Preparedness Information: Communications

Preparedness Information: Communications

Communication is critical in emergencies. If there are phone communication failures, you could be cut off from emergency medical, police, and fire services. Prepare as if you will have no two-way communication.

Telephones, pagers, and beepers may not be working. Cellular phones sites may be overloaded. However, you may be able to maintain contact within your family or the outside world with a CB radio or a Family Channel walkie-talkie. In addition, remember the radio in your car or truck. It can certainly serve as a source for emergency information.

Getting Emergency Information

In an emergency, Placer County and many other agencies will provide emergency information on radio and television. Because of its program scheduling, radio may offer the most current information. Make sure you have a battery powered radio. These are the news radio channels which broadcast in Placer County:

• KAHI AM 950 (broadcasts from Auburn)
• KFBK AM 1530 (broadcasts from Sacramento)
• KXJZ FM 88.9 (broadcasts from Sacramento)
• KKTO FM 90.5 (broadcasts from Sacramento, relayed from Tahoe City)
• KNCO AM 830 (broadcasts from Grass Valley)
• KSTE AM 650 (broadcasts from Sacramento)
• KOWL AM 1490 (broadcasts from South Lake Tahoe)
• KKOH AM 780 (broadcasts from Reno)
• KRLT FM 93.9 (broadcasts from South Lake Tahoe)

Other radio channels may also be providing information. Regular updates will be provided to all media by the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, Public Information.

Television stations will also be provided emergency public information, and often carry live updates between regularly scheduled news.

Other cable stations may also carry it. Radio is more likely to be available than television. Make sure you have a portable, battery-operated AM/FM radio with good reception. Remember, the radio in your car or truck can also provide you with emergency information.

• If your radio is battery-operated, make sure you have enough batteries for at least a week of continuous play. How many batteries you'll need will depend on the type of radio you have. Check with the manufacturer or test it yourself. Insert fresh batteries, leave it on, and time how long the radio will operate. Purchase batteries accordingly.
• Consider purchasing a solar-dynamic AM/FM radio, which can be powered four different ways: solar, hand-cranked, AC or DC power, or batteries. Consider purchasing a solar-powered battery charger.

Family Messages

• A plan to communication with your family during an emergency is a must! Identify an out-of-state relative that all family members can contact to check in and leave messages.
• If you must evacuate your home for any reason, consider leaving a message on the door about where you went, so that other family members know where to locate you.

Scanner

Scanners are excellent for monitoring emergency services (CB, police, fire, city, county, marine, Coast Guard etc.), weather, and other developments. However, they do require batteries.

Amateur Radio

Consider obtaining an amateur (ham) radio operators license. Amateur radio can enable you to talk across town or around the world, depending on your equipment and your license. Contact local amateur radio clubs to learn about license class locations.

E-mail and Voice Mail

If your computer or phone machine is suddenly shut off because of a power outage, all your messages could be erased because the machine didn't have a chance to save them. One alternative to avoid this problem would be to remove all messages on a regular and consistent basis to avoid losing them during an emergency. Another alternative to avoid problems with your computer would be to add a battery-operated uninterruptable power supply - a UPS - available in computer stores. A UPS would give you a few minutes to shut down your computer, in case of a power failure.