BY DAN MERKLING
What do you plan—a party, a DIY project, a family vacation? These are all things we expect. But how do you plan for an unexpected event? You prepare with as much foresight as possible to be ready for the unknown. That’s what the Syracuse Disaster Preparedness Committee is committed to. We help prepare our fellow citizens to be ready, should an unexpected disaster strike our community.
There are many lists of preparedness supplies, but a local list assembled by FEMA can be found at www.ready.gov/kit.
We frequently discuss the preparedness supplies that you should have in your home, at your office, and in your car, but one emergency item that is seldom covered is an emergency radio. When a disaster strikes, communication is almost always disrupted, leaving you in the dark about what’s happening. An emergency radio will help you stay current with the situation, and this information could be the difference between survival and catastrophe.
An Emergency Radio is:
- A reliable source of information
- A communication lifeline
- A power-independent operator
- A community resilience supporter
- A weather band reception provider
There are numerous emergency radios available, ranging in price from $25 to $200. When shopping for an emergency radio, some important features to look for are:
- Multiple power sources
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- AAA or AA alkaline batteries
- Solar panel
- Hand crank
- USB or AC power at home
- Weather band reception
- A loud weather alert alarm
- Be sure the radio has the official NOAA seal on the front
- Shortwave and AM/FM bands
- Reading lamp or flashlight
Once you have your radio, learn its features, and then plug it in on a shelf or cabinet so that it is always at full charge, should you need it.