this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2023
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Just buy a $15 FM radio. Especially since you can't charge your phone when you have no power, but a small radio takes AA batteries which can sit in a drawer for 10 years until you need them.
You'd think so but every device around my house that I "put batteries in it and forget it" when I need it I find the batteries have exploded and the device is ruined (regardless of the decade on the expiry-date label of the battery). So my plan now is to keep the device separate from the batteries like it's a freaking handgun and make sure my phone is charged so I can use its light to make my way to the drawer where we keep the batteries.
Alkaline batteries are the crappy ones that leak. Get the more expensive lithium batteries, or go full on rechargeable ones, and you can leave them in without worrying about your device getting ruined.
Lkline leaks, lithium explodes
Yeah but at least you'll know exactly when the lithium ones go bad...
Rechargeable batteries self-discharge and get damaged if left unplugged for too long, and explode if left plugged in. They are not ideal for something you want to pack away in an emergency kit.
Almost everything in an emergency kit expires. But many name brand alkaline and non rechargeable lithiums are now rated for ten years shelf life. In addition there are rechargeable eneloop branded batteries rated for slower discharge rate.
Yes, but there's a difference between "expires" and "leaks all over the inside of my emergency radio". And they don't make it to half their stated lifespans once put into a flashlight and the flashlight goes into storage.
In addition to being able to take AAs, my FM radio has a solar panel and a hand crank to recharge the included rechargeable battery, which can charge a phone in a pinch. Win all around!
It probably also picks up the NOAA frequencies for weather forecasts and will have a standby feature for severe weather alerts. Emergency weather radios are pretty cool, and good to have on hand.
It absolutely does!
A weather radio is even more useful. It usually has FM as well, but getting National Weather Service alerts can be vital.
one of those windy radios you crank for a bit would be better for emergencies
Yes... but... this becomes one of those things that everyone should buy to be prepared but few actually do or they forget.
I keep a little crank-chargeable radio in our emergency kit but most people don't. If the cell networks go down (and they usually do in severe weather and most other big emergency situations) most people will lose all of their access to information.
You can make your battery phone last a lot when you are not using the display and disconnect from any networks. You can also have some powerbank around. Emergencies won't necessarily find you in home or wherever your radio is stored in. You keep your phone with you most of the time, chances are, if an earthquake happens, for example, you'll have your phone with you. Been there.