Hand Cranked Radios

When I lived in the south, I discovered how important a radio could be. We had a few hurricane scares and several tropical storms that did “hit” our area. In New Orleans, you are never above water level and just an inch of rain can cause flooding. And believe it or not, Houston isn’t much better at times.


Just after one tropical storm, all the batteries were being used in our one flash light, so there were none for the portable radio. If I had had a hand cranked radio I would have know that the worst was over and to just stay put, the water levels were going down. Since we had no electricity and the kids school was across the street, I knew that was closed. But I had no way of knowing what was happening in the surrounding area. My husband was at work, and I couldn’t help but worry if that area was hit harder than we were or had they been spared. And our neighbors were in the same boat as I was.

If I had known then what I know now, I would have been better prepared. But hind sight is 20/20. So now I keep an emergency kit ready at all times. Two hand cranked radios, one flash light with two sets of batteries, three candles, matches, the usual first aid kit, blankets, water, and a can opener. And it is all kept together in a plastic tub. I check it, and change the batteries twice a year and it is never put in the basement or the attic.

Why two hand cranked radios? Simple, one person can be listening to the emergency broadcast station while the other is listening to the local news and weather. That way you know exactly what is going on in the area. And the hand cranked radios today, do not need that much cranking for them to work. And I have found the younger children will all but fight over who gets to crank the hand cranked radio.

Today, you can find hand cranked radios almost anyplace. They are portable radios not much larger than most wallets. I have seen some that are just AM, and some that are just FM. I prefer the AM/FM hand cranked radios, you have a much better chance of picking up a radio station no matter where you are.

Hand cranked radios should not be considered just emergency radios. They are great to have whenever you are away from an electrical source. Take it hiking or camping. You never know when the weather may change and you will need to know what to expect from dear Mother Nature to keep yourself and those with you safe.