Preparedness Tip Wednesday- Communication
>> Wednesday, July 8, 2015 –
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Communication is a very important thing in an emergency situation. You will want to be able to contact family and loved ones to let them know your status if you are ok or need help. Our top three choices for communication are:
1. Cell Phones/Smartphones
start with cellphones, because almost everyone has one. While cell networks are often overwhelmed during a disaster, they still might help you make contact.
If your initial attempts to make a call fail, try texting or using your phones data plan to make contact.
As we’ve seen in past disasters, texting and even social media apps can sometimes work, even when voice doesn’t. A text message takes a lot less bandwidth than a phone call, so during a disaster this might be your best bet for making contact.
Text: Text messages require far less bandwidth than phone calls, and even when the ominous “all circuits are busy” recording comes on, texts will still work as they operate on a parallel network to cell phones.
Email: Don’t discount sending e-mails during emergency situations as a valid method of communication. Email servers are located globally, and it’s unlikely they will all be dead at the same time. But where do you get internet access if cell phone service is dead? Oftentimes, WiFi service will still be up and running, since the cables used for hard wired Internet operate on different networks than cell phones. For most WiFi, you don’t even need to be in the building to access the service.
2. Satellite Phones
Satellite phones offer a couple of advantages during a disaster. First, they don’t rely on local cell networks, so they’re less likely to be affected by an increase in call volume. Second, even if the entire local cell network goes down, your satellite phone is still going to be operational.
3. HAM Radio
HAM radio has played an integral role in every disaster this nation has faced for over 100 years. HAM will remain functional even when modern communication devices become worthless. The seemingly old-fashioned devices are extremely reliable and allow users to connect with the outside world when Internet access, cell towers, and phone land lines are no longer functional.
CB Channel Frequencies
Channel 1 26.965 MHz
Channel 2 26.975 MHz
Channel 3 26.985 MHz Prepper CB Network (AM)
Channel 4 27.005 MHz The American Pepper’s Network
Channel 5 27.015 MHz
Channel 6 27.025 MHz
Channel 7 27.035 MHz
Channel 8 27.055 MHz
Channel 9 27.065 MHz REACT Channel – Emergency CB radio use
Channel 10 27.075 MHz
Channel 11 27.085 MHz
Channel 12 27.105 MHz
Channel 13 27.115 MHz Popular with campers, RV drivers, and boaters
Channel 14 27.125 MHz Federal Motor Coach Association
Channel 15 27.135 MHz Popular with California truck drivers
Channel 16 27.155 MHz Popular with ATV clubs
Channel 17 27.165 MHz Also popular with California tractor-trailer drivers
Channel 18 27.175 MHz
Channel 19 27.185 MHz Primary truck driver chat channel
Channel 20 27.205 MHz
Channel 21 27.215 MHz
Channel 22 27.225 MHz
Channel 23 27.255 MHz
Channel 24 27.235 MHz
Channel 25 27.245 MHz
Channel 26 27.265 MHz
Channel 27 27.275 MHz
Channel 28 27.285 MHz
Channel 29 27.295 MHz
Channel 30 27.305 MHz
Channel 31 27.315 MHz
Channel 32 27.325 MHz
Channel 33 27.335 MHz
Channel 34 27.345 MHz
Channel 35 27.355 MHz Australian channel
Channel 36 27.365 MHz
Channel 37 27.375 MHz Prepper 37 channel
Channel 38 27.385 MHz
Channel 39 27.395 MHz
Channel 40 27.405 MHz
Prepper Freeband and CB Radio Frequencies
CB 3 (AM) 26.9850MHz Prepper Channel
CB 36(USB) 27.3650MHz Survivalist Channel
CB 37 (USB) 27.3750MHz Prepper CB Network – AM
Freeband(USB) 27.3680MHz Survivalist Network
Freeband(USB) 27.3780MHz Prepper Channel
Freeband(USB) 27.4250MHz Survivalist Network
For the full list of frequencies, click here.
To find more communication devices and tips click here.
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