Role of Cell Phones in Emergency Preparedness Kit

[Persepone]

I've read a bunch of "emergency preparedness" lists lately that recommend cell phones as (implied) reliable means of communication during weather or other emergencies/disasters.

From what I know of cellphones I do not believe this to be true-I've read it in a variety of "reliable sources" but I think that the emergeny preparedness people have not investigated properly.

Actually, the "public switched telephone network"--traditional landlines are much more likely to work than cell phones. For one thing, there is a lot of buried cable. For another, by regulation, the "central office" equipment has very sophisticated battery backup equipment that will hold the network operational for quite a few days--even with increased traffic, etc. of an emergency.

Cell phone carriers have no such regulations requiring them to spend that kind of money! Sure they have some "battery back-up" but nothing as sophisticated or as durable. If the tower is not operating &/or the "central office" equipment is not working, your cell phone will not work. The chances of this equipment not working are much greater than the chances of the phone company's "central office" going down.

Yes, phones do go down. More to the point, whenever there is a major disaster, the phone company shuts down calls into the area to prevent the network overload that results when a gazillion people all try to call in. And they may "shut down" outgoing long-distance circuits, etc.

I think it is a problem for emergency preparedness people to tell people they can depend upon their cell phones... I've an elderly couple next door (79 and 82 years old) who actually purchased cell phones for this purpose. But our cell service here is spotty at best (there are not enough cell towers for good/reliable service) and any storm involving wind will take out the existing towers entirely. So even if the people next door begin with fully-charged cell phones, they will deplete the batteries very quickly looking for a signal, and their calls probably will not go through!. So they have spent money they ill afford for protection they probably will not have.

What would perhaps be worth looking at (and there must be some people on this board who know about such things) would be the walkie-talkies with decent ranges. Yes, you have to have a license for these, but even relatively young children can be taught to operate them and they have 3 mile range or so. Having such walkie-talkies (or some other type of radio) might make more sense for family members to communicate. Radios do work in disasters...

Does anyone have good information on this out there?

[streetsoldier]

They'd be better off with an HF-VHF-UHF-CB radio construct, that is portable and easily set up, with a gas-powered generator.

Every SAR team I served with had a communications man with a set up like this (usually in a van or SUV) with a telescoping tower.

[Stephanie]

Great points Persepone and Bill! That's something alot of people I'm sure have never considered.

[BEER980]

The new small talkies you see have a decent range if you have good flat land or hill to hill. Building to building is going to reduce it a lot. I notices at Wallyword last week that some have a 10 mile range. The radios with GMRS require a licence at this time but I have heard talk of dropping that because people aren't sending in for it. For the most part they would be used for talking to members of your group. I plan on getting a set soon and would get one with NOAA alert feature. A CB would be a good alternative as well. A Ham would give the most range but it needs a licence. Usually in a major local disaster the cell companies bring in portable trucks and towers.

[Aslkahuna]

The CB and ham gear I have in the Devil Chaser can operate off of batteries, the van battery, or AC and I have Radio Shack Antennas that they are hooked up to. CB Channel 9 can be used for emergencies and the other channels for normal chatter. Generally the Hams will be on either the HF band or 2m and 70cm. I operate on 2m when I do. Plus I have scanners the will also run off batteries (three of them) so that I can monitor Police, Fire, NWR, CB, and the ham bands. It pays to be be a storm chaser

Steve


PS: I keep a whole bunch of various size batteries on hand for not only my com gear but also the several emergencie lights I have. Also have propane bottles up the ying yang in my camping trailer for the camp stove plus a fair amount of water.

[streetsoldier]

HAM licensing is not all that bad; you have a plus, in that you can send and receive messages well out of the controlled area...very handy if you need to contact a loved one by proxy.

My "comm man" had two CBs; one for general use, and one set to CAP SSB (26.620) for SAR team nets. BTW, those ":business band" radios have their good points, but one has to know what to ask for when shopping for them (range, channels, etc.)

In either case, a little (preferably a LOT of...) licensing and training goes a LONG way in an emergency-disaster arena.