My local Walmart has the Midland Model 74-250 All-Hazard radios on clearance for $9 (originally $39.99). These are handheld, battery powered radios with the location specific warning capabilities. They were locked up in the cabinet with the GPS units in the hunting section.

It's not a great radio, but at that price it'd be good for a BOB.

Review here.

-Blast

We already have three different radios that can pick pick up weather info, so we don't need one, but if we had a need, the price sure sound right; even if that link you gave describes "...Horrendous battery consumption, Large antennea, Flimsy beltclip, Complex programming...occsional use only. This radio is not acceptable for daily use..."...

My post knocked you unconcious? And you think if you moved to Houston you'd have to spend too much time rescuing ME?

-Blast

This is a good portable weather radio with SAME capability. Anyone who reads the review should read everything the writer says since he/she says good and bad things. On the one hand, the person complains about the big antenna, but in the next breath, praises the big antenna for the unit's good reception. He complains about the flimsy belt clip but also praises the ruggedness of the actual radio itself. I don't disagree with the opinions, just that it isn't an entirely negative review, for any of you who sees OBG's little snippet of the negative comments.

I'm not sure where the battery consumption problem is, but my 74-250 will last about two weeks on 2xAA alkalines. That's not bad for 24/7 stand-by, particularly running on just 2xAA versus the more typical 3xAA/AAA arrangement. However, running on NiMH batteries, I also get only a few days of use before it shuts off. It's not clear what is going on with the rechargeables.

Anyway, personally I would say this is a steal at $9.

Word of warning: I bought two this morning and opened one of them. A bad switch has it trapped in "REC. MODE", rendering it unusable. I called Midland Radios and spent ten minutes with a "tech" trying different things to make it operational. She finally said just return it to Walmart. I'm not sure if I'll replace it or just get my money back. I'll let you know how the second works when I try it tonight.

-Blast

The second unit seems to work okay, though reception leaves much to be desired. Overall, It might be worth the $9 if you are already at Walmart but I wouldn't make a special trip.

-Blast

I just grabbed this Crank Radio at Princess Auto for $7.
Forever Flashlight,Made by Excalibur Electronics.
So far the crank charger, amfm radio, and light work fine.
www.excaliburelectronics.com

cheers
al