Eggs, bread, butter, milk and a Geiger counter?

A few rather skittish Oklahoma residents are adding a new item to their shopping lists.

This story popped up on the website of an Oklahoma television station.

Fears about radiation from damaged nuclear power plants in Japan seem to have boosted public interest in buying Geiger counters, the hand-held devices that can be used to measure radiation levels.

Rita Loeffler, who works at Brigadoon Military Surplus in Del City told reporters at the station the store has received multiple calls asking about the devices.

 “Years ago we had a couple of the surplus Geiger counters. They weren't very effective and they weren't very realistic in what they would measure," said Loeffler.

"For the most part, most people don't even know what they're looking at when they read them,” she said.

She offered a more practical list of supplies for people worried about surviving a disaster in Oklahoma.

"I would say for the money you're gonna spend for a Geiger counter, you're probably better off, with the kind of disasters we see in Oklahoma, to have a good shovel and a good blanket and a flashlight in your car.”