Communication in an Emergency

In an emergency, you will need to be able to communicate with your family in order to ensure their safety. You will need to have contact with the outside world and receive current information from emergency authorities in your area. You will need to be able to communicate with medical professionals and other key people on whom your family members rely. In times of developing emergencies remember to stay tuned to the radio or television and await instructions. If evacuation is recommended, you should move quickly but calmly and follow instructions (route to be used, evacuation shelter to be sought, etc.). Have access to several different means of communication. These will keep you informed, and, if necessary, aid rescuers in locating you or a family member. Maintaining a flow of information helps to eliminate stress. Emergency broadcasts typically focus on disaster locations and how to avoid them. They will provide weather updates and information about the status of the emergency. They may also give you tips on how to remain safe. You should become familiar with the locations of emergency agencies such as the Red Cross. Radios are powered in a variety of ways - battery, solar, and hand crank dynamo. They also receive many types of signals such as AM, FM, TV, weather bands, and shortwave bands. These are often used in hiking, hunting, and search and rescue operations. WHISTLE A whistle can be heard much farther than your voice, it uses less energy and there is less chance that you will lose your voice. A whistle is a must for all emergency kits. SIGNAL MIRROR A signal mirror can be seen for miles under the right conditions. PAPER AND PENCIL Paper and pencil are important items for leaving messages and recording your thoughts. MOBILE AND CELLULAR PHONES In an emergency, cell phone systems easily overload. If you are using a cell phone, make a quick call or send a text message to your contact person and ask him or her to relay messages for you. What did we ever do without them? Well, we had conventional landline phones that stayed inside our homes. But the value of landlines has been called into question as cell phone popularity climbs. Many families have been dropping their landline telephones in favor of a family cell phone plan. "The landline is too expensive" and "everyone in the family has their own number anyway" are common reasons for getting rid of the landline. So if everyone has a cell phone, we can all be in touch in emergencies, right? Wrong! Your cell phone is only as useful as its power - both in its battery and service through your carrier. Natural disasters have shown us time after time that cell phone towers are not invincible. Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods can damage and even destroy them, making cell phones completely useless. Also, in the United States, there is no requirement for cell phone companies to have systems to keep them online (including the towers) when the electricity goes out. Although some towers may have limited backup power ability, they are not required to do so. Cell phone towers can also get crowded and deny others the ability to make calls, which would likely happen in an emergency. Landlines, however, can be used in the same situations and they work fine. Power outages can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks. If you have a landline, always have a least one corded phone that will work when the power is out. In these conditions, you will most likely be unable to charge a cell phone; so your smart phone will last as long as its battery, assuming that its tower is even functional. Of course, if you have the Wavelength™ or the Charger™, you can charge your phone when the power is out. But remember that many of the cell towers may be incapacitated. Cell phones are great tools for calling for help if your car breaks down or sending texts to announce the new baby. But for natural disasters, it's best to have a landline phone. They are much more reliable in extreme situations and do not need to be charged. Plus, the service costs less per month than a night out to dinner and a movie!