Radio Communications Systems During Crisis Situations (Intro)

This series of posts will cover aspects of radio communication in preparation and use during a crisis or WTSHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation.  It will be in a Q&A format. Please post questions you want answered in the comment block and I will do my best to include it in the series if it warrants it.  If not I will try to answer it in the comments.

 So let's get started.

What is a communications system?

• A communication system is made up of devices that employ one or two communication methods (wireless or wired), different types of equipment (land-line telephones, intercoms, cell phones, portable radios, mobile radios, base/fixed station radios, repeaters/tin cans & string), and various accessories (examples include speakers, microphones, battery eliminators, and carrying cases) and/or enhancements (encryption, digital communications, security measures, and interoperability/networking) to meet the user needs.

• Radio communications are wireless and play an important part in communicating during a crisis if the communication infrastructure or power grids are down.  Radio waves do not need a man-made or powered (wired) supporting infrastructure as they travel through the air.  Largely depending on the frequency of the radio wave and atmospheric/ground conditions and less importantly on the power used to transmit, radio waves will propagate locally in and around your neighborhood or around the world.

Why are radio communications systems important in a crisis?

• When one thinks of being prepared for any given crisis and what logistics are considered important one thinks of food/water, shelter/warmth, and protection/security. And one would be correct; these are the basic needs in any given crisis situation especially in a long term widespread scenario.  Often, not much thought goes into how to communicate during or after a crisis before order is restored and even if some thought is given it usually isn’t enough or based on a lack of knowledge.  This leads to a communications system that is not up to the job and a waste of money and energy that would be better off put into more food/supplies, better shelter/comfort, or better weapons/security systems.

• Depending on the crisis radio communications may or may not be required.  If the power grid and commercial communication links are intact then communicating via cell phone/land line/internet might still be available even if limited.  However, even if the cell towers are functioning there will be an increase in phone calls being made that will overwhelm the cell phone system and making phone calls will be hit or miss.  During 9-11 NYC cell phone system was jammed even though the communications infrastructure wasn’t damaged, at least outside of ground zero.  Even in Florida we had problems getting cell phone calls through the system during the initial phase of the crisis.  During Hurricane Katrina (in the Biloxi/Gulfport area alone) it is estimated that 2000 cell towers were taken off line (over 20 million calls didn’t get through) and only half of the cell towers were restored within a months’ time.  Even land lines were affected and an estimated 22,000 homes were without phone service during the first 30 days after the storm.  Do you want to take your chances with your cell phone or land line if your life depended on whether the call goes through or not? [ref: http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=33339]

• In a widespread crisis that lasts any length of time where travel to and from the crisis area is restricted or impossible there will be a need to communicate with areas outside whether it be personal health and welfare or official government communications.  Food, water, medical supplies will be in need but how are you going to dictate how much or where they are needed if the communications infrastructure is down?

• How about communication with your neighbors? Instead of running door to door in possible dangerous situations (power lines down, rioting/looting crowds, nuclear/chemical/biological contaminates) you could have a local radio or landline/intercom network to relay messages to a neighbor(s).  Building a neighborhood communications network may also help to foster a close(r)-knit community that sticks together during a crisis instead of disbanding into an “each man for himself” mentality.  The problem will be convincing your neighbors of the importance of such a network enough for them to act on it.  They’ll agree it’s important but think since the chances are so slim that such a crisis will happen that they discard the notion as too  much effort with little gain.  Just remember when the crisis does happen people will be knocking on your door which leads me to crisis preparedness in general, if you are prepared to handle a crisis and are prepared to help others then you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem.  Being prepared puts less stress on the community and the more people who are prepared the better off the community will be to handle the crisis.

 Stay tuned for the next post in the series where I discuss licensing.