Would SoWal Be Prepared for a 4-5 Hurricane?

[Kurt]

The internet is the CB Radio of the 90's.

-statement made a decade ago by a senior VP at ABC.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Last one, then I've got to get back to work (clearing tons of debris out of the fish ponds yeech!). Handheld is the best (battery power and car adapter and house adapter are all cheap and easily available and it uses AA batteries!). No antenna to install, etc and it can go with you. Boat radios just don't go as far as cb and frs (family radios) are chock full of idiots and quacking (literally) children.

What? no big antenna hanging off the back bumper nor a tower mounted to the house? I ain't doing it then. That takes the fun out of knowing who has a CB.

 

[OhioBeachBum]

here be my 2cents:
1. A back up communications system in place - good old CB radio - car and mobile units are now 5 watts and go for miles, no license required, not monitored and battery powered/low power requirements, with 40 channels to choose from for your 'sowal channel' - ain't nothing else that won't be jammed with idiots talking on and on about the storm.

Hmmm... CB's been 5 watts since the get-go. Only recent difference is FCC dropped license requirement around 1980. I used a nice little cobra back in '70s in truck driving days. Downsides - tech hasn't changed over the years, effective range still more or less 4 miles (sometimes slightly better with no obsticles - I've got maybe 5-8 miles on a really good day talking to someboday with a fixed - tall - tower). Technically, a GMRS at 5 watts has a better effective range, and GMRS does technically require an FCC license. Bottom line, range into double digits usually requires a substantial external antenna.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Hmmm... CB's been 5 watts since the get-go. Only recent difference is FCC dropped license requirement around 1980. I used a nice little cobra back in '70s in truck driving days. Downsides - tech hasn't changed over the years, effective range still more or less 4 miles (sometimes slightly better with no obsticles - I've got maybe 5-8 miles on a really good day talking to someboday with a fixed - tall - tower). Technically, a GMRS at 5 watts has a better effective range, and GMRS does technically require an FCC license. Bottom line, range into double digits usually requires a substantial external antenna.

Sounds like we need to begin training carrier pigeons.

 

[aquaticbiology]

This morning I unzipped the baggie and tested the handheld CB we have in the truck for emergencies when out of cell phone and everything else reach. Still works fine and I talked to some guy about 3 miles away (a skipland'er running a monster linear with apollo squeak microphone, echo box and everything - I thought those things had surely gone to the yard sale many years ago, but they're apparently still out there). Anyway, in the days after the cat 5, and all the cellphones are full, the telephone poles are down, the power is out, the computers are either missing or out of power, the boat radio is full of gibbering idiots and wouldn't reach far enough inland anyway, frs and gmrs are full of runny-nosed parentally neglected children apparently quacking like ducks at each other (literally - just try to use a frs/gmrs radio for any length of time any day of the week and see if you don't end up switching channels - yeah, you know what I mean - "can you hear me?"..."yes, can you hear me?"...ad infinitum), a group of concerned citizens spead out along a waterfront area could use a predetermined CB channel to communicate with each other. And each CB equipped individual extends the reach of the communications chain by repeating whatever message is being broadcast down the chain.

 

[aquaticbiology]

Off to the scummy ponds again (dressed to the 9's today - brown rubbery suspendered waders! totally chic!). Anyway, just to summarize, after the cat 5 - the participating residents along the beach can check on each other via CB (if no other method is available), and the rest of us that are off the beach (and out of state) can use this board to funnel info in and out of the affected area. Sounds like a disaster plan to me, for the communication side anyway. Now, what about a rally point for those that have to evacuate, so that they can hang tough together in hard times. I suppose it depends on the route the cat 5 takes inland, but ours has always been the big Holiday Inn in Dothan, Alabama. We never had to use it anyway, but it was good to know it was there. Just make a suggestion or two and someone can tally the results. Maybe even post a map for us navigationally challenged like me. (Please don't say the Superdome!)

 

[OhioBeachBum]

And each CB equipped individual extends the reach of the communications chain by repeating whatever message is being broadcast down the chain.

Right about the chatter even on GMRS, and even with coded squelch. That is the upside of CB (not near as much traffic now as heydays in the '70s). Reasonably spaced relay can work OK - and if one happens to have a nice heathy old vintage '70s portable 12VDC Black Cat linear laying around for "emergency use", a full 15' antenna on the 'ole jeep, (and a healthy battery), so much the better.

 

[Paula]

The news reports are increasingly clear that a major problem with Katrina is that the communications broke down because (1) there wasn't an effective plan in place and (2) they didn't have communication technologies in place thta would work well without traditional power sources.

Also, the message is clear that one may not be able to get immediate help from government sources -- that may take a few days.

So, some communication steps would be (and could be organized through this board -- isn't that wonderful...):

1. Agree upon what communication system could be used under the worst circumstances (no power, lots of water)
2. Make sure enough people in the area have compatible communication systems and know they are part of the emergency network
3. Try them out in advance with the different people who share the communication network
4. Have a plan for communicating with each other and practice a few times
5. Have a way for people outside that communication system to get and give information if possible.

I believe this is the only way citizens will have a working sytem in place if the government doesn't have one immediately. It's good to have a back-up plan.

 

[Kurt]

The news reports are increasingly clear that a major problem with Katrina is that the communications broke down because (1) there wasn't an effective plan in place and (2) they didn't have communication technologies in place thta would work well without traditional power sources.

Also, the message is clear that one may not be able to get immediate help from government sources -- that may take a few days.

So, some communication steps would be (and could be organized through this board -- isn't that wonderful...):

1. Agree upon what communication system could be used under the worst circumstances (no power, lots of water)
2. Make sure enough people in the area have compatible communication systems and know they are part of the emergency network
3. Try them out in advance with the different people who share the communication network
4. Have a plan for communicating with each other and practice a few times
5. Have a way for people outside that communication system to get and give information if possible.

I believe this is the only way citizens will have a working sytem in place if the government doesn't have one immediately. It's good to have a back-up plan.

Worth revisiting.

 

[Andy A]

They are called "disaster drills" and there is always a definite need for them. I wonder when Walton County had its last one? They should be held periodically.