By Glenda Taylor and Stacey L Nash | Updated May 17, 2022 6:15 PM

BobVila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

By picking up emergency broadcasts and alerting you to severe weather or human-made disasters, emergency radios ensure that you are never without critical knowledge. Unlike standard radios, emergency radios can receive warnings and notifications from very high frequency (VHF) public service band stations. Users may listen to dedicated weather channels, set the radio to alert when a weather or disaster warning is issued, and access basic AM/FM stations on an emergency radio.

We tested all of the radios on this list to see how they work in the field. Everything from the crank and solar panel to the reception was examined in greater detail to make sure we found radios that will perform when the time is right. So whether you’re planning a camping trip or putting together a “just in case” kit for your home, consider including an emergency radio. This guide explains the features to consider and shares some of the best emergency radio options available.

When it comes to emergency radios, there are two main types to consider.

Usually using a loud beep or tone, a weather alert radio notifies the user of the presence of imminent bad weather, such as a tornado, a hurricane, or an impending winter storm. Weather radios broadcast alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, users can zero in on a geographical region of interest, depending on whether it has Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME).

The ability to pick up both AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) radio frequencies allows up-to-the-minute information on developing situations from both local stations and stations that are farther away. They also can be used to listen to music.

There are many features to consider when shopping for an emergency radio. Some of the most important include the types of alerts the user can receive, charging options, and whether it can serve other useful functions.

The first thing many shoppers discover when researching emergency radios is the plethora of labels with acronyms. They can seem overwhelming and downright confusing. However, knowing what each acronym means makes it much easier to select the radio that’s right for you. Here’s a rundown of the various letters, logos, and labels you’re likely to encounter when shopping for an emergency radio.

While governmental agencies do not endorse any specific manufacturer or brand, they do advise buyers to look for a radio that features both the NOAA All Hazards logo and the Public Alert label.

An emergency radio works when the power goes out. Many emergency radios are multipowered, meaning they feature two or more of the following charging options.

Today’s emergency radios are often designed to serve multiple purposes. Use these options judiciously; the features that draw power will shorten battery life.

These top picks are emergency radios that can pick up NOAA broadcasts in addition to offering AM/FM listening ability. The best emergency radios also feature more than one power source, such as battery, solar, or hand-crank power, and have clear listening reception. It’s a bonus if the radio comes with weather-resistant properties and other features.

We’ve tested all of the following radios, so we can verify that they do all that’s promised. Check out some of the best emergency radios for use when the power goes out.

In addition to its functionality and ease of use, the Midland WR120B/WR120EZ NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio stands out for being configurable into multiple languages—English, French, and Spanish. It also features 25 programmable locations, so users can check out conditions in other parts of the country if needed or wanted.

The built-in SAME technology helps ensure that users can always receive alerts specifically pertaining to their home region. There is an option to select a preferred type of alert: a siren alarm, a voice alert, or a flashing LED light. Plug the Midland radio into any standard outlet or power it with two AA batteries.

We can definitely verify that the Midland NOAA will alert the listener to impending inclement weather. It was tested in an office space, where we left it plugged in and on. At any time, users could walk past it and hit the weather/snooze button to get an update on the latest weather warnings in their area.

We left it running until one day we randomly heard an alert sound somewhere in the house. It wasn’t until the second warning (and a very startled jump while sitting at our desk) that we realized it was the Midland WR120B/WR120EZ. A small-craft warning in the region was going out due to a severe windstorm moving through the area.

This model is an excellent option for an alarm clock/emergency radio combo. For those who live in an area where tornadoes or other sudden storms come up, this radio will alert them, with instructions, as long as it’s plugged in or has batteries. We also liked that it provided a weather update at any time simply by clicking a button. It doesn’t have the wide range of emergency features like a flashlight or USB charging like some of the other tested models, but for emergency weather situations, this radio will keep users up to date.

Get the Midland emergency radio on Amazon or at Walmart.

The Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio comes in a small package, at only 5.98 by 2.71 by 3.3 inches, but it’s packed with power. Of all the casings we tested, this one felt the most sturdy and durable, although its heavy plastic and reinforced edges could take a beating if the user were in an emergency weather situation. It has several power options, including a hand-crank generator, a solar charging panel, and DC.

On testing, the rechargeable battery was installed upon arrival. However, the battery was dead when it arrived, so we had to charge it for the first use, and we tried the solar panel meanwhile. The manufacturer recommends using the solar panel only in emergency situations. It’s not really designed to power the radio all the time, and with good reason. It takes 15 hours to charge the battery with sunlight, and it needs to be direct sunlight—very direct.

The Sangean solar panel didn’t charge at all sitting on a windowsill. Using the hand crank for 1 minute, we were able to get about 5 minutes of air time, which is pretty standard. It only took a couple of hours using a DC charger to get it fully charged. At that point, this model got some of the best reception of any we tested. It helped that it had a longer antenna than most of the other models, too.

One other issue we had was that the controls weren’t intuitive. You definitely need to spend some time with the manual to make sure you understand how to use everything. Even the labels on the buttons weren’t too helpful in figuring out how to use them.

Get the Sangean emergency radio at Amazon, Walmart, or The Home Depot.

If the built-in lithium-ion battery in the RunningSnail Emergency Radio runs down, the radio’s hand crank will generate all the energy necessary to listen to weather and news reports and operate the unit’s super-bright flashlight. The radio receives AM/FM and NOAA broadcasts, and it comes with a USB port for charging a cell phone or a tablet.

During testing, the AM/FM reception was exceptionally clear. However, the NOAA broadcasts were much more difficult to find. Yes, we could get on the weather band, but a stiff manual dial made it difficult to tune into a station. The reception for the station we did find wasn’t great. For strictly weather purposes, this model wasn’t the best.

However, there were other features that worked well. It comes with a motion-sensing night-light that automatically illuminates with nearby movement, a good feature for campers or others who need to get up at night. And the reading light is bright. We would say it was almost blinding, which is effective when you’re out on the trail or camping.

Users can also charge the radio’s battery with its built-in flip-up solar panel on sunny days. The solar panel worked so-so. We got enough of a charge to turn the radio on but had to boost it up with the hand crank. The hand crank helped this model stand out, with a longer handle than average and a smooth cranking action, so it was easy to use. Our favorite feature that had to do with the crank was the four battery indicator lights that let you know how much power you’ve generated.

Get the RunningSnail emergency radio on Amazon.

The Midland-ER210 Emergency Compact Crank Weather AM/FM Radio comes in a deceptively small size that belies its reception abilities. The AM/FM radio picks up a strong signal, and the speaker provides surprisingly loud audio. The AM/FM radio and the weather radio work with a digital tuner. In some ways, that’s easier to use than a dial, but it takes longer to find stations unless you already know which one you’re headed for.

The radio runs with a USB power cord, a battery, solar power, or by hand crank. The crank is easy to turn and hides well into the casing, creating a smooth outer appearance. Three flashlight settings can come in handy in an emergency situation. It has a (very bright) high beam and a low beam, as well as an SOS signal.

This model automatically locks on to the strongest weather station, but the stations can also be scanned through if needed. An alarm sounds if there’s severe weather predicted in your area. Overall, it was an easy radio to use once we’d gone through the manual. The digital tuning was easier to use than many of the manual dials on the other models, which was a huge plus.

Get the Midland emergency radio on Amazon.

Slip the Eton radio into a backpack or a duffel bag for easy carrying and retrieval. The radio measures just 5.7 inches by 4.7 inches by 2.8 inches and weighs less than 1 pound, making it easy to carry, slip into a drawer or glove compartment, or pack in a suitcase. While small in stature, the Eton radio offers a full spectrum of emergency functions, including the ability to receive AM/FM and NOAA broadcasts, so the user will never be far from important information about the weather or other emergencies.

The Eton radio comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery charged with a USB charger, an integrated solar panel, and a manual hand crank. The radio also has a headphone jack, a bright LED flashlight, a cell phone charger, and a glow-in-the-dark indicator to make locating the radio easier in the dark.

However, the Eton isn’t the easiest radio to use. The controls are confusing, and the directions don’t help out a lot. It took some work to get it dialed into a weather station. It’s small though, and once the user knows how to use the dials, they can get the information they need. Plus, it can charge other devices when its battery is fully charged.

Get the Eton American Red Cross radio on Amazon and at The Home Depot.

With its telescoping antenna, the ROCAM Emergency Radio is at the top of its class for picking up a variety of broadcast frequencies, including AM/FM, shortwave, and NOAA broadcasts. The antenna boosts the radio’s range to receive stations at a greater distance than other radios can.

This model got incredible reception and was very easy to tune to NOAA. We could either use a manual dial or a dial that went to each of the seven weather band stations. We couldn’t tune to a shortwave, but then this was one of the few radios that even had that option.

The ROCAM offers a wide range of additional functions, including an earsplitting (seriously earsplitting) SOS signal that will attract attention if the user is in danger, a super-bright LED flashlight (high and low beam), an LED reading lamp, a directional compass, and a cell phone charger. The radio comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery but also accepts three AAA batteries, has an integrated solar panel, and also a hand crank.

The reading light’s power matches that of the SOS signal, as in wow, don’t look directly into the light. However, the reading light doesn’t automatically turn off when the light is shut, so it’s easy to leave it on by accident. The radio comes with a detachable carry strap, and the case will resist damage from light rain and high humidity.

Get the ROCAM emergency radio on Amazon.

The multifunctional Kaito KA500 5-way AM/FM/SW/NOAA Weather Alert Radio receives the seven NOAA bands and two shortwave bands; this means it offers broadcasts from other countries. Reception quality is high, and the radio has five power options: by hand crank, flip-up solar panel, AC adapter, battery (three NiMH AA rechargeable batteries), or USB. Those power options are really this model’s strength since users can find a way to charge in most situations.

The Kaito does not disappoint in terms of added features, as it includes a built-in charger for mobile devices, a reading light, a flashlight, and an SOS beacon. However, the Kaito isn’t the easiest radio to use. It has an on/off button on the front, but that only turns on some of the features.

There’s also a tiny on/off button hidden with the charging ports that activates everything. The dials themselves are also confusing, so while this is a great radio for all the power options, it’s not the easiest to use.

Get the Kaito emergency radio on Amazon or at Walmart.

The Eton American Red Cross Weather Radio gets great reception on all seven NOAA broadcast bands and is versatile and durable enough for use at home or in remote locations. With its multiple power options—hand crank, batteries (three NiMH AAA rechargeable batteries), solar panel, or AC adapter—vital news is available in virtually any situation. In testing, this was one of the easier models to tune into the NOAA broadcast bands and general radio stations.

The Eton Red Cross radio includes a port for charging mobile devices, a headphone jack for private listening, a digital clock, and a glow-in-the-dark locator that makes the radio easy to grab during an emergency. It can also charge other devices.

The design is a little different from other models. It’s less suited for emergencies on the move and more for situations where the user is staying in one spot. While it’s not large, it’s also not as compact as many of the others that were shaped more like flashlights with radios attached. This one definitely feels more like a radio with flashlight capabilities.

As far as reception goes, this one was hard to beat. We also like that it had a mute button to quickly shut off the audio when needed.

Get the Eton American Red Cross radio on Amazon or at Walmart.

For general weather warnings and monitoring changing weather conditions, you can’t go wrong with the Midland emergency radio. It will alert you to weather warnings long before you can see clouds on the horizon. With its batteries, the radio can keep you updated if the power goes out. However, if you want an emergency radio with a few more features and portability, the Sangean emergency radio is small enough to travel and can withstand a few falls, too.

Testing took place in a home, specifically in a home office. Surprisingly, many of the radios arrived with dead rechargeable batteries. Our first point of order was charging. Charging with the DC or the USB cords was the fastest way to power, but we also charged using the solar panels and hand cranks.

From there, we tested the reception quality, both with the AM/FM, weather bands, and shortwave radio if the model had it. Ease of use became pretty evident by this point in the testing. Some models were very simple to figure out, while others required carefully going through the owner’s manual.

We tried out all the charging options. With the hand cranks, we timed how long we had to crank to get 5 minutes’ worth of power. We also considered how hard it was to use the crank.

Durability, size, and weight factored into the testing process, too. Some models felt lightweight and cheap, while others were lightweight but still felt like they could withstand some heavy use. Portability came into play with this part of the testing, too. A radio could sit on a nightstand, but others could get tossed into a backpack without adding too much weight.

Purchasing an emergency radio is a step toward protecting loved ones if an emergency occurs. While the hope is that an emergency radio will never be necessary, it can make good sense to plan ahead and be prepared. The following tips will help ensure the radio is ready to go in any situation.

A vital addition to any disaster plan, an emergency radio keeps users informed and aware of dangerous situations as they occur. They’re also an essential tool for receiving weather and other information to help keep loved ones and pets safe.

After reading about some of the features offered by many emergency radios, you may still have some lingering questions. Below are answers to some of the most popular questions about these radios.

One of the most critical functions of an emergency radio is the ability to receive NOAA alerts and broadcasts. Even more important is the ability to operate the radio without electrical power. This means the radio must have another power source, which may be by battery, solar, or hand crank.

An emergency radio is helpful at home if the power goes out so you are able to receive vital information. They also are needed when camping or hiking to stay abreast of local weather conditions.

A hand-crank emergency radio derives power from manually cranking a handle. This type of radio will never run out of power as long as someone is there to turn the handle.

An emergency radio can last from 5 to 10 years or longer if it’s kept clean, dry, and not dropped or otherwise abused.

Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved.