GOOD TECH WILL KEEP YOU IN THE KNOW.

BY JIM JEFFRIES

Incoming information is crucial to planning and decision-making, but you need to be able to disseminate what you know—or what others need to know—to be successful during emergencies. Of the many options available, higher-tech electronics provide the greatest range and access to resources.

1.0 BASIC COMMS ASSETS

Common sources of information are broadcast radio and television, cable and satellite TV, and Internet sources. Add to these communications from other people within and outside of your family or group through telephone, text messaging and e-mail, not to mention simple, close-proximity verbal and nonverbal communications. During a disaster, most or all of these lines of communication might become unreliable or completely cut off. How will you get information—and, more importantly, how will you keep in touch with those you must?

1.1 Fragile Infrastructure

The one weak area shared by the survival/ preparedness community as a whole is the lack of effective two-way communications that do not rely on infrastructure or systems beyond our control. With all but face-to-face communication facilitated by electronics and powered by electricity, it won’t take much to end the dependable sharing of information among groups and individuals.

2.0 ENHANCED METHODS OF COMMUNICATION

For every potential weak link in your comms plan that you can eliminate, you make your ability to stay in touch with your group and in tune with the situation at hand that much more reliable. In turn, this makes your overall chances for survival greater than they would be otherwise.

Common broadcast radio might not be a dependable source of critical information if there is a very serious emergency at hand.

GETTY IMAGES

FAR TOO MANY GROUPS MAKE A MINIMAL INVESTMENT IN COMMS GEAR, USUALLY IN THE FORM OF FRS/GMRS “BUBBLE PACK” RADIOS, AND CALL IT GOOD …BUT THOSE ARE NOT REALWORLD SOLUTIONS FOR MOST ENVIRONMENTS.