72 HoursTop Pick
Midland Hand Crank Emergency Weather Radio
NOAA alerts, solar and crank power, a flashlight and phone charging.
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72 Hours
American Red Cross Emergency Crank Radio
Simple, reliable radio with a built in light and charger.
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Kaito Multi Band Emergency Radio
Five power sources and wide band coverage.
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NOAA Weather Alert Radio for Home
Wakes you up for tornado and flood warnings, even at night.
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Lichamp LED Camping Lanterns (4 Pack)
Bright, collapsible battery lanterns for every room during an outage.
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Rechargeable LED Headlamp
Hands free light for repairs, cooking and walking at night.
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Tactical Rechargeable Flashlight
Bright, tough flashlight for home and car.
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Inflatable Solar Lantern
Packs flat, charges in the sun and lights a room.
See Options2 Weeks
100 Hour Emergency Candles
Long burning backup light. Never leave candles unattended.
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Motorola Talkabout Two Way Radios
Easy license free FRS radios to keep the family in touch.
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Midland GMRS Two Way Radios
More range than basic walkie talkies. Requires an FCC GMRS license.
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Baofeng Handheld Ham Radio
Popular starter ham radio. An amateur license is needed to transmit.
See Options2 WeeksOff Grid Contact
Garmin inReach Satellite Messenger
Text and SOS from anywhere with no cell service. Needs a subscription.
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Police Scanner
Hear local emergency updates as they happen.
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Emergency Survival Whistle (Brass)
A loud signal that carries farther than your voice and never runs out of power.
See Options90 DaysOff Grid Contact
Iridium Satellite Phone
Call from almost anywhere on Earth when cell networks are down. Needs a service plan.
See Options90 DaysOff Grid Contact
Starlink Satellite Internet Kit
Off grid internet from satellites. Needs a Starlink subscription.
See Options2 Weeks
CB Radio for Vehicles
License free radio used by truckers and travelers for road updates.
See Options90 DaysOff Grid Contact
Mobile Ham Radio for Car or Base
Far more range than handhelds. An amateur license is needed to transmit.
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Solar Powered Weather Radio
Keeps working when batteries run out.
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Waterproof Notebook and Pen
Write down plans and contacts in any weather.
See OptionsWhat to look for
- Choose a radio with NOAA weather alerts and a hand crank or solar backup.
- A headlamp keeps your hands free. Give one to every family member.
- GMRS radios have more range than FRS radios but require an FCC license.
- Ham radios like the Baofeng need an amateur license to transmit.
Related guide
Power Outage Survival Guide
How to choose between a power station and a generator, and keep your family safe.
Common questions
What is the best emergency radio?
Look for one that receives NOAA weather alerts and can be powered three ways: batteries, hand crank and solar. Many also charge your phone.
Do two way radios work when cell service is down?
Yes. They talk directly to each other without towers. Range depends on terrain and power.
Do I need a license for walkie talkies?
FRS radios need no license. GMRS radios need an FCC license, which covers your whole family. Amateur (ham) radios need a license to transmit.
Not sure where to start? Begin with the essentials.
Grab the free printable checklist, then pick up the top rated basics: a 72 hour kit, water filter, emergency radio and first aid kit. Most families finish Level 1 in a single order.