Great suggestion about the TV - $15 seems to be a very reasonable price. This could work for the broadcast stations if I still want to see their weather radar. I also like the idea of the fan because when the power goes out during a T-storm it usually is pretty warm and humid.

I forgot that one of my back-up radios is a multiband radio with UHF TV channels. That might have helped as well.

Canoe Dogs,

Why yes, I am an Eagle Scout ( ) and I don't own a Coleman Lantern ( ). The lovely BethTexas hasn't let me spend the money on it yet, but it is on my long-term plans. I thought about getting a propane lantern and stove, with the kits to run either on a 20lb tank or disposable 1 lb.

The maps with the county lines are essential. When I lived in Ohio, Lake Erie bordered the northern border and I had memorized the surrounding counties and cities. I found that a simple road map from AAA will work for storm tracking.

Well, its switching to Tornado season here, so I'm rotating the stored water and will be checking the radios & batteries...

When out and about and worried about the weather I carry one these. It's not terribly precise, but usually better than the weatherman re: local conditions, and much easier to carry.

http://www.strikealert.com/

For a less portable, but much more accurate unit, I use this for lawn parties and when the kids have outdoor events, ie. soccor or football games. It gives a fairly precise warning of approaching storms (if there is lightening in it, and most Midwest storms do). It aso gives afairly accurate time to clear (it estimates passage time based on rate of travel)

http://www.spectrumthunderbolt.com/personal.html

For the handyman (I haven't tried this but found courtesy of google):


http://www.techlib.com/electronics/lightning.html

Great question. BTW I grew up in Salem Ma and my parents still live there. I went out not in the recent storm but another real windy soaker to try to start a fire. It was an eye opener I must say. I consider myself pretty good, but I burned out a lighter and went through two wetfire tinders. I handicapped myself by not letting myself use birchbark. I didn't use my woodman's pal either to go digging into trees for dry wood. Anyway, good question. raging storms are great practice times!