SolveYourProblem Article Series: Floods
Flood Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols

Have An Emergency Radio In Case Of A Flood

In the case of an emergency that entails some sort of local or state wide catastrophe – such as a major flood - one of the most important things you will need is to have a good radio that can keep you up to date on what is currently happening.

It has been reported that in the mess of confusion that followed in the wake of hurricane Katrina, and the collapsed infrastructure of local power grids and communications, that the main source of information was through just one radio station. That meant that if you needed to know what the best route out of town was, or whether or not help was coming, your best bet was this one source. Without a doubt, any preparedness on your part must include a good radio.

But what kind of radio? It is good to know, first of all, that most emergency radios are easily affordable – starting at as little as under $20 on up. While an average radio that runs on batteries is certainly usable, it runs the risk of being limited by just how many extra batteries you brought along. What is far more recommended is investing in a radio that can run independently of batteries or electricity.

High on this list is a hand crank or hand wind radio. This will require in the range of a couple of minutes of cranking but will give up to 15 minutes of radio time. These radios come varied in their options. Some include a flashlight that is powered by cranking as well. Others permit the user to be able to charge their cell phones. Or you could opt for a solar powered radio. Some solar powered radios that allow up to 20 hours of listening time once they are fully charged come in a head phone format that allow you to easily keep charging your radio while you listen.

Another choice available to you are weather band radios. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA broadcasts alerts and weather forecasts 24 hrs a day. While most radios are not able to tune in to their specific frequencies – a weather band radio can. This would allow the user to keep abreast of any alerts or changes in the weather for their vicinity.

Yet an even higher level of radio capacity involves operating a ham radio. Through many natural disasters such as the one in New Orleans, ham operators performed a vital service in networking information through when radio towers and other communication factors were damaged. Though this type of radio requires a bit of training and cost it certainly ranks as one of the more valued commodities in a disaster situation.

Rest assured that whatever type of radio you decide will best suit your circumstances you will be benefited by being able to keep up to the minute with advisories that will help keep you and your family safe.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anytime, anywhere without warning. Protect yourself and your family. Click to see valuable emergency preparedness supplies and information. Be ready. Be prepared. I love this website. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2009

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