Today's emergency radios are often designed to serve multiple purposes.These top picks are emergency radios that can pick up NOAA broadcasts in addition to offering AM/FM listening ability. The best emergency radios also feature more than one power source, such as battery, solar, or hand-crank power, and have clear listening reception. Flashlight: Great for those times when a little light is needed during a power outage and there isn't a regular flashlight. Flashing light: Useful for attracting attention when you need assistance, like when a car breaks down alongside the road. Cell phone charger: Includes an auxiliary port for recharging cell phones and tablets. Speaker options: Most emergency radios have external speakers that permit anyone in the vicinity to listen, but a unit that allows headphones or earbuds can be helpful in certain situations (such as when children are sleeping nearby). Listener language options: Allows for listening to emergency broadcasts in languages other than English. Shortwave capability: Some models are capable of receiving shortwave (SW) broadcasts. Shortwave stations do not broadcast emergency information and alerts, but users can listen to broadcasts from all over the world. Waterproof case: Protects the radio in rainy conditions. Impact-resistant case: Lets the radio really take a beating. It's advisable for anyone who's butterfingered or tough on gadgets.