I thought about a pre-paid visa but a)It has the same possibility of it being used for a non disaster as cash and during a disaster the electronic transaction system may be down (i.e. 2003 blackout). I decided cash was more usable.

Good idea about the vacuum bag; if she is willing to give up clothes I may add that to v2

The radio will automatically scan and lock on to a radio station. Hit a button and it scans and locks on to the next station. There is no display screen - only a volume control and scan button. Will have to replace it when radio goes all digital but for now its truly idiot proof. Finding a simple radio was actually the hardest part of putting together the kit. Even the Radio Shacks in my area don't stock them. I pulled this one out of swag I got from a conference.

-Kurt