Now that Mother Nature has our attention, let's take a moment to think about crank-powered radios. The Wall Street Journal's personal-technology columnist Walter Mossberg likes the Eton Multi-Purpose Radio FR300, sold by Hammacher Schlemmer. The crank keeps the radio powered up and charges cell phones too (in case a cell-phone tower survives).

He also reviews other radios, and he offers suggestions to keep iPods and other essentials going. (I'd like to hear the people who look forward to the "peace and quiet" after an earth-shaking disaster say that after about the third day.)