Communication AND Navigation

The first priority in any emergency is information: what happened, what's coming, and where it's safe. Receive-only radios give you access to NOAA weather alerts, AM/FM news, and shortwave broadcasts without needing a license, without infrastructure, and often without external power. These are the radios that tell you when to shelter, when to evacuate, and when it's over. Every household should have at least one.

NOAA / AM / FM Emergency Radios

Essential for Every Kit

Compact radios that receive NOAA Weather Radio (7 dedicated frequencies), AM, and FM broadcasts. The best models include SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) alerts that activate automatically for your county: the radio literally wakes you up when a warning is issued. Look for models with multiple power sources: hand crank, solar panel, USB charging, and AA batteries. Many also include a built-in flashlight and USB phone charging port. Midland, Eton, and Sangean are the trusted brands. At $25–60, there's no excuse not to have one.

NOAA + AM/FM SAME alerts wake you up Crank / solar / USB

Shortwave Receivers

Global Information Access

Shortwave radio waves bounce off the ionosphere, which means a receiver in your living room can pick up broadcasts from thousands of miles away. BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio Australia, and amateur radio nets from other continents. When local media is down and internet is dead, shortwave is often the only source of information about what's happening beyond your immediate area. Models with SSB (Single Sideband) capability can also monitor amateur ham radio traffic. No license required to listen. Sangean, Tecsun, and C.Crane make solid portable receivers.

Worldwide reception SSB for ham monitoring No license to listen

What to own

NOAA/AM/FM emergency radio with SAME alerts The radio that wakes you up when a warning is issued for your county. Multiple power sources: crank, solar, USB, batteries.
Shortwave receiver with SSB Global information access when local media is down. BBC, VOA, and amateur radio traffic from other continents.

Receiving information is step one. Communicating with your family, group, or emergency services is step two. Two-way radios let you transmit and receive: coordinating evacuation, requesting help, and maintaining contact when phones are dead. The trade-offs between radio types are range, power, licensing requirements, and complexity. Start simple (FRS walkie-talkies), step up when ready (GMRS), and go deep if motivated (ham radio).

FRS Walkie-Talkies

No License, Short Range

Family Radio Service radios: the classic blister-pack walkie-talkies. No license required, 22 channels, limited to 2 watts. Realistic range is 1–2 miles in most conditions (ignore the "35-mile" marketing claims). Dead simple to use: turn on, select a channel, push to talk. The right choice for family communication within a neighborhood or campsite. Models with NOAA weather alerts add genuine value. At $20–50 for a pair, they're cheap enough to buy multiples. Not suitable for serious distance or emergency infrastructure.

No license required 1–2 mile realistic range Price: $20–50/pair

GMRS Radios

Best Balance for Preppers

General Mobile Radio Service: a significant step up from FRS. GMRS radios can transmit up to 50 watts, access repeater networks that extend range to 20+ miles, and share channels 1–7 with FRS radios so they're backward compatible. Requires an FCC license ($35, no exam, covers your entire family for 10 years). The best balance of range, simplicity, and legal accessibility for most preppers. Midland and Motorola make dedicated GMRS handhelds; mobile units mount in vehicles for even more range. Channel 20 is the designated emergency/traveler assistance channel.

Up to 50W $35 license (no exam) 5–25 mile range

Ham Radio (Amateur)

Maximum Capability

The Swiss Army knife of emergency communication. Ham radios can access virtually every frequency band. NOAA, FRS, GMRS, marine, aviation, and dedicated amateur bands that span from local repeaters to worldwide HF communication. A Technician license (entry-level, $15 exam fee) gives you access to VHF/UHF for local/regional communication. A General license adds HF bands for cross-country and international reach. The learning curve is steeper, but the capability is unmatched. In every major disaster, ham radio operators are the first to establish communication when all else fails. Baofeng radios are the budget entry point; Yaesu and Icom are the serious options.

Local to worldwide range License + exam required Steepest learning curve

CB Radios

No License, 40 Channels

Citizens Band radio. 40 channels at 4 watts, no license required. Primarily used by truckers on Channel 19, with Channel 9 designated for emergencies. Range is 3–10 miles depending on terrain and antenna. CB radios are useful for vehicle-to-vehicle communication on the road and tapping into the trucker network for real-time road conditions during evacuations. The technology is decades old but the infrastructure is massive. Handheld CBs exist but vehicle-mounted units with proper antennas perform significantly better. A good complement to GMRS, not a replacement.

No license required 3–10 mile range Best use: road, vehicle convoys

What to own

FRS walkie-talkies (2+ pair) License-free, 1 to 2 mile range in real conditions. For family coordination during outages and evacuations.
GMRS radio (if licensed) Higher power than FRS, repeater-capable, 5+ mile range. Requires an FCC license ($35, no exam).
Ham radio entry setup (if licensed) The most capable option: regional to global reach. Requires study and a license exam. Start with a handheld VHF/UHF.

GPS is wonderful until it isn't: satellites can be jammed, phones die, and apps need data. When you need to navigate without electronics: during an evacuation, in unfamiliar terrain, or when roads are impassable: analog navigation skills and tools become critical. A quality compass and a paper map of your area are two of the cheapest and most reliable pieces of emergency gear you can own.

Compasses

No Batteries, No Satellites

A baseplate compass (like a Suunto or Silva) is the standard for land navigation: transparent baseplate for map reading, rotating bezel for bearing work, declination adjustment for accuracy. They require zero power, have no moving electronic parts, and work anywhere on Earth. Lensatic (military-style) compasses are more rugged and precise for field navigation but have a steeper learning curve. A button compass on a zipper pull is a backup, not a primary. Learn basic map-and-compass skills before you need them: in an emergency is not the time to start reading the manual.

No power required Declination adjustable Price: $10–60

Paper Maps & Atlases

Works When Everything Else Fails

Topographic maps of your local area, state road atlases, and regional maps printed on waterproof/tear-resistant paper. USGS topographic maps (1:24,000 scale) show terrain, elevation, water sources, buildings, and trails: everything you need to navigate on foot when roads are blocked. State highway atlases cover major and secondary roads for vehicle evacuation planning. National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are waterproof and cover popular recreation areas. Store maps in a waterproof bag with your compass. Your phone's offline maps are a good supplement but not a replacement.

No power required Waterproof versions available USGS topo for detail

Handheld GPS Devices

Digital Backup

Dedicated GPS units (Garmin inReach, Garmin GPSMAP series) with preloaded topographic maps that work without cell service or data connections. They receive satellite signals directly and display your position on a detailed map. Battery life ranges from 16 hours to several days depending on model and usage. Some models (like the Garmin inReach Mini) include satellite messaging and SOS functions via the Iridium satellite network: letting you send texts and emergency alerts from anywhere on the planet. More reliable than phone GPS because they're purpose-built, waterproof, and have significantly better battery life and antenna sensitivity.

No cell service needed Satellite SOS on some models Price: $150–450

What to own

Baseplate compass No batteries, no signal required, works everywhere. Learn to use it with a paper map before you need to.
Paper road atlas and local topo maps GPS dies when satellites are jammed or batteries are dead. A current road atlas and local topographic maps weigh almost nothing.
Handheld GPS or satellite messenger (optional) For backcountry navigation and emergency SOS. Satellite messengers work anywhere on earth. Subscription required.

When you can't reach someone by radio, you signal. Visual and audible signaling devices work when all electronics have failed: a mirror flash can be seen for miles, a whistle carries further than a human voice, and a signal flare is unmistakable. These are last-resort communication tools, but they've saved countless lives. Light, cheap, and zero-maintenance: there's no reason not to carry them.

Signal Whistles

Loudest Per Gram

A pealess survival whistle produces 100–120 dB: audible over a mile away and far louder than shouting. Pealess designs (no ball inside) work wet, frozen, or clogged with debris. The international distress signal is three short blasts, repeated. Attach one to every bag, every jacket, every kit. The Fox 40 Classic and S.O.L. Rescue Howler are the standards. At $5–8 and weighing a fraction of an ounce, it's arguably the best value in all of emergency preparedness. Teaches children the universal signal for help.

100–120 dB Pealess: works wet/frozen Price: $5–8

Signal Mirrors

Visual Over Miles

A glass or polycarbonate signal mirror with an aiming hole can reflect sunlight to a target up to 10+ miles away: search aircraft have spotted mirror flashes from over 50 miles in ideal conditions. Virtually weightless, no batteries, no expiration. Military-spec mirrors (like the Coghlan's or UST StarFlash) have a retro-reflective aiming aid that makes targeting easy. Practice the aiming technique before you need it: it takes about 30 seconds to learn but feels counterintuitive at first. Tuck one into every go-bag and vehicle kit.

10+ mile visibility No power or expiration Weighs almost nothing

Flares & Glow Sticks

Night Visibility

Handheld road flares (15–30 minute burn time) mark your position at night or in poor visibility. Aerial signal flares launch a bright light visible for miles: primarily for maritime and wilderness rescue. Chemical glow sticks (cyalume) provide 8–12 hours of low-level light for marking positions, tent lighting, or signaling: no flame, no heat, safe around children. Store flares carefully (they're pyrotechnic devices) and check expiration dates. Glow sticks have a 5-year shelf life sealed and are dirt cheap in bulk.

Road flares: 15–30 min burn Glow sticks: 8–12 hrs 5-year shelf life (sealed)

What to own

Signal whistle (pealess) Audible over a mile. No batteries, no moving parts. Three short blasts is the universal distress signal. Attach one to every bag.
Signal mirror Visible for miles in sunlight. Weighs nothing. The most underrated rescue tool. Practice aiming the flash.
Glow sticks and/or flares Nighttime signaling and low-light marking. Glow sticks last 8 to 12 hours. Flares are brighter but single-use.

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