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DISASTER PREP AND THE 3G KINDLE: Reader Robert Woodard emails:

Surprised you missed a chance to mention the 3G Kindle in your link to the story on Joplin. One of the reasons I bought the new 3G Kindle is the fact that the Whispernet works in places and at times where/when other forms of communication may not be available. Certainly it’s not the optimal email platform, but in an emergency being able to get in touch with your loved ones through a Kindle when all other forms of communication are unavailable is a huge advantage (I worked in NYC during 9/11 and the blackout two years later, and currently commute to the East Coast from the Midwest during the week (thanks Obama!) so communication capability means a lot to me).

Yes, I recall some people managed to get email through after the Japanese earthquakes by using a 3G Kindle when nothing else was working.

UPDATE: Reader Donald Gately emails:

A month or so ago, you linked to a page that had a bunch of pdf versions of emergency first aid books (“Where There is No Doctor” and “Medical Aid at Sea” were two of them). I downloaded them and put them on my Kindle.
While it would be ideal to also have hard copies, having a selection of emergency first aid books and other disaster/survival manuals on a device that has a multi-week battery life (if the wifi is off), could come in pretty handy. Especially if a disaster strikes when you aren’t at home, or if you have to leave in a hurry.
Maybe Amazon should start working on a ruggedized Kindle with an even longer battery life – or the ability to take AAs.

Or a solar charger.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Steve Bohn writes:

Glenn, regarding your emergency charging options for Kindle post, thanks to a link from you I bought an Emergency hand-cranked powered radio on Amazon and it included a USB charging cable.

Yes, a lot of those devices support USB charging now.