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Communication [kuh-myoo-ni-key-shun]
n 1. the act or an instance of communicating; the imparting or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings.
“Beam me up, Scotty!” Not too many years ago the Star Trek Communicator was a fantastic little device only seen on TV but now we all have them…little hand held computers that give us voice, text and internet anytime, anywhere, and on demand. That is until the power goes out, the cell towers go down or internet blinks out. Then the world is a dark place even at noon on a bright, sunny day. We get irritated when our cell phone drops even one call…imagine what it would be like in a widespread power outage.
Our communications grid is an increasingly complex and fragile network of satellite and microwave links all of which depend on an elaborate system of servers and switchers, much of which runs through the internet backbone. Wire lines, satellite and VOIP (voice over internet) intermingle in an elaborate maze of devices which depend on a stable, uninterrupted flow of electrical current to continue operating. The plug must stay in the wall or we’re out of luck.
The loss of communications in the wake of Katrina was severe enough for the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to commission a study on exactly how it got so bad and stayed down for so long.
It can happen anywhere at any time. A major blackout can take the communications grid down for an entire region of the country. If the power is off long enough the loss of servers and regional connections can shut down phone and internet based communications for the entire country.
In the aftermath of Katrina and Sandy scores of people were “missing” for days due to an almost complete halt in communications. Cell phones and land lines were inoperable and most local media outlets were without power. In New Orleans survivors were making themselves deathly ill drinking contaminated water because they didn’t know that a few, short blocks away emergency centers had been set up with bottled drinking water and safe food rations. Just as food, water, and personal protection are critical, having an emergency communications plan can also be the difference between life and death when the grid goes down and governmental services are stretched to the breaking point.
Local Emergency
What are the chances that your entire family will be home together when an F5 tornado roars through town or a regional blackout hits? If you are anything close to normal, it is likely that the only creature at home will be your pet. Everyone else will be somewhere else, living life. So how do you get back together and implement your families carefully laid out emergency plan? Here are a few tips for reaching out and touching your loved ones in a localized emergency:
Make sure every family member has an ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone number programmed into their cell phones.
Designate an out-of-state friend or relative to act as the point of contact in case local cell service is jammed but your family is able to send text or phone calls out of the affected area.
Text messages often get through when voice service is jammed. Make sure everyone knows how to text and to whom they should send them.
Designate a local “rally place.” This is a location everyone goes to immediately in an emergency when communications are not getting through. Everyone should be working toward reaching the “rally place” until everyone has been reached by phone or radio and instructed to do otherwise. Your home might be the best place or a local community center or fire station might be your best choice. Your city probably has several places that will be immediately designated as emergency centers in a disaster.
If you kids go to school somewhere close to home consider keeping a charged FRS/GMRS two-way radio in their backpack. When everything else is down these little hand-held radios will work within a 3 to 5 mile range. Obviously, you will want one at home as well, charged and ready to use.
Motorola FRS/GMRS Two Way Radio
Multi-Power Emergency Radios are an essential tool for receiving weather alert and local emergency info that is not dependent on the internet or phone service. In most instances at least one local AM station is designated as the “Emergency Alert” leader and will be up and running on back-up power when everything else goes down. Your emergency radio should have at least 2 power sources: battery and hand crank. It should also include the following bands: AM-FM, NOAA and Shortwave receiving capability.
Multi-Band Emergency Receiver
The Kaito Voyager radio pictured above can be charged via 6 different sources: solar, hand crank, AA batteries, the built-in Rechargeable battery pack, the AC adapter, or charge from a computer via the USB port . That same USB port could also charge your cell phone. The receiver includes AM/FM, all national NOAA emergency alert channels as well as two shortwave bands.
The key to communications success during a localized emergency is for everyone in the family to know what to do and to not give up trying all steps in your plan until every member has been contacted.
Longer Term Emergencies
In a longer term emergency everyone should have at least a handheld radio on their person at all times. If you are forced to leave your home these little two-ways can be a life saver if you get separated from each other.
In a widespread communications shut-down the shortwave bands on your emergency radios may be the only method available of receiving reliable information. Shortwave stations that have been on the air for a long time tend to be located in the mountains, broadcasting from remote areas. This means they are more insulated from widespread grid failure and governmental shut-down. Most sovereign nations have a national shortwave station like Voice of America, Radio Havana or Radio New Zealand. These three have very active English service broadcasts but the information tends to be slanted toward whatever message their respective government is promoting at the time so listeners beware.
Many of the shortwave stations originating from the U.S. are owned and controlled by Christian ministries and in a time of national emergency these stations are well worth making note of for a better chance of accurate information.
FRS/GMRS Two Way Handheld Radios
For two-way communications the FRS/GMRS hand-held radios will continue to be reliable as short-range communication devices during these longer term grid outages. Independent two-way radios do not depend on the communications grid to operate and will provide a way to stay in touch at short ranges during an emergency. Whether you are hunkering down and sheltering in or bugged out, two-way communications between members of your party can be vital to both your individual survival as well as survival of your group.
Family Radio Service/General Mobile Radio Service hand-held radios like the Motorola units pictured above are widely available at sporting goods and discount retailers. Most are less than $50.00 a pair. These services do not require a license or any technical knowledge to operate other than the ability to read an instruction sheet.
Be mindful of the fact that the range claims made by the manufacturers were developed under ideal conditions. Flat land in West Texas, no obstructions, with the operator shinnied up a telephone pole when talking. Reality will usually be half the claimed range or less depending on the conditions, how high you are in the surrounding terrain and how well charged your radio is. Keep in mind when you formulate your power plan that these little radios will need to be kept charged as well.
Amateur Radio Service aka Ham Radio
The Amateur Radio Service (ham radio), in operation since 1909, has been an integral part of the national Civil Defense emergency communications network. Hams are primarily radio hobbyists that volunteer their time, expertise and equipment to serve as communications stations in times of disaster and emergency.
The more sophisticated ham radio equipment is capable of world-wide communications and is easily transported and powered by emergency generators and solar installations.
The downside of ham radios for most of us is the high level technical knowledge (requires you to pass ham radio licensing exam) and the expensive equipment. To build a go-box of ham equipment capable of communicating nationally or world-wide, you’ll spend between $500 to $1000 for used equipment, and $2,000.00 + if you choose to buy all new.
Complete Worldwide Ham Radio go-Box
UHF/VHF Handheld Transceiver
Regulated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) – Ham Radio licenses are issued at three levels:
Technician Class License – this is the beginning class. This license is the easiest to obtain and gives you full UHF (ultra high frequency) and VHF (very high frequency) privileges as well as some limited HF (high Frequency) privileges on worldwide bands. The UHF/VHF frequencies (called “bands”) are line of sight much like the little FRS/GMRS radios mentioned above. Most emergency readiness sites are promoting VHF/UHF hand-held radios as the answer. While it is true that they are very handy to have in a local weather emergency, they are “line of sight” communications devices. For wide area communications these radios depend on a network of Repeaters provided by local ham radio clubs. In a wide-spread power failure these repeaters will not work and the radios will become little more useful than the FRS/GMRS two-way radios we discussed earlier. The technician level license does allow voice communications on the 10 meter HF band which is a popular worldwide HF band. Weekend classes are widely available to prepare for the Technician Class test though your local ham club. Another great resource is the Gordon West Radio School http://gordonwestradioschool.com/. Gordon publishes easy study guides that will teach you the information you need to pass the test in as little as couple of weeks of occasional study.
General Class License – this license gives you full privileges on all the HF (high frequency) world-wide bands. More study is necessary to pass this test with a higher level of technical knowledge but you will learn everything you need to know to communicate with hams in other states and around the world with a high power HF transceiver. Again, Gordon West publishes the best study guide for the General Class License prep.
Extra Class License – this is the geek level. You’ll need to go find a pocket protector and lose all your fashion sense to take this one. You don’t receive any more useful frequency privileges but you do learn a great deal more about radio theory and advanced operation. If you fall in love with ham radio as a hobby you might want to earn this license but it won’t really advance your efforts in emergency preparedness for your family.
Ham Radio can by very useful in any type of disaster event. If you have a ham radio club in your area you can bet they have developed a relationship with the local authorities and are present in every emergency situation. During Katrina and Sandy the first communications up and running after the storms made landfall were ham radio volunteers. In most areas the hams have an Emergency Operations Center connected to the local fire house or public safety center. Here in Texas hams play an integral role during our typically very active severe weather season. When you hear the TV weather guy announce that a severe storm or tornado has been confirmed by storm spotters those spotters are usually volunteer ham operators working their mobile rigs. If you buy into ham radio at the General Class level you will have working two-way communications regardless of the scope of the disaster. Most dedicated hams have emergency power for their rigs so unless the world comes to an end their will be someone out there to talk to.
Some have purchased ham radio gear but don’t get a license assuming that in an emergency a license won’t be necessary or will be overlooked. Anyone who has a ham license and some experience on-air will tell you this is a really bad plan. In order to communicate reliably using ham radio you must have an understanding of procedure, signal propagation, solar activity, seasonal effects on different bands and how to find the most active bands. Using a ham rig without any knowledge or experience on the air, and hoping to be able to find someone out there in the world to talk to, will only lead to failure and frustration. Learning all the radio frequency theory necessary to pass the Technicians Class test will equip you with the knowledge you need to fire up your rig in a disaster situation and the ability to create meaningful contacts quickly. If you continue on to the General Class License, and spend some time on air during various ham radio field events, you’ll begin to develop a network of contacts that will be up, on the air and ready to pass information along when the poopie hits the fan.
Contributed by Mike O. – Ham call sign KF5VHT
Websites and Resources
HAM RADIO TECHNICIANS CLASS:
Presentation given by the Hurst Amateur Radio Club, W5HRC, for those interested in getting their first Ham Radio License. This is a 3-part class that was Livestreamed on YouTube April 30-May 2, 2020. Material will follow this book – https://www.amazon.com/2022-2026-Technician-Class-WB6NOA-Gordon/dp/0945053010/
WATCH CLASSES HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs_Ab58w9LI_jgoIv6SShsLACgOIly0np
ALTERNATE SOURCE FOR PURCHASING THE BOOK: https://www.w5yi.org/catalog_details.php?pid=79&sort=4
More about ham radio
http://www.arrl.org/shop/emergency-communications/
Family Emergency Communications Planning
Family Radio Service Radios
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