Emergency Preparedness Task #9- Purchase or Set Up Emergency Communication Supplies

Purchase a solar- and/or hand crank-powered cell phone charger which works for your type of phone.  There are a variety of options to fit all different budgets and needs.  Remember that if you have a SmartPhone, you'll need the type of cell phone charger that can handle that.  If it runs on batteries and/or AC power, too, that's great.  But being able to run the charger on solar or hand-cranking power is important in case you run out of batteries, the batteries go bad or you end up in a disaster which ends up being even more long-term than what your initial backup battery supply was intended for.  Naturally, in the case of a nationwide extreme disaster, cell phones aren't likely to keep working, but I'm not trying to prepare you for that level of problems.  My main goal is to keep you and your household functioning for three to seven days in the midst of a regional problem or a blackout. 

This cell phone charger/radio/flashlight combo also has an AC adapter, which is a nice option to have:

http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-Emergency-Flashlight-Certified/dp/B0071BTJPI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375122564&sr=8-3&keywords=NOAA

This will charge SmartPhones and is invaluable in times of trouble:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Turbine-Weather-Smartphone-Charger/dp/B007KFLVTM/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1375122564&sr=8-10&keywords=NOAA

For those residing in the United States- If your cell phone doesn't have an NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) radio on it (all SmartPhones should have this capability or you should at least be able to download a program that does), then you'll need to purchase this type of radio.  They're inexpensive and invaluable in times of disaster.  Yes, a local radio station will have some news in the event of a problematic time, but I really think having NOAA is important, too.  Below are some options for NOAA radios, chargers and similar supplies:

http://www.amazon.com/Midland-Consumer-WR-120B-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375122564&sr=8-1&keywords=NOAA

http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WR-089-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B004068AWU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1375122564&sr=8-8&keywords=NOAA

http://www.amazon.com/Weather-FR182R-Radio-Flashlight-Lantern/dp/B007T13LD6/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&qid=1375122867&sr=8-48&keywords=NOAA

http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Digital-NOAA-Weather-Radio/dp/B008N2O2GK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_5

Be sure to pack a cell phone charger, NOAA radio and flashlight in your car emergency kit, too.  You don't want to run down your car battery just to charge your phone or listen to a radio.

Here's to being a prepared organized minimalist,
Liz