The Best Emergency Weather Radio for Your Protection

Emergency Weather Radios are often referred to as simply emergency radios. They are multi-channel radios that include the NOAA emergency weather alerts. They are always battery operated and usually can be charged by built-in solar cells, by an internal hand-cranked dynamo, by a connection to a car’s cigarette lighter, and by plugging the radio into an AC outlet. Here are some units to consider the Best Emergency Weather Radio.

Prices range from less than $30 to over $100. As usual, you get what you pay for. Realize that a storm may disable your local weather broadcast system and you may have to pick up a weak signal from the next county or even the next state. If you have to depend on a weak signal, you are going to have to tune your radio precisely. Cheap radios are almost always difficult to fine-tune.

Best Emergency Weather Radio (Updated List)

Why You Should Get An Emergency Weather Radio

FEMA has recommended that every household should have an Emergency Weather Radio, so what are some reasons to get one?

First of all, it’s the only radio station you can count on. During severe weather or emergencies, regular broadcasts may be interrupted or go off the air entirely. All NOAA Weather Radio stations transmit 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can always count on getting the latest weather information.

Secondly, emergency weather radios are equipped with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology. This allows the radios to receive alerts for specific counties or regions, which is especially important if you live in an area that is prone to severe weather events.

Third, emergency weather radios are versatile. Many models come with a flashlight and a siren, which can come in handy during power outages or other emergencies.

Finally, emergency weather radios are affordable. You can purchase a quality radio for around $50 to $150, and the cost is well worth it if it helps you stay safe.

Every household should have at least one emergency weather radio because it is the only radio that you can depend on during severe weather or emergencies. The radio will be able to receive alerts for specific counties or regions, which is especially important if you live in an area that is prone to severe weather events. Last of all, emergency weather radios are affordable.

What to Look for When Buying An Emergency Weather Radio

Everyone has different preferences on what is important or not when deciding on an emergency weather radio, but I want to offer my opinion on the most important things that the emergency weather radio should have.

Ease of precise tuning

Most of the less the $50 radios available are nearly impossible to fine-tune. One reviewer even recommended using a nail to enable the tuning dial to be turned more precisely.

Multiple ways of charging

Look for a hand crank, solar, USB charging, a cigarette lighter adapter to charge from your car, and an AC adapter. A solar charger can take all day in full sunlight to achieve a full charge. If you have ever tried to charge a radio with a hand crank you know how exhausting it is to achieve enough charge to listen for even 20 minutes.

Lightweight and quality construction

You want portability when you are hiking or have to seek shelter. Your radio must be tough enough to survive being dropped. You won’t be playing catch with your radio, but some rough handling in emergency situations is inevitable.

Emergency Weather Radio Product Reviews

Here are the reviews of the best Emergency Weather Radios, these radios are all available on Amazon.

FAQ’s

Here are some commonly asked questions about Emergency Weather Radios

Why do I Need an Emergency Weather Radio?

An Emergency Weather Radio provides you information about extreme weather events that can be life threatening and after a disaster it provides information you need to recover.

What features should I look for when buying an Emergency Weather Radio?

• Either pretuned weather station frequencies or the ability to fine tune your radio to local weather station frequencies.
• Portabilitty. If you are hiking, you need something small and light you can carry in a backpack. If you have to evacuate, you need a radio you can take with you and setup in a shelter.
• Rugged construction. Expect your radio to git knocked around a bit.
• Multiple ways to charge the radio
• Multiple power outletsenable you to charge your electronicsd with enough battery to make device charging practical.
• Battery power determines how long it will play.
• Blue tooth enabled.

What is the NOAA Emergency Broadcast System?

The NOAA Emergency Broadcast System is a network of radio stations whose purpose is to alert you to extreme weather events in your area, tell you what to do to stay safe, and help you recover after a disaster.