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Potential disasters are everywhere. I anticipate one every time I talk to my editor. ("Bass, you call this a column? Rewrite it--and have it on my desk in an hour!") The other disasters--earthquakes in California and some parts of the East, hurricanes in the South, and tornados across the Midwest--demand that you have a preparation plan.

Put Together a Disaster Kit

We have the usual stuff--food, water, flashlights, meds--as well as a checklist of relatives and emergency services. We also have a crank-powered radio (more on that later).

If you don't have a kit to prepare for your area's brand of disaster, you really should put one together. There are plenty of Web sites offering lists and procedures to get you started.

You might want to begin your research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where you'll find information to help you prepare for any manner of disaster: earthquakes, extreme heat, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, you name it. Here are some more sites:

• I found a great checklist of things to do in an earthquake from the City of Berkeley.
• The Alaska Sea Grant has help on preparing for an earthquake or tsunami and ways to reduce damage.
• The Earthquake Store has tips for dealing with pets, seniors, and physically challenged people in an emergency.

On the odd chance you might also want to keep your computer data safe, I feel obligated to mention a PC World review of online storage services, "Store It on the Web." You might also look at an old, but still valuable, "Mobile Computing" column that specifically addresses preparing for disasters.

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Emergency Radios

Every so often I check the supplies in the earthquake emergency supply box in the house and the daypack we carry in the car.

Unfortunately, every so often isn't enough. I recently discovered that many of the AA batteries I would have used for the portable radio had sprung a leak.

One change I made was to carefully wrap rubber bands around the batteries to ensure the contacts didn't touch; I also placed them in sturdy plastic bags.

I decided to buy a self-sufficient radio--one that doesn't require batteries. I spotted Eton's American Red Cross FR400 emergency radio at the Consumer Electronic Show in January.

There are four models with similar features. The differences include having access to either the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather and TV-VHF broadcasts or its short-wave broadcasts. The essential component for me is that the radios use a hand crank to generate their own power. What's really cool is that they have a connection that can charge most cell phones. Pricing on the four models start at about $45 discounted.

If you don't want all the bells and whistles (the Eton radios have a built-in flashlight and siren), take a look at the $13 Crank Powered FM Radio and Flashlight from TechGeek.

Still too expensive? Oh, you really are cheap. See if the Innovage Outdoor Weather Band Radio (it needs two AAA batteries) from SurplusComputers appeals; it's currently on sale for $12.

Dig This: If you saw the trailer for "The Da Vinci Code," you'll get a kick out of Microsoft's parody. [Hat tip to Carl.]

The Best Radio Ever

I just got a new radio that I'm enjoying the heck out of. That's because it's old-fashioned, not a fancy newfangled device that comes in dozens of silly colors and has to be connected to a PC. The Eton Elite Series AM/FM Shortwave Clock Radio E10 replaced a Radio Shack AM/FM that sat on the window in the bathroom for a decade. (Warning: That Eton site has loud, silly music.) The E10 can run on Ni-MH rechargeable or regular batteries, has a built-in recharger, and comes with an AC adapter. It costs about $120 discounted.

The E10 is just about the perfect radio. It's AM/FM/Shortwave with 500 presets--so with one button, I can tune in to my favorite Polka Party station broadcasting from around the globe in East Yehupitz. It's small, has good sound, and comes with an external antenna.

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Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.