Emergency Situations..........What to do?
GMRS and Amateur Radio are NOT replacement or substitute for 911. With respect to emergencies these are systems of last resort, a last chance. If you need help in any situation and if it is possible to call 911 then please do so. If you are unable to call 911 for whatever reason, then radio may be an appropriate pathway. There is no promise here --- we can only strive to do our best under whatever circumstance arise.
With that said, there are two types of situations we can consider. The common small incident where we may be looking for more information, and the more serious large incident where we are really in trouble. These are very different scenarios that require a very different set of considerations.
Small Incidents:
A small incident can become a large incident and thus require transition to a "directed net" which is explained in more detail under Large incident. During a small local incident people may be looking for information and updated. There are a number of ways to actively seek that information.
You may be able to turn on your GMRS radio and listen for information there. A number of us keep our radios on and actively monitor.
If you own a scanner or can use a scanner being streamed via the internet you can listen to emergency services radio traffic. You may also be able to help keep others informed via radio or otherwise.
It it is a wildland fire incident or has a strong potential to become one you have a Facebook account, you can join https://www.facebook.com/groups/pcares for details.
If you access to a smartphone, you can download Watch Duty from either the Google Play or Apple Store.
Sometime information is relayed via GMRS during small incidents but mostly people's focus is primarily listening to the scanner and reporting via Facebook group listed above or Watch Duty, so depending on the severity of the event people's attention may be more or less strongly diverted there until internet is no longer available.
It is encouraged that anyone who listens to the scanner themselves or monitors the Facebook group to give periodic compacted updated via GMRS, especially at critical moments.
Large Incidents:
Having access to a radio network does NOT mean that you should not evacuate if are or feel you are in danger. If you have been told to evacuate then please do so. (if you "know better", then you are who I am talking to here.)
Please do not put your life or the lives of others, including our first responders, at risk in order to fill an role.
Any situation can change and we all need to be prepared to adapt.
During a large incident, especially wherever it becomes important to meter the flow of traffic because other forms of communication are unavailable, it will be critical to establish an NCS. This is something we need to consider in phases.