40 Ways to Communicate During a Disaster

Do you have a communications plan?  Is it triple redundant?  Will it work during a natural or man-made disaster in your area?  Here are 40 communications methods that you may want to consider when you need to contact someone or receive information before, during, or after an emergency.

1. Phone call to either a cell phone or a land line.  Don't forget that you can call a neighbor--ie: the restaurant next door--if you can't get a hold of your target--ie: the fire department in your town.  The next door neighbor can answer your call and run next door to alert your target to your call.
2. Text message.  These often go through even when voice traffic isn't working.
3. Fax.  Yep, some people still have fax machines and even occasionally use them.
4. Email.  Self explanatory; have more than one email address for each person on your contact list in case one service is down.
5. Social media.  This includes Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
6. Mailing a letter.  Slow but it is an option.
7. Going over and talking to the person face to face.  If all lines of communication are down, you may need to literally run to seek assistance in person.
8. Sending a runner.  Depending on the emergency, you might need to send one of your kids with a message to run and seek help.
9. Dead drops and live drops.  These are espionage techniques but still a viable means of communications.
10. HAM radio.  Get certified and practice with this method of communication before you need to use it in an emergency.
11. Signage.  This could mean leaving a note on your door for someone, leaving a note on their door, signally SOS in a way that can be seen from the air, using FEMA search markings, tacking a note to a tree in the forest on a paper plate, writing 'help' on a sheet and waving it on your roof after a flood in the hopes that a TV helicopter will see you, etc.
12. Satellite phone.  Expensive and occasionally difficult to use (depending on the satellite) but still a way to communicate from places where there are no other options.
13. Satellite messengers and locator beacons.  In remote areas this may be your only means of communicating.
14. Video games.  Any video game system that is connected to the internet can also be used for communicating with others.
15. Online message boards.  From reddit to leaving comments on online news stories to 4chan, there are numerous public message boards that allow you to comment and/or leave messages for others.
16. Check in sites.  After a disaster Facebook has a Safety Check in system, the Red Cross has a similar system called Safe and Well.
17. The Red Cross also offers an emergency communications service for military members to alert them to family emergencies no matter where on the globe the military member is.
18. Elected officials can be useful in an emergency as they often have access to alternate ways to contact someone in an emergency.  Find your elected officials here.
19. If you are traveling abroad and have an emergency and don't know who to call, contact the State Department for further assistance.
20. Television and radio.  These are the most basic ways to receive emergency information before, during, and after a disaster.
21. There are a variety of ways to send and receive covert messages if needed.  Consider these.
22. Through chat applications.  These include SnapChat, IRC, and similar applications.
23. Sign language and/or an obscure foreign language.  Sometimes when you need to communicate in private while in public and you don't want to be overheard, these methods will work.
24. An actual bulletin board.  Sometimes when disaster strikes (ie: the Twin Towers collapse, the Manchester Bombing, etc) people leave printed messages (such as missing flyers with a photo of the missing person and contact phone number) in a public place near where the disaster happened in the hopes that someone will have pertinent information and contact them.
25. Weather radio.  These are one-way radios (you can receive information but not broadcast) that will alert you to imminent weather disasters.
26. Emergency radio apps.  Apps like Broadcastify and Scanner Radio allow you to listen to emergency radio traffic and learn what is happening in your area.
27. Short wave radio.  A bit old fashioned but it still works.
28. RTL SDR.  In interesting and unique way to access a variety of radio systems on your computer.  This is an overview.
29. Hand-cranked/solar radio.  Everyone should have one of these very basic devices to access information should the power go out.
30. Two way radios.  These don't have a very long range (a couple of miles usually) but they don't require a license to use and can allow families to stay in contact when there are no other options.
31. Audio public address systems.  This can be anything from having a bullhorn on hand if you need to communicate with a large group of people to knowing what the audio signals in your community are for tornado warnings and other emergency alerts.
32. A picture book.  Believe it or not these books can be useful when communicating with people who don't understand your language or are unable to speak...simply point at pictures to get your message across.  Here's an example.
33. Smoke signals.  I'm not kidding.  Using flares, building a fire that can be seen from the air, etc. are viable ways to communicate that you need help.
34. Emergency Alert Systems.  This can range from Amber Alerts that show up on your cell phone to emergency broadcasts that interrupt your TV show which alert you to local emergency issues.
35. The -11 system.  Everyone knows they should call 911 for police, fire, and ambulance help.  You can also call 311 for important but not exactly emergency police and fire questions, 211 for emergent social service help, 711 for telecommunications relay assistance, 811 for non-emergent public utility location assistance, 411 for directory assistance, and 511 for road and traffic information.
36. TPS.  The Telecommunications Service Priority system can be accessed by emergency service organizations and will give them priority for phone service during a disaster.  GETS and WPS are similar services.
37.  Morse Code.  Back in the dark ages when I was a kid, it seemed like everyone knew the basics of Morse Code.  Although it it not used much anymore, knowing this code can be useful in a disaster (like banging out a message on a pipe if you find yourself in a building collapse).
38. CB Radios.  Again, back in the dark ages these were a viable means of communication (and entertainment) for the masses (or at least OTR folks).  They are still in use today and are a means of emergency communications for people who don't have a radio license.
39. Online work spaces.  These include Slack, GoToMeeting, freeconferencecall.com, and other online services used for communication between people and groups.  Families, prepper groups, and other can set up these systems as a check in point if phone and internet services are still working.
40. SIPRNet, GCNs, NIPRNet, and other government communication systems are provided on a need-to-have basis.  Most civilians don't need to have access to these networks but should be aware of their existence anyway.

March Challenge #5 Your Communication Plan

In the event of a disaster, the first thing most people want to do is communicate with others.  Whether they are trying to call 911 or need to contact loved ones to let them know they are OK, being able to communicate right after a disaster can often be a challenge.  Here's some things to consider:

• Land lines will often work after a disaster when cell towers are overloaded.
• Texting often works even when cell towers are being overloaded with phone calls.
• Communicating can be done via: phone calls, texting, email, an IM program, Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and other social media platforms, and video game consoles.
• Prearranging a meet up spot in your neighborhood and at another location (should your neighborhood be inaccessible) in your town is a good way to gather the family after a disaster when all communications are down.
• Even when local phone systems are down you can often call to other states without a problem.
• Use a friend or relative in another state to be the emergency communication hub should there be a disaster in your area (be sure all family members have this person's address, email, and phone number for this purpose).
• Have a way to charge your cell phone and laptop in your car should all electricity be down in your area (like an AC/DC converter that plugs into the lighter).
• Don't forget the oldest ways of communication: leaving a written note on your door (with your evacuation details or messages for others) as well as sending a runner if needed (ie: if communication systems are down and you need 911 help, run--or bike or drive--to the nearest fire department).
• HAM radio is one of the best ways to communicate when all other systems are down.  Consider getting licensed as a HAM operator and joining your local HAM NET to practice your skills.  For even better practice, volunteer with ARES/RACES to help during a disaster.
• Two way radios usually only have a couple mile range but you never know who might pick up your call so consider keeping these radios (and extra batteries) on hand.
• Satellite phones are an option however they have plenty of drawbacks (the phones are expensive, monthly service is expensive, you need to be in direct line of the satellite, and, at different times during the day your location may be out of satellite range).
• If you are in a disaster area (or are looking for someone in a disaster area) consider posting on the Google Person Finder or Red Cross Safe and Well sites.  The reddit site for the closest city is also an option.
• Personal Locator Beacons are another option to call for help.
• Keep a wind-up/battery-powered radio on hand.  While you can't call out on this type of radio, you can receive news and information from the outside world with it.

Here are some more communication resource information: here, here, and here.

Prepping For: Communications Interruptions

If you want to know just how important it is to have communications available during a disaster, look no further than the current situation in Egypt. Over the last day or so, the government has sought to quell the rioting by shutting down the internet and cell communications within the country so that people could not organize their protests or get information to the outside world about what is going on there. And don't think it couldn't happen here--currently Congress is debating their own "kill switch" for the internet, ostensibly to "protect against cyberthreats". Yeah, right. The Internet Society offered a statement on the shutdown, basically saying that such a move is just going to piss people off even more.
So what do you do to prepare for such an event? Here's some ideas:

• Wired offers information about 'How to Communicate if Your Government Shuts off Your Internet'
• Lifehacker also offers information on 'How to Foil a Nationwide Internet Shutdown'
• One of the best ways to be prepared for such an event is to become a HAM radio operator. On a number of message boards, people in Egypt are asking about how to use HAM radio for communications but it's a bit late for that now. In order to use an amateur radio, one needs to take a test to become a licensed amateur radio user, then go out and buy the radio and other equipment they need for communications, then they need to practice using their radio so that in the event of a disaster they will know what to do. In other words, this is something you need to do NOW, not after a disaster happens.
• Another option would be to use a satellite phone.
• And as one article points out, dial up internet is another option (Google 'dial up internet services' for a list of providers)

The situation is continuing to change moment by moment in North Africa. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about what could happen here as well as give you ideas about how to handle such a situation. And the bottom line, as one article pointed out, without the internet, the country will suffer economic doom as most all financial transactions are done via internet these days. Prepare now for such an eventuality...

What Hapens When You Can't Connect Electronically?

I received a short comment on the last blog post I wrote about electronic communications from a reader. Their question was simply, how do you communicate when all communications system go down?
Here's my answer. Note how limited your alternatives are when the communications systems that we have come to depend on don't work.

• HAM radio. Time and again, when there is a major disaster, HAM radio usually becomes the only way to communicate. I highly recommend that everyone become certified, at least at the most basic technician level, to use a HAM radio and then go out and buy a basic radio.
• Computer/internet. If you have power to your computer (a laptop with a battery or a generator), and to your modem/router there is a possibility that your internet provider will have a back-up battery system which will allow them to continue to provide internet service as long as the battery holds out.
• 2-way FRS radios. These are the radios that you can buy in a set at Walmart that have a short one to two mile range. Families often use these for communications when they are on vacation out in the woods, on a cruise ship, or other places where regular cell service isn't available.
• Cell phone/texting. Even when the power is out, your cell phone may still work. Most cell towers have some sort of battery back-up so that the tower can still work, at least for a few hours after power has been lost. Note that if cell circuits are overloaded, as they probably will be right after a disaster, you may still be able to send a text message through.
• Your own two feet. I was recently invited to observe a full scale disaster exercise at a large company. The scenario was an earthquake which took out all power and communications among other things. As soon as the exercise started, the phones in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) started ringing off the hook. People in the EOC would pick up the phone and say "this is a drill, the phones are not working". The people on the other end of the line would then ask how they were supposed to communicate with the EOC if they couldn't call. Simple, the Emergency Management Team members would say, send a runner to the EOC with your information. It hadn't dawned on most of the people in this large complex of buildings that should the power go out and if they didn't have radios, they will be literally walking to get the things/news/information they need.
• Written messages. Long before cell phones, and even before CBs became popular, our preferred method of communicating with people that we had plans to meet with up in the mountains were simple signs, written with a black marker on a white paper plate, tacked to a tree. If you have no power and no services and no communications for an extended period of time, that may need to be an option for you too. Basic signs can be pre-staged in your home. Messages can range from OK to NEED HELP to NEED WATER, or other messages that you are likely to use during a disaster. The bigger the letters and the more contrast in the color, the easier it will be for others to see.

In an emergency, you can send a runner, or run yourself, to the local fire department/police department/hospital/road department office/other critical infrastructure location which is likely to have emergency communications equipment. Remember, however, that these agencies really do not want to see people flooding their location during a disaster. They will be busy mounting their own emergency response and unless it is literally a life or death situation, your needs will pale in comparison to that of the community at large, so only do this in a dire emergency.

Connect Online...Here's How

I do almost everything online these days. Here's how I keep connected:

• I keep up with the kids and grand kids using FaceBook. I opened this account with a new GMail address because I didn't want to compromise the contact list of my regular email program. The platform seems too "chatty" for me but I do learn quite a lot about their lives that I otherwise wouldn't have known.
• I use email for nearly all of my communications. I have a variety of accounts for a variety of purposes. Yahoo mail, Hotmail, Gmail, and Hushmail are some good services. I rarely use the email through my ISP or web hosts as I have crashed Outlook far too many times to rely on it.
• I use Skype on occasion for "face to face" communication and when my cell phone service doesn't work but I have internet access.
• I use Chikka to contact friends and business associates in Asia.
• I use text messaging through my cell phone more and more although almost no one my age texts. Younger people, however, can't survive without texting from what I have seen.
• I mainly use my cell phone however I do still keep a land line which I could use with a hardwired phone during an emergency.
• When possible, and in areas that Chikka doesn't reach, I often send text messages to people's cell phones through my regular email program (ie: if someone you know has Verizon cellular service you can email them at XXXXXXXXXX@vtext.com with the XXs being their entire cell number).
• Depending on which country I am trying to contact, local cell providers may have websites through which you can send text messages or web messages (this seems to be quite hit or miss in developing areas).
• With some business friends who travel often, I find that we use Twitter and blog comments quite a bit to communicate.
• I always carry an "unlocked" cell phone with me when I travel overseas. As soon as I land, I buy a SIM card and a "load" from the local cellular provider and then I have cell service which is much cheaper than using your state-side cell service overseas.

Disaster Communications

There's usually two things you can count on in regards to communications during a disaster. One, communications systems will be down and/or two, what communication systems aren't down, will be so overloaded as to make them practically useless. Either way, the result is that when you most need to rely on your communications system to call for help, check up on family members, or find out more information, they won't be available. Here's a run down on a variety of communication options during a disaster.

Satellite Phone

• These aren't wholly reliable, even on a good day. The Global Star network is still in the process of putting up its new satellite constellation which should be completed during the second quarter of 2010.
• Sat phone systems are expensive. For the average citizen, having a satellite phone in the off chance you would need to use it during a disaster doesn't make financial sense (you'd be better off using the money for additional stored food).
• If you have a base unit with the antenna mounted on your roof, you need to make sure the antenna is still standing after a disaster in order to use it. On the other hand, if you have a portable unit, you can only use it outside where it has direct access to the satellite (not a fun option in the middle of a down pour). In either case, your antenna can't be blocked by anything (trees, buildings, etc) that would interfere with direct access to the satellite or it won't work.
• If you do have a sat phone, make sure to turn in on during a disaster in case someone is trying to call you. Generally, organizations have sat phones as a back up system for disasters, however since they usually only turn the phone on for testing purposes and not normal use, people may forget to turn it on!
• If you plan on calling a friend/government agency/etc on their sat phone after a disaster, make sure you have a list of the sat phone numbers you will need to use.
• You may want to print off the satellite schedule so you will know the best place to find your satellite connection if you need it.
• If you try your sat phone and can't connect, try again a little later.
• Bottom line: unless you need a satellite phone for mission specific purposes (a dog sled race to the North Pole, a mission into places where it would be difficult--or deadly--to ask to use a pay phone) you probably don't need one.

Home Phone

• A home phone is usually the first line of communications, other than a cell phone, that people will use before, during, or after a disaster.
• If you have a phone company phone line in your home, these will often work even when the power is out. The catch is that you need a wired phone to plug into the jack (not the cordless type that also needs to be plugged into an outlet).
• If you use a VoIP system (internet phone service through your broadband company) or use Skype through your computer, these systems are only as good as your power supply (to power the computer and modem) and the power supply to your internet provider's system (some have back-up battery systems for use during power failures).
• Consider telephone priority services such as GETS and TPS which, for a fee, will give you priority for getting your phone working after a disaster (from reports this seems to be hit or miss as sometimes your phone service will be restored sooner rather than later depending on where exactly you are located). Some programs are available for civilians, but most focus on restoring service as quickly as possible to critical infrastructure providers.
• Keep a list of contact numbers near your phone. Like many people, I look up nearly every number I need online or in my contacts list on my computer; without power I would not be able to do this.
• Note that is is sometimes easier to call long distance after a disaster (this is part of your emergency communications plan isn't it?) than to call down the street.

Cell Phone

• Cell phones work fairly well on a normal day, however dropped calls and overloaded cell circuits are common even on a good day.
• Be sure to always keep your cell phone charged up and keep a car cell phone charger on hand as well.
• Check out wireless telephone priority services (WPS) similar to the above services for land lines.
• If you can't get a cell phone call through after a disaster, consider sending a text message as these can often get through when the voice calling part of the system is overloaded.
• Consider having cell phones with more than one company. I carry cell phones from two different service providers due to service issues where I usually work. One has better coverage in some areas, the other has better coverage in other areas.
• Even if your cell phone isn't working, leave it on as cell phones can be "pinged" to find your location if needed.

HAM Radio

• During and after a disaster, HAM radio may be one of the few communication options available since it uses radio waves to send and receive messages.
• You can't use a HAM radio without a license, however getting one of these is fairly simple. Check out the ARRL website for more information.
• Base stations radios with good antennas work quite well but require power (ie: these won't work when the power goes out unless you have a generator or battery back-up system). Portable radios work on charged batteries but usually their range is shorter without a really good antenna.
• An excellent way to practice your HAM radio skills (and provide a valuable service to your community during a disaster) is to volunteer with RACES or ARES.
• Note that two-way handheld radios are often included in people's emergency supplies. These are good for communication within a very short distance (two miles or so) and for coordinating with your team.

Newer Communications Technology

• Aside from the old stand-bys, newer communication methods to call for help or provide information after a disaster can be accessed either through your computer or web-enabled cell phone.
• Twitter has been used on more than one occasion to call for help. One man sent a message out via Twitter as he was being hauled off to jail in a foreign country; at least his friends knew where to start looking for him.
• YouTube, Flicker, blogs, Facebook, MySpace and other social media sites often provide disaster information faster than the local news. Simply upload your video, photo, or message and it is shot out to the world.

Incoming Communication Services

• In instances when you may not be able to communicate with the outside world after a disaster, it is still important to receive information about what is going on.
• A wind-up radio should be a part of everyone's disaster supply kit.
• You can now purchase small battery-operated televisions which do not need a digital converter box as this is built in.
• Scanners often provide up to date information just by listening to the calls from dispatch to the law enforcement and fire service personnel in the area.
• A short wave radio is another option for receiving information before, during and after a disaster.
• A NOAA radio has the added bonus of being able to turn on an alert specifically for your area when a weather disaster threatens.

High Tech and Low Tech Communications Systems

• There are other types of high-tech communications systems that just aren't practical for civilian use (infrared and microwave systems to name a couple).
• Low tech communications includes the things our ancestors would have used: smoke signals, sending a runner with a message, beating drums, using mirrors to signal others, writing out your message and posting it somewhere, etc.

While communication gaps are a huge topic for disaster planners, people seem to forget than only a few short decades ago (we're talking the '60s, '70s, and early '80s), there was no such thing as being connected to the world 24/7. Then, TVs had three stations, cars had AM radios only, and the way you communicated with others in your hunting party was to write a message on a paper plate and tack it to a tree in the mountains. While I am just as much of a communications junkie as everyone else, we all need to prepare for the times when communications are down and our normal methods of communication are not available.

DPT--Communications

Is there someone you need to communicate with and you have their phone number and email address and that's it? Consider, and plan for future communications with, the most important people in your life by knowing how to get a hold of them in the following ways:

• Email
• Cell phone
• Home phone
• Office phone
• Fax
• Text messaging (cell to cell or computer to cell)
• Skype or other VOIP system
• Instant messenger
• Twitter
• Sat Phone
• CB/HAM radio
• Through their website and/or yours
• Through a mutual friend
• By mail (at home, PO Box, office and/or ghost address)
• In a chat room
• By leaving/retrieving a written message at a predetermined location (dead drop/live drop)
• Via secret message (a message in code, in Braille, or steganography)

Can You Hear Me Now? Communications Tips

The purpose of having a good communications plan thought out in advance is so that at any time, under any conditions, you will be able to communicate with family/friends/your survival team/etc with ease. Here's a few random tips to consider when putting together your communications plan:

• For everyday communications, consider carrying a fully-charged cell phone as well as a pre-paid calling card for times when cell service isn't available. Good luck finding a pay phone, however, these have become as rare as juke boxes!
• Consider carrying two cell phones from two different carriers as some have a better signal in some locations while the other may perform better in other areas, if this is necessary for you.
• In case you can't use your cell phone and it's address book where all of your important numbers are stored, consider printing up and laminating a short list of important numbers and keeping said list in your wallet.
• Back up your complete phone book, Outlook contact list, etc on a jump drive which you carry with you at all times.
• Pre-plan who will be you local, state, across-country and outside-of-the-country contact person should you become separated from your family/friends in a disaster and make sure everyone has the person's contact info (name, address, phone/office/cell number, email address, etc). You may want to offer to be the contact for the people who are your contacts as well.
• Consider having a back up, pre-paid cell phone and charger in your home, office and car.
• Consider having a satellite phone if your situation warrants it.
• Have on hand short-range "walkie talkie" hand held radios. These come in handy during vacations and are also valuable during a disaster. Be sure to store extra batteries.
• Make HAM radio a family hobby. Make sure every one in your family/survival team is certified as an operator and very familiar with the process of communicating using a HAM radio. Practice/drill often and also consider how you would power your radios if conventional power isn't available.
• Practicing other forms of communications such as sign language, a foreign language, Morse Code, etc. is also a worthwhile pastime as you never know when these skills will come in handy.
• Learn how to discern information by watching how people communicate with body language, how animals communicate with each other and how crowds of people "communicate" as well.
• Finally, include having a "secret word" with your spouse/family for use in emergency situations.