During a disaster, one of the most important things to be prepared for is communication. If you and your loved ones get separated at any time during a disaster, it is vital that you have a way to reach each other. You also need to have access to news about the situation and potential sources of help. This also applies to people who may need your help.
So when thinking about being prepared, make sure that you have backups and plans for communicating with your team and the world around you. We put together this guide of everything you need to know to communicate during an emergency. Communication can be one of the most important aspects of safety and survival.
Communication Problems
Making plans for communicating may seem silly because of all the modern technology that we have. But, I think it would be pretty surprising how quickly these conveniences could disappear. For example:
- Bad weather can knock down cell towers, electric lines, and cables (winds, flooding, snow, etc.)
- Earthquakes can damage underground wiring
- Asteroids and debris can disrupt satellites
- Congested networks or bandwidth problems
- Human attacks focused on disrupting communication (hackers, cyber terrorists, etc.)
All of these are completely plausible ways that you could lose the ability to communicate. This is why every TV show that has people undercover or in compromising positions can somehow lose communication with their team and it remains completely believable. Whether these are believable or not, the fact remains that communicating is a lot more fickle than we would like to believe.
Make a Plan
The first and most important thing you can do is to make a plan. The time for planning is now. If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that we need to be prepared before disaster strikes. So plan early and often and thoroughly.
1. Set a rendezvous point
Everyone you care about should know where to meet up in the event of a disaster. This could be a bunker or a house that is secure. Set this as your emergency plan and make sure everyone knows how long they should wait before journeying there and what the protocols should be.
2. Create a contact list
Make sure you have a list on paper of everyone or anyone that may be necessary to contact. This list should include public services like first responders, power companies, and other relevant information hubs on top of family members and friends. I recommend making it part of your Everyday Carry (EDC) bag because if you get stranded and have to borrow someone’s phone you will not have every number memorized.
3. Establish a calling tree
Make sure you have a plan for how you are going to contact all of your close friends. A calling tree is a great way to get information out and check to make sure your community is okay. Usually it is great to do this with a neighborhood or church group that may already have some of this organization in place.
4. Stay informed and connected
Make sure you are alerted with the most recent updates whenever possible. Join text alert programs from your local government and weather updates. Follow safety organizations on social media, and use social media to give and check status updates. Download helpful apps from emergency services like the FEMA or Red Cross
5. Gather Knowledge
There are some basic principles about communication that can always be taught before hand or written down for reference. For example, tips and tricks to preserve phone batteries would be really handy. If you want to go above and beyond, become certified to use a HAM radio or learn morse code. These are two skills that could make a huge difference.
Ham radio Affiliate Program
https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=83272
Morse Code Learner
https://morse.withgoogle.com/learn/
Gear Up
Mobile Network Devices
One of the most useful items you can get for communication is a mobile network device. These devices connect through your bluetooth and use their own radio signals to allow you to send texts and GPS coordinates to another device using the same network.
https://www.radacat.com/products/radacat-team-messenger-c1
Gotoky
Beartooth
Fogo
Walkie Talkies
Walkie Talkies are essential for communicating over a distance and some of the nicer ones will have a pretty good range. They are pretty standard so I would recommend having a few of these on hand.
CB Radio and HAM Radio
These radio transmit and pick up messages and various frequencies just like any other radio. The difference between HAM and CB is that you have to be licensed to use a HAM radio making the information passed through more official and trustworthy.
Satellite Phone
Satellite phones use satellites instead of a typical cell tower. This means they are usually much more reliable in a pinch since they may still work when cell towers are down, especially if you live out of the big cities in areas that are not as populated.
Power Source
You also want to make sure that you have plenty of power sources to charge all of your devices. These are going to be crucial if the grid goes down so make sure that you have plenty on hand for whatever you might need.
Flares
If all else fails, flares are a great way to communicate location. Pack a few in your EDC and leave a few in your storage area for signals. Also, smoke from fires can be a makeshift signal if need be.
Mirror
Having a small mirror can also be used as a small signal from long distances. While not the best way to communicate, they can serve that purpose and can take up very little space. Mirrors are also just useful to have so I would stock up on a few pocket sized mirrors.
