In an emergency situation, communication is vital. Especially if you are in need of assistance or you are cut off from loved ones. Possibly the only thing worse than being hurt yourself, is not knowing if those you care about are safe. Right now we rely on our telephones to call for help or check on our loved ones. We rely on our televisions and radios to bring us news and updates. The internet is also becoming an effective way to communicate and stay informed during an emergency situation. However, if power is lost, many of the items I just listed become inoperable.
If the power outage is widespread, as might be the case with a natural disaster, then you must understand that emergency and hospital personnel are working with the same hindrances. Try to remain calm and know that everything that can be done is being done, and emergency professionals have been trained to handle such situations.
Knowing this, it can help to ease your mind and some of the burdens of the emergency workers if you have a plan in mind before you find yourself in an emergency situation. Establishing communication is a large factor. Here are three effective means of communication in an emergency situation.
Cell phone
Because electricity and a land line are not required for a cell phone, this can be an extremely effective way to communicate during an emergency. However, in a widespread disaster, it is possible that mobile towers may be damaged or mass amounts of users may jam the circuits.
Personal communication devices
The advantage to these devices is the fact that they are lightweight and typically only require two or three AA batteries. These are a walkie-talkie device which have a “push to talk” feature. Some have voice activated sensors. Operating on the 49MHz band, there usually isn’t a lot of traffic. Many times this band is only used for baby monitors and very old cordless phones. A disadvantage to this device is its limited range. Typically your range will be under a quarter of a mile.
CB radio
Developed in the 1950’s but not widely used until the 1970’s, CB radios have not changed any over the years. CB radios can be a very effective means of communication during an emergency for many reasons.
1. Because of the low usage, CB channels are pretty quiet
2. Pricing for complete systems is relatively cheap
3. They can be operated using your vehicle’s 12v electrical system or from home with a motorcycle battery
4. Communication range can be one to fifteen miles
Some disadvantages to CB radio are the fact that rather large antennas are required. 4’ up to 8’ antennas may be required for mobile units. Home based units require even larger antennas. Also, transmissions sometimes leak through to home speakers and corded phones.
All emergency personnel recommend a wind up radio. When you have no power and are in a dangerous situation, having a radio which is powered by a winding crank will keep you informed.
The key is to have a plan in mind before disaster strikes. Communication is crucial during an emergency; discuss with your family how to make it happen.
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