Having an emergency communications plan is an important part of being prepared for short and long-term disasters. The ability to connect with others and report information not only about your own status of safety but about changing situations and new threats is invaluable.
If land lines are cut and cell phones are down, how will you transmit the information you need to faraway people? Let’s think about and do something about that.
Having communications with members of your neighborhood/ward/stake, your family, and emergency response personnel might just be the factor that makes the difference in receiving help you need or being of help to others.
It is of great importance to have a plan in place before a disaster strikes, just like a fire drill, so that you will be able to remain calm and know just what to do, how your radio works, what station you need to be on... even where your extra batteries are.
Being prepared means, we plan for the worst possible outcome, not the best case scenario. That means we cannot rely on being able to pick up the phone and call who we need to in the event of a major disaster.
We are blessed in today's technology riddled world to have several options of communication in the wake of a disaster. If we plan, prepare and practice - there will be no need to panic!
Emergency Communications
We often take for granted the value and versatility of reliable and fast communication. However in the wake of a disaster, we may or may not be able to just pick up or cell phone and call our loved ones or EMS. As a Stake, we have a communication plan in place. Each ward should have an emergency response person in charge of communications as well as a person or two in charge of emergency planning and resources.
Each ward is divided into smaller sections of homes with a coordinator or block captain for each neighborhood group. Under the direction of the Bishop each ward should be practicing communications by having monthly “drills”. These practice sessions take place using different means of communication such as, text, e-mail and radio roll calls. The calling tree of emergency personnel in each ward is activated and afterward a report is then sent to the Stake emergency response person to establish all wards have reported in. In the event of a disaster, the calling tree will be initiated and each neighborhood group should report both safety and needs.
By having means of communication established ahead of time, the length of time between a disaster striking and getting the help you need can be reduced immensely by having a good way of reporting your status and any needs.
If you are just starting out with your preparation plan, the Baby Step to getting started is to have a good radio. Research and purchase a radio that will broadcast any emergency alerts and NOAA. (Most of this type of radio have a battery, solar or crank power option). We don’t have Hurricanes in our area, but we do get very strong winds, flooding and occasionally a tornado. Remember the earthquake in March? We have known a long time that our area is "prone" to a great shake. Earthquakes cannot be predicted as to WHEN they will occur, however follow-up information and instructions are very helpful in the aftermath. Some examples of emergency radios can be found here, and as pictured, here.
If you are running the preparation 5k, add a FRS/GMRS capable radio to your emergency kit. Make sure you know the frequencies for your ward/area so that you can listen in and receive updates and information. Examples of the radios used in our Stake and Ward communications can be found here, and here. There are several other options and brands, just be sure it meets the FRS (Family Radio Service) or GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) These are not the toy Walkie-Talkies that are out there. These type of radios have further range and more channels to utilize. Be sure to pack extra batteries.
For our Marathon preppers... consider getting a HAM (Amateur Radio Operator) license. In order to purchase and use a better radio with further range and many more benefits. More information about HAM radio is available here.
If land lines are cut and cell phones are down, how will you transmit the information you need to faraway people? Let’s think about and do something about that.
Having communications with members of your neighborhood/ward/stake, your family, and emergency response personnel might just be the factor that makes the difference in receiving help you need or being of help to others.
It is of great importance to have a plan in place before a disaster strikes, just like a fire drill, so that you will be able to remain calm and know just what to do, how your radio works, what station you need to be on... even where your extra batteries are.
Being prepared means, we plan for the worst possible outcome, not the best case scenario. That means we cannot rely on being able to pick up the phone and call who we need to in the event of a major disaster.
We are blessed in today's technology riddled world to have several options of communication in the wake of a disaster. If we plan, prepare and practice - there will be no need to panic!
Emergency Communications
We often take for granted the value and versatility of reliable and fast communication. However in the wake of a disaster, we may or may not be able to just pick up or cell phone and call our loved ones or EMS. As a Stake, we have a communication plan in place. Each ward should have an emergency response person in charge of communications as well as a person or two in charge of emergency planning and resources.
Each ward is divided into smaller sections of homes with a coordinator or block captain for each neighborhood group. Under the direction of the Bishop each ward should be practicing communications by having monthly “drills”. These practice sessions take place using different means of communication such as, text, e-mail and radio roll calls. The calling tree of emergency personnel in each ward is activated and afterward a report is then sent to the Stake emergency response person to establish all wards have reported in. In the event of a disaster, the calling tree will be initiated and each neighborhood group should report both safety and needs.
By having means of communication established ahead of time, the length of time between a disaster striking and getting the help you need can be reduced immensely by having a good way of reporting your status and any needs.
If you are just starting out with your preparation plan, the Baby Step to getting started is to have a good radio. Research and purchase a radio that will broadcast any emergency alerts and NOAA. (Most of this type of radio have a battery, solar or crank power option). We don’t have Hurricanes in our area, but we do get very strong winds, flooding and occasionally a tornado. Remember the earthquake in March? We have known a long time that our area is "prone" to a great shake. Earthquakes cannot be predicted as to WHEN they will occur, however follow-up information and instructions are very helpful in the aftermath. Some examples of emergency radios can be found here, and as pictured, here.If you are running the preparation 5k, add a FRS/GMRS capable radio to your emergency kit. Make sure you know the frequencies for your ward/area so that you can listen in and receive updates and information. Examples of the radios used in our Stake and Ward communications can be found here, and here. There are several other options and brands, just be sure it meets the FRS (Family Radio Service) or GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) These are not the toy Walkie-Talkies that are out there. These type of radios have further range and more channels to utilize. Be sure to pack extra batteries.
For our Marathon preppers... consider getting a HAM (Amateur Radio Operator) license. In order to purchase and use a better radio with further range and many more benefits. More information about HAM radio is available here.
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