Every region has incidents of dangerous weather and weather-related disasters. Hurricanes, tornadoes, wind-driven wildfires—these are just a few of the events that can disrupt communication, trigger power outages and necessitate evacuations. Staying on top of what is happening in your area during these emergencies is of the utmost importance for your own security.

An emergency weather radio should be amongst the tools in your emergency preparedness kit alongside the other basics: water, nutrition, first aid, shelter (temperature control and light), and communication.

In terms of overall emergency gear, ensure you have blankets for warmth in the winter, plenty of water—for hydration at all times of the year as well as cooling during hot months—and a water filtration system to prevent contamination and disease. Keep flashlights and portable lights handy in case of a blackout, and consider storing extra batteries or a power bank and solar panels for recharging essential electrical gear, like phones and home health equipment.

You can get a battery-operated or a hand-crank emergency radio. While it does take a little bit of elbow grease to power up, a hand-crank radio gives you the option to tune into AM/FM and weather radio even if you are without electrical power or spare batteries for an extended period. Hand-crank lights and radios can be useful both in emergencies and on camping trips.

When you are preparing for severe weather, it is good to research which radio stations in your area will send essential local updates, like flood warnings, evacuation warnings and evacuation orders. In the U.S., the National Weather Service supports a national network of radio stations that broadcast official warnings, watches and forecasts.

Additionally, while an emergency radio can bring you information about what is heading your way or happening in the area, you may want 2-way walkie-talkie radios for communicating with community members. With two-way radios, you can stay in touch with neighbors even if cell service is lost.