Emergency Communications

[wludavid]

This isn't specific to Katrina, but this disasterand the one that occurred 5 years ago next sunday has really struck home the idea that our beloved communications network is very very delicate. Wireless phone networks were not built to take on the load of the entire population calling at once, and obviously natural or man-made disaster can take out the landline based phone and cable systems.

It's got me thinking about how I'd go about getting in touch with my loved ones if something really bad happened suddenly. I live about 5 miles from my sister - close enough for a good CB, and easily close enough for an (armed) jog down the street to find her, so that's not a big deal. My parents are a bigger problem. They live about 25 miles away, which may as well be the midwest as far as getting in touch with them in the wake of a disaster. Road closings, bandits, and injuries could all prevent getting out to them - and there's no guarantee they'd be there when I got there.

I'm thinking I need to get a set of HAM radios or something similar to be able to get in touch quickly and reliably. Not for a long conversation, but just to confirm the plans that we've made in advance. And oh yeah, plans. Gotta nail down some good contigency plans as well.

Anyone else been thinking about these lines, or have anything to add?

[slakjaw]

A telco friend called me yesterday and told me that Sprint shutdown and powered down the long distance switch in NO. (That really surprised me to) He said that 90+% of the cell towers in the area were on generator or battery power and that they will only last a few more days, unless they can get get Fuel or A/C power to them.

I agree with John Cramer, you really need a battery powered radio AM and shortwave.

[competentone]

Originally posted by slakjaw
A telco friend called me yesterday and told me that Sprint shutdown and powered down the long distance switch in NO. (That really surprised me to) He said that 90+% of the cell towers in the area were on generator or battery power and that they will only last a few more days, unless they can get get Fuel or A/C power to them.

I heard a CNBC interview yesterday; Sprint had teams ready to go into the area, but were holding them back due to the general lawlessness and danger in the area.

People get what they deserve.

[wludavid]

Originally posted by competentone
People get what they deserve.

Can we please leave the editorial to one of the MANY other threads on this topic?

I don't think handheld family band radios will do much good in an emergency. They're mostly for hashing out details of plans over short distance when you already know how/what/where the rest of your group is doing. I'm thinking shortwave HAM radios or units that can interface with with AMSAT satellites. Nothing like using a couple of uber-geek media to ensure quiet channels when you need them. The downside is that they are not buy-it-and-forget-it simple.

As for planning, I should look into the FEMA and DHS advice.

As an Eagle scout, I certainly know the mantra of being prepared - but to me that was usually a short-term goal with relatively known environment; ie camping, boating, etc. Planning for long term unknowns is a little more daunting, but a little seems to go a long way.

[id10t]

Satellite based cell phone. Expensive, but works anywhere.

[jyl]

Aside from exotic stuff like sat-phones, ham radio is the best. Even a handheld can raise a repeater 30 miles away (from Berkeley my handheld can talk through the San Jose repeater). The hams who run repeaters are pretty resourceful and will do everything to keep them running (and you could simply donate a small generator to the repeater you use the most). And the ham community is oriented to emergency communication and helping each other.

The problem is that you have to study and take a test to get your ham license, and when I took it (mid-90s) it wasn't a trivial test. The radios are marketed to geeks hence pretty complicated, no way could my wife or kids use one.

[xlr8]

ARRL

[Joeaksa]

Have worked Ham for years. That and what John C said will save you in a difficult time. Course being a survivor and keeping food and water in the house helps as well. I could stay without any outside help for a min of 45 days as it stands right now and am thinking of stocking up to make it 60 days after what happened in NO.

JoeA