A practical guide to NOAA Weather Radios and hand-crank emergency radios: how NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards works, SAME county coding, Public Alert features, what hand-crank radios can and cannot do, reception tips for apartments and a setup checklist.
Quick answer: a folding saw is the best all-round choice for most people because it is rigid, safe to carry and cuts well. A bow saw is better for cutting a lot of firewood, a pocket chainsaw packs the smallest, and a wire saw is a lightweight backup. A saw is usually safer and more…
Quick answer: for most survival kits, a mid-size Victorinox with a good main blade, scissors, a saw and a can opener is the practical choice. The Victorinox Swiss Champ is the “everything” option with 33 functions, while the Fieldmaster is lighter, with 15 functions and a wood saw. Treat either one as a backup tool…
Quick answer: a survival spear is a niche, low-priority tool. For most preppers, water treatment, shelter, a good knife and saw, and a fishing kit come first. If you still want one, choose by purpose, keep it short enough to handle and strong enough not to snap, and check your local laws before you buy,…
Quick answer: choose a watch with a long-lasting power source (solar or a replaceable battery), a sturdy case and strap and honest water resistance. Add an altimeter, barometer and compass only if you will learn to use them. Budget pick: Timex Expedition Gallatin Solar. Feature-packed pick: Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400. Outdoor-sensor pick: Suunto Core. Whatever…
Quick answer: for most families, a pair or set of rechargeable FRS/GMRS handheld radios that also run on AA batteries is the best starting point. FRS radios need no license, but real-world range is usually a mile or two, not the “30 miles” some packages claim. Add a battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio for…
Quick answer: for emergency backup, a dual-fuel generator that runs on both propane and gasoline is the most flexible choice. Propane stores for years without going bad, which makes starting more reliable after long storage, while gasoline is easier to find and gives slightly more power. Whichever you choose, run it outdoors at least 20…
When the power goes out, a generator is an important backup for a survivalist. It may be difficult to start a generator that has been sitting for a long time because it is primarily used in emergencies and is otherwise left idle. If a generator has been idle for an extended period of time, it…
Quick answer: it depends on the generator and the load, but a typical portable generator at about half load runs roughly 4 to 11 hours on a full 20 lb cylinder. A 20 lb cylinder holds about 4.7 gallons of propane when filled to roughly 80 percent. To estimate your runtime, divide the usable gallons…