Communication
Communication is often found to be a significant weakness in emergency response. Whether it is the actual hardware or the verbal communication itself. Whether first responders or residents of a community, communications is vital. Do you have personal plans for communications? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself.
How will I obtain information from broadcast media during power outages that last for days or weeks?
How can I contact friends and family if regular services such as landline, cell phone or internet are out?
What if local broadcast media are knocked out? How will I get my information?
How will I contact emergency services if phone services are knocked out?
Am I prepared if I can't contact emergency services immediately?
As an Amateur Radio Operator, I know the importance of communication as part of emergency planning and preparedness. I am a General Class Operator and my Call Sign is N9ZEK.
The Gibson County Amateur Radio Society sponsors a 2 meter amateur radio repeater ( KB9NEJ ) which operates on the frequency of 145.410 - mhz. A pl tone of 136.5 is required to access the repeater. It is located on the East side of Princeton, which is also the county seat. A weekly net is held every Wednesday evening at 9 pm (Central Time). All Amateur Radio Operators are welcome to check in.
Two of my favorite communications magazines are
Popular Communications and Monitoring Times
Both of these magazines are excellent resources if you want to learn more about scanning, amateur radio, CB, FRS, MURS, shortwave listening, am/fm broadcast radio, military monitoring, Homeland Security, emergency preparedness and many other aspects of communications. Check them out.
LIVE SCANNER
AUDIO LINKS
The following links allow you to listen to live police scanner activity. I hope you find these to be useful tools. If you live out of the area and just want to keep up with what is happening or if you live in the area and are out of town you can still keep up with current activity in the community. Note: what you hear is actually a few seconds behind the live audio.
GIBSON COUNTY
POLICE, FIRE, EMS, INDIANA SAFE-T MUTUAL AID & ISP DISTRICT 35
WABASH COUNTY, IL
EVANSVILLE & VANDERBURGH COUNTY
KNOX COUNTY
SPENCER COUNTY
Do you need your Weather/All Hazards radio or scanner programmed? If so Contact Me.
I will provide you a quote. I will need the make and model of the radio and what it is you want to listen to.
What time is it anyway? Click the map below for official times in the United States from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). UTC time is also available.
COMMUNICATION RESOURCES
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While Amateur Radio is a popular and very versatile means of communications, not everyone is interested in becoming a licensed operator. For those not interested in becoming an Amateur Radio operator, there are many other viable means of personal communications. CB Radio, FRS, MURS and GMRS are all useful forms of communications and have their place in certain circumstances. I will be adding resources and information about each of these soon.
No matter what device you have, if it runs on batteries, it will need to be recharged and/or operated from an alternative power source if power is out for long periods of time. The resource below is fantastic. I use them for my cell phones, netbook and other devices. Check them out.
LOCAL FORUM
Check out the "Homesteading and Preparedness" section of Gibson County Now for discussions concerning a variety of topics for planning and preparedness from local residents (and those who are not local as well). Click the logo below to go to the main page then scroll down to the "Hobbies and Home" section. There you will find the Homesteading and Preparedness area.
NEWS
WRAY RADIO
THE DRUDGE REPORT
