Family and Community Emergency Communications Plan

Could you call for help or even just let family know that you were OK in an emergency without relying on telephones, cell phones, or Internet?

For about 24 hours February 18-19, 2022 in part or all of 4 counties (Hamilton, Warren, Fulton, and Herkimer) the answer was a resounding NO. There was a complete or partial outage of all regular telecommunications systems, including cell phones. Informal reports are that the outages were even more widespread.

There have been other outages, including loss of 911 connectivity due to natural and man-made causes. The 2024 late-winter ice, wind, and snow storms have resulted in extended power and communication outages of up to several days for some people, and March is not over yet.

These incidents were relatively short for the most part, but what if it were days or weeks, coupled with an ice storm, hurricane, or other disaster/emergency situation? What if travel was also impossible due to ice, snow, or downed trees and wires? How would you communicate??

Cell phones don't work everywhere even in the best of times, and both cell and wired phone systems may not work in even a minor disaster or emergency situation. Be prepared to help yourself, your family, and your community.

The most powerful radio communications service available to private citizens is Amateur Radio. Getting a license is not overly difficult and equipment doesn't have to be expensive. If you are interested in getting licensed, please contact the Amateur Radio Emergency Service coordinator in your county.

However we realize Amateur Radio is not for everyone, and even if you are interested it takes some time to get licensed.

There is a simple and inexpensive way you can get started to help yourself, your family, and your community to be prepared for emergency situations when telephone, cell phone, and Internet communications do not work.

A family and community emergency communications plan can be implemented using simple and inexpensive FRS and GMRS 2-way radios that do not require a technical test to operate. Other unlicensed radio services such as Citizens Band (CB) and Multiple Use Radio Service (MURS) can also be used in an integrated system, with Amateur Radio operators providing longer distance communications and links to the emergency operations center.

This will only work if enough citizens become involved. The basic idea is that if enough people in an area have the capability of at least local communications independent of any public or commercial systems, they can exchange information and relay it to where it needs to go. This might be by relaying to someone who does have a working phone, Internet, or cell connection; someone stationed at a critical location such as a fire house or ambulance corps, or to someone such as a local amateur radio operator who can reach out over greater distances.

The radios used can be simple inexpensive Family Radio Service (FRS) 'walkie-talkies.' No license is required. Many households already have these radios. If not they can be purchased anywhere for as little as $30. The range is very limited, but if you and your neighbors have them, you can communicate with each other and relay important information to where it needs to go. The key to such a plan is that a lot of people have radios, know how to use them, and monitor in an emergency situation. The requires some organization, basic training, and standard procedures.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios can provide a much greater communication range. One license covers your extended family ($35 fee, good for 10 years). Community repeaters can be used to increase range.

Ultimately you can get an Amateur Radio license. With the right equipment, the range is virtually unlimited.

Coordination between short-distance and longer-distance radio users will result in a robust communications network that can not be disrupted by natural disasters, cut lines, or any other incident.

This draft document Elements of a Disaster Preparedness Supplemental Communications Plan offers a lot of food for thought.

Radio Relay International has formulated two programs to implement this idea:

National SOS Radio Network
Networks of local radio amateurs link citizens equipped with common FRS walkie-talkies to local emergency services during disaster situations. This program allows citizens to request assistance from local emergency response organizations when cellular networks or telephone service is unavailable.
Neighborhood Radio Watch (Neighborhood Hamwatch)
Integrates volunteer organizations active in disaster response (VOADs) into a cohesive, interoperable emergency communications program. Local amateur radio clubs train VOADs in basic radio communications techniques using RRI training materials. These VOADS then establish their own interoperable FRS/GMRS network for internal communications, with volunteer radio amateurs providing connectivity from the VOAD network to both local emergency management and international messaging networks such as RRI and Winlink.

Here are examples of how the idea has been implemented:
What is Neighborhood Radio Watch?
The GMRS Emergency Relay System: Ensuring Communication When All Else Fails

This is something any community could and should do. It will not be expensive or complicated. It primarily requires some organization and participation by enough people.

Your county Amateur Radio Emergency Service group can help. Contact your County ARES Emergency Coordinator.

Useful Links

For more information, please contact Section Emergency Coordinator .