The Importance of 2-way Radios During a Disaster

A disaster is chaos, by definition. Disasters result in confusion and misdirection. Many people want to help, but unfortunately, often add to the turmoil. The biggest hurdle in a disaster is communication. Everything from interpersonal interactions to professional rescuer communications breaks down during a disaster. The key to getting through and recovering from a disaster is to get these communications back on track.

When a disaster strikes, whether a large-scale, multi-area disaster or a small, single building disaster, communication breakdown can mean added chaos. The stress of the situation can strain even person-to-person contact and render normal means of communication useless. Phone lines, radio and cellular towers, and electricity may all be knocked out during a disaster, further crippling communications. This leads to a need for a different form of communication.

This is where 2-way radios come in. Two-way radios do not rely on phone lines, electricity (except to charge the batteries), or towers. They will transmit messages as far as 12 miles in optimal conditions. They allow for regular voice communication and require no special training or expensive equipment.

When disaster strikes and communications are down, even professional rescuers turn to two-way radios for effective transmissions. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wiped out cellular and radio communications in the Gulf Coast, many rescuers turned to 2-way radios to ensure continued connections with each other and command. These two ways provided a link to other rescuers in the immediate area and also a chain of information that could be fed back to command centers in the storm ravaged areas.

Many fire and emergency medical services rely on two-way radios at fire and accident scenes to keep personnel connected when in perilous situations. Since operations often take place in remote areas, or areas with poor radio and cellular reception, two-way radios become a necessity for communicating with each other. Rescuer safety and continuity of care for victims relies on the appropriate and accurate passing of information from rescuer to rescuer. Without communication lives are placed in jeopardy and emergency scenes quickly turn hazardous. This communication often takes place over licensed frequencies to avoid the leaking of information or breaking in by other users.

Two-way radio communication during a disaster is not limited to professional rescuers. Many individuals and businesses find the use of two-way radios vital to their efforts, as well. Families can use these radios to stay connected to each other when they cannot be with each other. This also allows a member, or members, of the family to stay connected to the rest of the family while they venture out of the area to get help. Businesses can assign radios to key emergency response personnel to help facilitate organized and pre-planned emergency responses. These radios provide a quick, and reliable, means of organizing a coordinated evacuation and response to any disaster situation.

Two-way radios provide an inexpensive way to ensure adequate communication during a disaster. Users do not need to license a frequency for infrequent use during emergencies. Since two-way radios are used to provide on scene emergency communication when other means are not available, or feasible, businesses and individuals do not have to go to the extra expense of licensing. It is important to get a high quality radio set (or multiple sets.) A range of 8 to 10 miles is good even when dealing with communications within a building or mall geographic area. The added range ensures the quality of transmission within the building. It is important to keep the radios charged and in an accessible location should they be needed.

During a rapid evacuation families may get separated. They need to be able to find each other to make sure they get to their designated location safely. Companies often need to coordinate a rapid evacuation of a building during a fire or other emergency situation. During these evacuations people need direction, and the movement of various groups needs to be synchronized, to ensure the migration to safety is organized and effective. Communication is the key, in these scenarios, to ensuring everyone gets out and makes it to safety. Two-way radios provide this communication in any situation.

Whether coordinating large scale rescue and evacuation efforts in a major disaster or simply ensuring the family gets out and organized safely, two-way radios provide that much needed communication, no matter the situation. Since these radios do not rely on landlines or towers they can be up and running immediately in an emergency. They work when disasters have knocked out other communication methods. They provide the ever-important link in disaster situations. From professional rescuers to families and businesses, quality two-way radios are an essential part of a good disaster preparedness plan.