I saw another post today that made me think about communications with family in an emergency. And how I don't have a comms plan.

Our family is in the area but a little bit scattered. Some out toward Fall City, some in Bothell, and some very close to us in Redmond. None of us have close friends outside of the area and the last remaining family member not in WA is moving up here soon.

What's a good way of staying in touch when the power is out and stuff is disrupted?


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I'm a fan of HAM radio. I have my basic (Technician) level and am working to get my mid-level (General) so I can use high frequency bands. The perk of that is you don't have to be line of sight with another unit or a repeater. Some of the bigger repeaters have back-up power, but I'd rather not rely on that.
The downside to HAM radio is you are required by law to be licenced (It's not super hard). So, convincing family members to do it could be tough.

Also during an actual emergency you can use a HAM radio without a license, but a HAM radio is like a handheld GPS unit. Totally useless unless you know how to work it.

So many variables and cost... to figure.

The basic is getting a point of contact long distance. It doesn't have to be close family. Just someone that will help in an emergency. It's cheap, easy and not too hard to coordinate.

So living in Washington State... if you have family or friends on the middle or East Coast would be great. That person can be the contact (middle person) to relay all family needs if a local disaster happens (knocking down local telephone).

Texting has been brought up but again it's reliant on power, relay stations and local phone company (internet).

Ham (limited moderate distance depending on power source)

CB but it's limited distance

Satellite phone... costly but may be a good emergency option if you are wiling to pay for the Monthly service. I have heard they have special packages for low use but you'll need to find out for sure.

How much money and resources is something to figure out. Distance and how many folks you want to stay in touch with is a key factor because it's all equipment heavy/cost.

Thanks guys. HAM, texting, and a person living outside of the area are options that I thought of too. But other than texting (assuming cell towers are working), I don't think any of those will work for me.

I've got no time to spend learning HAM and my extended family isn't going to have any interest learning it (hell, I can't even get them to buy a little dehydrated food or water). And I don't really have any friends or family outside of the area, except my brother in law who is moving here next year.

Maybe our best bet is simply rendezvous...


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Sometimes the lowest and easiest "plan" is the best.

We are so ever reliant on power and technology that give a guy 2 sticks to make a fire and he will freeze to death or die of exhaustion.

A plan to meet may be your simple low tech answer.

Please make an alternate location if you go this route. Meaning have a primary and secondary in the plan.

A meetup plan that doesn't rely on additional communications is probably the most reliable and simplest to implement. A backup plan that assumes you will not be able to rendezvous is probably also worthwhile. If everyone is ready to make do on their own, their chances of getting through the situation might be better than if they're planning to be reliant on someone else.

You don't have to be line of sight or use a repeater for the frequencies that you're currently allowed to use. I know from personal experience that you can communicate on 5w from Lakeridge to the UW campus using ladder line j pole inside a house without a repeater.

I don't have any family local so I just plan on calling golddigger.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Midland-GXT1050 ... K:US:LISTG

^^that's funny! I almost laughingly suggested smoke signals, but I'm guessing that most folks will be wearing or wishing the were wearing respirators to protect from the smoke of the conflagration that will almost certainly result from a huge earthquake. Your signals will be lost in the general haze.

One day when I grow up I want to know (and be able to do) half the shit you do. I've heard of a jpole...barely.

http://www.2wayelectronix.com/Dual-band ... UAL-16.htm

You can hit the PSRG repeater in Queen Anne with this, a trekking pole and 5w from ~5,500' at Mt. Rainier

You can do it to! I get inspired. One day I want someone like Dave Chappelle telling a story like this about me. Skip to 5:30 if it pleases you to get to the point