In any incident communications can be lost at a moments notice.

Communications

1. Making phone calls:

1. Have a contact (preferably out of state) that you and everyone in your household can contact, whom can then turn around and let everyone else know that you & your immediate family are ok. Make sure that you teach your kids how to make collect calls to this number as well as when & when not to do this.
2. When you make these type of calls make sure to have the info you want to relate to the person on the other end (i.e. I’m ok, when my kid calls tell them this…, when my husband/wife calls tell them this…., or I’ll meet them (here) at such & such time, etc.)

2. Long Distance Phone calls are on a different band width than local phone calls which creates a higher potential for successful contact. Keep it short however, because you can be cut off at any time.

3. Text Messaging is also on a different band width and can occur when calls cannot be completed due to intermittent signal (think burst transmissions). If you’re not sure how to do this (text messages) on your phone, ask you kids, they’ll teach you! (*Note* A “burst transmission” is where you type in what you want to send out & after you push send the phone (basically) will compress the info and transmit it out in a burst of energy.

4. Landlines vs. Cell Phones

a.       Landline: Any phone plugged in to a permanent spot. (i.e. Building/Phone Booth)

b.      Landlines have their own power, but phone lines on poles can break & power can be severed as the result of a quake. Not to mention right after an incident happens everyone & their mothers & their brothers will be using their phones all at the same time so the networks will clog-up quickly.

c.       Cell Phones, run off their own cell-towers that are most times equipped with a battery backup, but cell-towers can be blown over in a hurricane/tornado. These networks can clog-up quickly to so make you calls quickly. If you get a busy signal try again. And anyone you want to get a hold of quick, make sure to put them on speed dial, that way you can just hit the button again.

*Note* Cell phone usage may be available for only a short period of time after a major disaster, and the lines can get clogged up quickly. As well, within a small period of time following, (4-8hrs) government agencies (aka: FEMA, etc) will take over access to the towers that are still functioning, to use for emergency communications. So make your calls quickly.

5. Other forms of communication

1. FRS (Family Service Radios) are great for short distances but not much more (3 to 7 miles for most and as high as 17mi, but don’t expect them to go over mountains or thru buildings or other metal/concrete structures). Also keep in mind that they rely on batteries that you have to be willing to keep up on them.
2. Ham Radios – This is currently the most reliable communications network in the world for world-wide communications, period. But you will have to take a class to get a license (yes a license) to operate them. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires a license and regulates the airwaves for the frequencies used on this network. Pros: Cheap (about $100 for the license & 1st level radio), It can be a family fun project, it can cut down on your long distance bills if you get you family to do it to. Cons: The test is not easy, they rely on batteries and you have to program the frequencies into the radio manually as well as look up new ones when you want to change locations.
3. Signal Flags – Free (except for the cost of making or buying the flags and the binoculars to see someone else with them over long distances) but you can’t see them through fog, your arms get tired and you look really funny trying to do it!