25-03-2025
The Midland ER310 Emergency Radio helped me evacuate from wildfires. You need one in your kit too
I lost power the night the 2024 Eaton Fire started in Los Angeles, California. Since I live nearby, I kept checking my phone to find out if, or when, I needed to evacuate. I was receiving concerned texts from friends and calls from family, and constantly refreshing my phone's internet browser for information. Before long, I realized I needed to preserve my phone's battery. A dead phone in a power outage wasn't just useless; it was potentially dangerous considering the advancing wildfire.
That's when I remembered I had a Midland ER310 Emergency Radio that I'd previously tested for a guide on emergency preparedness essentials. Once I tuned it to a weather channel, I was glued to the radio all night listening for updates. When I finally heard my area was next for an evacuation mandate, I packed the car with my family and left.
My experience with the recent wildfires in Southern California forced me to rethink my emergency preparedness, and I'm thankful I had the Midland radio on hand. While experts stress the importance of these radios, I've always associated them with hurricane- and tornado-prone areas; however, having one when I needed relevant emergency information on when to evacuate during a wildfire made a huge difference.
The Midland ER310 Emergency Radio
The Midland ER310 is our pick as the best emergency radio for good reason. It is easy to use in an emergency and helps keep users informed during an evacuation our review While I've covered emergency preparedness before, this was my first time using an emergency radio in an actual emergency. Thankfully, the Midland ER310 is easy to use. All it requires for power is to crank the attached handle to generate enough battery to tune in and listen to a radio station. After cranking it for about a minute and getting adequate reception range, I tuned the radio, adjusted the volume and enabled NOAA weather alerts with the corresponding buttons surrounding the device's front screen. It is extremely user-friendly, which was a relief considering the circumstances in my case.
You can expect roughly 26 minutes of radio time for around 60 seconds of hand-cranking. If a minute seems like a long time to crank (and it can feel that way), you can still generate power from just 20 or 30 seconds of cranking; your charge just won't last as long.
During the night of my evacuation, I needed far more than just 26 minutes of radio time. Because of that, it took me much longer to crank the radio for a lasting charge. I took turns with my family cranking the radio to a decent power level. Although 10 minutes of cranking charged it from zero to one battery bar, that one bar lasted about 43 minutes of radio time. That's impressive.
Hand-cranking isn't the only way to power the radio, though, as it is compatible with AA batteries (it needs six of them) or the included rechargeable battery pack. Though both of these options do require some pre-planning, the fact there are other methods of turning the radio on is a great feature. There's even a built-in solar panel on the radio that gives the battery a little juice in the right conditions.
One side of the radio houses a panel with different ports where you can plug in its included charging cable or even use the radio to charge your phone. On the far left of the outlet panel is a tiny switch to control which energy source you're using to power the radio; 'Li' for the lithium-ion battery or 'AA' for the six batteries.
Before my experience evacuating, I don't know if I would have appreciated this feature as much as I do now. Though I did not have extra batteries in the radio the night the Eaton Fire began, switching from one power source to another would have maximized how long the charge lasted (without needing to frantically re-crank once the radio died).
I especially appreciated the handle on the side of the radio that made it easy to carry around. Since it has a built-in light, this handle also turns the radio into a flashlight, something I was thankful for when the power was out in my home. This flashlight from the Midland ER310 was the strongest light source I had while waiting for the evacuation notice. It offers several brightness options that are useful in various lighting conditions: standard, bright and a flashing option that signals SOS in Morse code. Thankfully, I did not need to use this feature, but knowing I could use the radio to signal for help is another reason I'm happy to include it in my emergency supplies.
I was using the Midland radio under some serious stress, so cranking it to charge was the last thing I wanted to be doing. In retrospect, a few minutes of cranking wasn't much time, but I was already exhausted from packing for my inevitable evacuation. Again, this is a nitpick but worth mentioning, as this radio is meant for emergencies like the one I experienced.
This is less about the hand crank feature and more a reminder to stay prepared. Yes, the hand crank is an energy-exhaustive way to power the radio, but it's also compatible with an included charging cable or six AA batteries. So, although I am thankful I could power the radio via the crank, I recommend charging it beforehand, or including batteries in your emergency kit. This proactive step will conserve energy and save you time in an emergency.
I'd also recommend using the solar panel to charge it as a last resort. While it takes longer to charge via sunlight, it still was the least impactful method of powering the radio.
The Midland ER310 Emergency Radio can be a literal lifesaver when used correctly. It's easy to operate, even in stressful situations, and offers several methods for keeping it powered on and tuned in to useful information.
As Southern California continues to recover from the 2024 wildfires, I've rethought my emergency preparation. Some parts of my plan were weak, while things like having a meeting place with family helped during the evacuation. Keeping a Midland ER310 in an designated easy-to-access spot in my home (and ensuring it's charged) is now a top priority. I hope I never have to use it again, but I know I'll be prepared if I do.
The following FAQ have been answered by Chloe Castillo, public information officer for Cal Fire San Bernardino.
How can you stay connected during an emergency?
How can you stay connected during an emergency?
In addition to an emergency radio, Castillo recommends having backup generators or backup batteries (while following safety measures) to maintain power during an emergency. Another recommendation is to follow information sources like the National Weather Service (NWS) and specifically the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Cal Fire's for California residents.
Apps like Watch Duty are another resource for information on wildfires in your area. I used this app during the Eaton Fire to get updates on the spread of the fire and evacuation mandates.
Why should you have an emergency radio?
Why should you have an emergency radio?
Having an emergency radio ensures you stay connected to information, even during potential power outages of an emergency. Castillo referenced the Palisades and Easton Fires as an example of this happening. Many people were left without power and cell service. 'The only way for them to get [evacuation information] would have been from a hand-crank radio, a battery-powered radio that had actual working batteries or the emergency alert system from the sheriff's department,' she says.
What else should you do to prepare for a wildfire?
What else should you do to prepare for a wildfire?
Along with maintaining emergency supplies (like first aid kits, flashlights, etc.) creating an emergency plan is a good way to stay prepared. You can follow the Six P's of Emergency Preparedness to guide you through the process.
For this article, we spoke with the following experts to gain their professional insights:
Chloe Castillo, public information officer for Cal Fire San Bernardino
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
Associate writer Gareen Puglia, who did previous reporting on natural disaster preparedness for Underscored, spoke with experts on wildfire preparation and recounted her experience evacuating from the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, California, to inform readers of the importance of staying connected to information during natural disasters.
