plastic wrapped round.

HDMI splitter that will support 4K one to the tv one the the receiver.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079FLNWJY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_txWIBb7XZMDRG

Here in Gainesville they recommend at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, so you have that. If you have a bathtub fill it up before the storm hits and use it for cleaning and emergencies. You can cleanse bathwater in an emergency following the instructions here https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water.

If you can, get your hands on something like this https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504719082&sr=8-4&keywords=weather+radio.

I use this weather radio http://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR-300-MIDLAND-WR300-Weather/dp/B00009V2YV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321723550&sr=8-1

I set it up so that only my county and the county next to mine gets alerts. I also can set which alerts I want, yes for Tornado Watch and Warning but no for Flooding or Freeze Warning. So far it's worked out great.

That's cool.

Reminds me of this: http://www.amazon.com/American-Turbine-Weather-Smartphone-Charger/dp/B007KFLVTM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369806914&sr=8-2&keywords=eton

Solar power banks as well. Though some radios are all in one.


https://www.amazon.com/Esky-Powered-Emergency-Flashlight-1000mAh/dp/B018I4BPNU/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504451012&sr=1-5&keywords=emergency+radio

I just bought one of these the other day for the same reason:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A21DQA/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_E6a5CbC1YMNAT

It would fit more into the mobile/portable category. It feels kind of cheap but works well. It has LED lights, AM/FM + NOAA + SW radio. You can also charge your phone off it, but the battery capacity isn't great for that. It can be charged via USB though, so if you had one of these plus a couple portable battery packs you'd probably be set for awhile.

A more stationary option would be one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR120B-WR120EZ-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=weather+radio&qid=1558450236&s=gateway&sr=8-3

We have several scattered around my office and they can be programmed to only alert for certain counties or at certain thresholds - severe weather warnings only vs watches. That type of thing. They're loud af.

I have three of these: hand crank solar radio w/weatherband and flashlight
Highly recommended.

So the best working device so far is this one:

• HDMI Switch Techole
  
• I think the catch might be that it is 'bidrectional'. I Connected the Sonos Beam to the side with the single port, and the TV + Turntable on the one of the ports on the side with two ports. Now I can switch between the Turntable and the TV by pressing the hardware button.
  
• Unfortunately there is no automatic switching with this device. So the next challenge is to find one which either has some automatism or can be used with google assistant (worst case through a raspberry or so)
  
  Devices that didn't work:
  
  
• Ligawo HDMI Audio Embedder - Connected to the Turntable and Sonos directly - no sound at all
  
• Tendak 3x2 HDMI Switch - Was optimistic because of two outputs where one is ARC. Tried various connection combinations, no luck.
  
• GANA 3 Port HDMI Switch - Got the sound through when plugging the beam to an input port. But of course no switching as I only have one output
  
• CSL - 4k HDMI Switch - No luck at all, but also didn't try the reverse option (as with the GANA one), as it didn't occur to me

Funny thing about that: When hurricane Sandy hit, I tuned in to the local FM radio station (which I usually don't listen to because it's a lot old guys waxing ignorant about politics, and repetitive music).

The first thing I heard when I switched on the radio? "Well, if you're tuning in to us to find out what's going on... we don't know either. Our internet is down, our cable TV is down, and our phones are down. And that's all of the ways we get our information."

So, it was pretty useless.

Also, a cheap battery powered AM/FM radio or even a crank-powered model, is going to be a lot more efficient and reliable in an emergency than a smartphone sucking down battery searching for a cell signal, that also happens to have an FM receiver in it.

They make crank radios with flashlights and USB charging cables and solar panels on top. Might be slightly more pragmatic than just the USB crank.

Some other important points:

• Communication Plan: Develop one with the family in case you're separated. Know where to go and who to contact (ideally a contact that is out of the province) if and when power and cell service goes out.
  
  
• Take a first aid course.
  
  
• Solar powered/Hand-cranked Radio and flashlight. We have Midland ER210

This one is a #1 seller on Amazon and will also charge a phone.

Hand crank solar powered AM/FMNOAA radio, $27. Granted it isn't two way but you can listen to music while you eat your instant potatoes and mushroom gravy.

I highly recommend getting a NOAA Weather Radio. Program it for your county so it will go off any time there is a watch or warning and tells you what is going on.

https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR120B-WR120EZ-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY/

It’s a super comforting voice—I totally put it on low when I’m falling asleep. I think they’re only selling them for a limited time because we’re heading into severe weather season. They had a few events where local meteorologists were programming them for you in-store, but those are over. They’re easy to program.

This is the same one they sell, and it’s a bit cheaper online: https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR120B-WR120EZ-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=37NU88DPIZQ6Q&keywords=noaa+weather+radio&qid=1557697384&s=gateway&sprefix=NOAA+wea%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Also, if there’s severe weather and the power goes out, you’d be screwed with websites and TV but the radio has an automatic battery backup. :)

Tornado sirens are largely considered antiquated and you shouldn't rely on them as your sole source of information in the first place. If you live in a storm prone area, you should have a NOAA weather radio in your home. They often have a loud alert tone built in that sounds when warnings are issued. Also with the expansion of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system important weather alerts should be sent to the phones in your area as well.

RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio For Emergency with AM/FM, Flashlight, Reading Lamp And 2000mAh Power Bank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DVXDXQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iOa8AbYR9DE8F

I do not know if this does the alerts automatically or not. Just been in my wish list forever. Flashlight, handcrank, solar and a battery pack to charge external.

This one, I bought it yesterday.
HDMI Splitter, Techole Aluminum... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079FLNWJY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The IBIS is expensive now

I'd think just a small am/fm/weather radio with batteries would last a week, especially if using headphone:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K33JX5G

Sangean dt-400w

Already exists. I own one.

this midland model can program multiple counties

https://www.amazon.com/Version-iRonsnow-Emergency-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B00WIF2T7C?crid=3SDMK85Q53XMS&keywords=hand+crank+radio+flashlight+cell+phone+charger&qid=1537472677&sprefix=hand+crank+radio&sr=8-4&ref=mp_s_a_1_4

Time to take out this:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00WIF2T7C/ref=psdc_6893245011_t2_B007T13E2O

[amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504017144&sr=8-1&keywords=radio+storm)

FTFY

one of these

Bueno bonito y barato... https://www.amazon.com.mx/Midland-WR120EZ-Weather-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY

No gastes en apps pedorras

I mentioned a folding shovel. I was planning to use the Mylar blankets as mini tarps, but I really don't see the use of a tarp in my situation. As for communication I have a red cross radio, a cell phone, a whistle, and I'm planning on getting a personal locator beacon. I was planning on using a Datexx crank generator, in addition to the Mophie powerstaion XL, but I'm thinking of getting a radio that has a built in solar panel/crank generator.

I'd maybe upgrade to the FRX3 for your radio.

You could get yourself a weather radio and keep it next to your bed. That's what we do. I believe we have this model.

Este fue el que compré

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CZDT30S/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works fabulously!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015QIC1PW/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile

Solar powered/hand crank AM/FM/NOAA radio, LED flashlight, USB cell phone charger

I have this:
http://www.amazon.com/NFR160WXR-Microlink-Self-Powered-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKC4/

I'd like something with shortwave and an MP3 / aux input but haven't found one I like yet. Having the crank handle and flashlight is handy. You can charge your phone with it over the USB, though the charger is a bit weak so you have to crank continuously to charge. Still nice to have in a pinch.

Get them an emergency battery/solar/hand cranked flashlight/radio/usb charger. Like $30 for something decent. http://www.amazon.com/American-ARCFR160R-Microlink-Self-Powered-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKCE

Buy a weather radio like this one and you can set it to your county. Then it will go nuts when you have a weather warning and you won't die because you weren't watching Wipeout during the thunderstorm.

Creo que la app no es la mejor solución, ya que tiene retraso en la propagación de la información. Si bien te va, te llegará la notificación 10 segundos después de las alarmas.

Yo compré un "weather alert radio" en amazon, después del 19S. Este viernes fue la primera ocasión que sonó y me avisó como 1 o 2 segundos antes que las alarmas de la calle.

Si tienen necesidad y les interesa, aqui está la liga:

https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B00176T9OY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lo compre por que no escuchaba la alarma cuando estaba viendo la tele.

As others have said, don't rely on the sirens. They're primarily for people who are outdoors and sometimes malfunction. There was a notable incident in the last few years where some didn't sound during a tornado, and, in any case, if the rain is really pouring or the wind blowing you might not be able to hear them inside. A weather radio is your best bet. You can find them everywhere here. I think even Kroger and drug stores carry them.

I usually recommend this model, primarily because you can disable most alarms except tornado. I have most turned off because the tornado one is the only one I really want to wake me up. Too many alerts and you become desensitized to it. The severe thunderstorm one is especially annoying because we get tagged with that one a lot in the spring. This is Alabama, every thunderstorm is severe. :P

How about a goodie bag of some emergency stuff? A big flashlight, a mini first aid kit, and one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Epica-Emergency-Flashlight-Smartphone-Certified/dp/B00CZDT30S

I'm in California where our two largest concerns (mine, anyway) are earthquakes and fire.

For earthquakes it's standard preparation stuff because aspects of grid can shut down for short or long periods of time. There's also the "get out of the house now!" type situation which is really just shoes and a flashlight, or just your human body. If your bag is downstairs and you're upstairs you're not going to run to a bugout bag first. It's just get out (depending on the quake, the building, etc).

I do have a bugout bag primarily for fire evacuation, which has:

• Important docs. Homeowners policy, our will, healthcare directives, passports, social security cards, etc.
  
• A printed road map of the state (thin book).
  
• A kickass little am/fm radio.
  
• A handheld 2m radio programmed with area repeaters, I have a mag antenna in my truck.
  
• Geiger counter. Way over the top for people to have but I bought one so where else would I put it.
  
• 4 way water key.
  
• Spare credit cards, some cash.
  
• Medications we need.
  
• USB chargers.
  
  I also have a google spreadsheet printed out that has the items we want to take. The evacuation orders can come at any time and you might be knee deep in some project or sick on the couch, you need to be able to mindlessly grab items that a smarter-you considered bringing. The bag is just the one that we're really screwed if we don't have. This is my list, it's taped under my desk at home.
  
  Edit: also, there's a column for different family members. My kids have stuff they're supposed to grab (a change of clothes, etc) while mine has the chainsaw and a shovel.
  
  It's possible you'll have less than 20 seconds to escape your home but chances are you'll have at least a few minutes, maybe even a few hours. Having a list of things to grab from the house thought out in advance seems reasonable to me. And some stuff that's super useful (like dumping everything from the medicine cabinet into a bag) is more of an instruction than an item, per say.
  
  Dolls (for kids)
  
  laptop
  
  EMT gear
  
  Backpacking food
  
  Flashlights
  
  Gasoline tanks
  
  Wet wipes
  
  Toilet Paper
  
  Firearms
  
  Ammunition
  
  Map (Marked)
  
  AA/AAA Batteries
  
  Chainsaw
  
  Shovel
  
  Solar Panel
  
  Tent
  
  Soap
  
  Medicine Cabinet
  
  Checkbook
  
  2m Radio
  
  10 gallons water
  
  2m base antenna
  
  2m pvc ant mast
  
  I also have a list of things I need to do if I leave the house, again this is tailored to fire evacuation. This is taped to the inside door of our utility closet. Easy to find but house guests aren't staring at it and we can keep our home more "homey" looking versus a forward operating base. These are taken from CalFire's suggestions and my own experience in and around fire.
  
  ​
  
  
• Remove flammable window shades, curtains.
  
• Remove flammable objects from walls, windows, doors.
  
• Shut off gas (crescent wrench).
  
• Turn on all lights.
  
• Turn off HVAC.
  
• Place flammable items in open area.
  
• Connect garden hose, drag to driveway, charge hose, controlled by gun nozzle.
  
• Place buckets of water in driveway.
  
• Place ladder in driveway, visible.

We have a weather alert radio in the house that puts our smoke detector to shame.

Understood that you can stream the weather on the news station's sites, I was mostly just commenting that I don't watch TV so I didn't understand the this meteorologist vs. that meteorologist battle.

This is the right way to go, but if you're dead set on an external power source I'd like to see you use one of those hand crank power banks. Can you imagine people having to crank one of those things hundreds of times to get the window up or down when you used to do it in a couple cranks?