Emergency Communications

This post was originally published as part of a Survival & Preparedness Guest Post Writing Contest here on ModernSurvivalOnline.com. It can be seen in its original format HERE. – Rourke

            As I learned from working in the areas ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and several others, cell phones and land-line telephones are basically useless.  It became obvious very quickly that I could not call home from most areas due to the telephone lines and cell towers being “down” or busy.  Fortunately, I was prepared by having a 2-meter, a 10-meter (both now replaced with a HF/VHF/UHF all band radio), a Citizens Band (CB) radio, and a Uniden Bearcat Scanner which all were mounted in my truck!  The scanner allowed me to hear law enforcement and other agencies that were responding to and working the disaster.  The 2-Meter radio allowed me to contact local authorities and also to monitor rescue and recovery efforts and to plan which routes and areas to work in due to massive damage and debris everywhere.  The CB allowed me to contact truckers and their fantastic network of highway/roadway information! With the 10-Meter radio I was able to make contacts that could get in touch with my family which were several hundred miles away and safely at home!

 

 

I use frequencies from five (5) different areas of the radio spectrum to aid in my travels, for safety, obtaining information, and in communication with others.  The areas were:  NOAA Weather Radio, CB (both AM and SSB), FRS/GMRS, VHF Maritime, and most importantly Amateur Radio (Ham Radio).

 

 

You do not need a license to monitor or listen to any of the frequencies provided in this article. However, you will need a license to talk on some of the frequencies listed.  I will start with “free-talk” frequencies or the ones where no license is needed.

 

 

NOAA Weather Radio

            NOAA broadcasts are tailored to specific areas and give specific information to fit the needs of people in the listening area of each NOAA transmitter.  There are currently over 425 transmitters in theUnited States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, andSaipan. Canadahas its own weather alert system and can be researched on the Internet.  Each transmitter covers a range of approximately 40 miles from the transmitter site.  Currently over 80% of the country is covered by NOAA broadcasts.  This 80% encompasses up to 95 % of the population!

 

 

In theUnited Statesmost NOAA broadcasts are heard 24-hours a day with the weather forecasts being updated as needed.  Special hazards and other warnings are broadcast as needed.  Broadcasts have evolved to a point where most weather radios have “Specific Area Message Encoding” or S.A.M.E. which allows the user to program only the areas they wish to monitor or hear affected by the broadcasts when receiving weather or other hazard warnings.

 

 

In times of severe weather in some areas, local Ham radio operators or Skyward Hams call in on specific radio frequencies and update the local NOAA office with weather reports from their location.  If monitoring the Sky Warn frequencies you will get advanced notice of any hazardous weather in your area!  NOAA operates on seven (7) frequencies outside of the normal AM/FM radio bands.  No licensing is required to own a NOAA Weather radio or to monitor their transmissions.  They are listed below:

 

Frequency

162.4000 MHz                                    162.4250 MHz

162.4500 MHz                                    162.4750 MHz

162.5000 MHz                                    162.5250 MHz

162.550 MHz

I monitor the NOAA frequencies with my Ham radio equipment and have gained very useful information in times of severe weather.  If you purchase a NOAA Weather Radio, these frequencies are pre-programmed allowing the end-user to turn it on and start receiving broadcasts!

 

 

Citizens Band Radio (CB)

            If you did not sleep through the entire 1970’s and 80’s you most likely have heard of and probably once owned or knew someone with a CB radio!  They gained immense popularity with the truckers and then with almost everyone else at some point in the past.  Since 1977 they all have 40-channels.  Some come with single-side band (SSB).  Others have the NOAA channels and some even have Blue Tooth capability.  The radios that have SSB supply 120 separate channels to use in your communication:  40 AM, 40 USB (upper side-band), and 40 LSB (lower side-band).

 

 

TheUnited StatesandCanadahave a tremendous amount of over-the-road truckers and most of them utilize CB radio!  When listening to or talking with them you will learn the location of weather hazards, mobile law enforcement, roadway obstructions, traffic jams, accidents, hazardous drivers, good food, rest areas, and much, much more!  (A lot of the older Hams cringe at the thought of CB radio, but the information and safety factors greatly outweigh their prejudices against the CB and its operators!  By the way, I’m an Amateur Extra Class Ham and a CB’er!)  CB’s utilizes specific channelized frequencies from 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz.  Truckers primarily use Channel 19 (27.1850 MHz) for their communications nation-wide with Channel 9 (27.0650 MHz) being the recognized Emergency Channel.  CB’s are used by many 4X4 clubs, hunting clubs, RVer’s, and boating clubs!  Currently you do not need a license to operate on any CB frequency in theUnited States.

 

 

The transmission range of a CB varies greatly with the type antenna, atmosphere, channel, number of other transmissions taking place, terrain, and solar activity.  Most mobile to mobile transmission will be between your location and up to 10 miles out.  Some periods may allow “skip” or “DX” to occur resulting in transmission over 100 miles and up to a thousand mile or more!  However, talking “skip” is illegal under the FCC rules for CB use.  Power is restricted to 4-watts on AM and 12-watts on SSB.  A CB frequency chart is below:

CB CHANNEL INFORMATION

CB Channel	Frequency	Frequency Use
Channel 1	26.965 MHz
Channel 2	26.975 MHz
Channel 3	26.985 MHz
Channel 4	27.005 MHz	Used by many 4X4 clubs.
Channel 5	27.015 MHz

Channel 6 

27.025 MHz 

Many operators using illegal linears.Channel 727.035 MHz Channel 827.055 MHz Channel 9

Channel 10

 27.065 MHz

27.075 MHzUniversal C.B. Emergency / REACT Channel.Channel 1127.085 MHz Channel 12

Channel 1327.105 MHz

27.115 MHz 

Often used in some areas for marine & RV’s.Channel 1427.125 MHzFCMA (Federal Motor Coach Assoc) heard here   Channel 1527.135 MHzUsed by truckers in CA. 

Channel 16 

27.155 MHz 

Used by many 4X4 clubs.Channel 1727.165 MHzUsed by truckers on the east-west roads in CA.Channel 1827.175 MHz Channel 1927.185 MHzUnofficial main” Trucker” channelChannel 2027.205 MHz  

Channel 21 

27.215 MHz 

Used by truckers for N/S routes in CA and some other areas.Channel 2227.225 MHz Channel 2327.255 MHz Channel 2427.235 MHz Channel 2527.245 MHz  

Channel 26 

27.265 MHz Channel 2727.275 MHz Channel 2827.285 MHz Channel 2927.295 MHz Channel 3027.305 MHzChannels 30 and up are often used for SSB.Channel 3127.315 MHz Channel 3227.325 MHz Channel 3327.335 MHz Channel 3427.345 MHz Channel 3527.355 MHz  

Channel 36 

27.365 MHz 

Unofficial SSB calling channel, USB modeChannel 3727.375 MHz Channel 3827.385 MHzUnofficial SSB calling channel, LSB modeChannel 3927.395 MHz Channel 40  

Since I’m the only Ham radio operator in our family, we have a set CB channel and an alternate channel to meet on if an emergency or crisis arises!  It should be noted that even though there are 40 channels on the CB, only one is set aside for any group and that is Channel 9 (Emergency / React Channel) as mentioned above.  Anyone can talk on any other CB channel anytime, anywhere in theUnited Statesday or night!

 

 

FRS  / GMRS

                The FRS or Family Radio Service was adopted in 1996 for use by families.  Since then, many businesses use the FRS to aid in their daily communications.  The FRS utilizes improved walkie-talkies and is allotted frequencies that are channelized.   The FRS and GMRS use UHF or ultra-high frequency.  Many FRS / GMRS radios come with sub-audible squelch codes (CTCSS and DCS).  This allows the user to squelch out many undesirable transmissions and conserve battery life.

 

There are 22 FRS / GMRS channels.  Channels 1 – 7 are shared with the GMRS.  Channels 8 – 14 are for FRS only.  Channels 15 – 22 are for GMRS only.  It should be noted that the FRS does not require licensing where the GMRS requires an FCC license.  The FRS radios are restricted to ½ watt (500-milliwatts) and must have a fixed antenna.  The range of a typical FRS radio is typically ¼ mile out to approximately 1 ½ miles, sometimes maybe further depending upon the terrain and other factors.  GMRS radios may use up to 5-watts of power and offer better range.  A list of frequencies for the FRS / GMRS is below:

FRS/GMRS Frequencies

Amateur (HAM) Radio

Amateur radio or Ham Radio licenses come in three classifications:  Technician (entry-level), General Class (mid-level), and Amateur Extra (an Advanced-level).  In recent years it was mandatory to learn CW or Morse Code to progress in each classification, however, now no code is required!

There are many Amateur Radio (Ham) frequencies allotted for Amateur use.  They are termed “bands.”  They start in HF (high frequency) at 160 meters (1.8000 – 2.0000 MHz) and continue through the radio spectrum to above 300 GHZ.  A listing of the bands is below:

160 Meters /    1.8000 – 2.0000 MHz             75/80 Meters / 3.5000 – 4.0000 MHz

60 Meters (6 channelized frequencies) / 5330.5 KHz – 5403.5 KHz

40 Meters / 7.0000 – 7.3000 MHz                  30 Meters / 10.0000 – 10.1500 MHz

20 Meters / 14.0000 – 14.3500 MHz              17 Meters / 18.0680 – 18.1680 MHZ

15 Meters / 21.0000 – 21.44500 MHz            12 Meters / 24.8900 – 24.9900 MHz

10 Meters / 28.0000 – 29.7000 MHz              6 Meters / 50.1000 – 54.0000 MHz

2 meters / 144.0000 – 148.0000 MHz                        1.25 Meters / 219.0000 – 225.0000 MHz

70 Centimeters (CM) / 420.0000 – 450.0000 MHz

and the following Microwave bands:

2300-2310 MHz, 2390-2450 MHz, 3300-3500 MHz, 5650-5925 MHz, 10.0-10.5 GHz, 24.0-24.25 GHz,

47.0-47.2 GHz, 76.0-81.0 GHz, 122.25-123.0 GHz, 134-141 GHz, 241-250 GHz, and all above 75 GHz.

 

The 2-Meter band or the VHF band is where all the local action usually takes place!  All across theUnited Statesand many other places, includingCanada, the Caribbean areas,Mexico, andPuerto Rico, there is a fantastic network of 2-Meter Repeaters and Amateur Radio clubs that are constantly on the air and are willing to help and relay messages and other information.  Hams on the 2-Meter band contact the local NOAA Weather office in times of severe weather giving updated from their areas to aid in broadcasting weather reports and will give aid to any in need!  This has come in very handy several times while working away from home and also in my home area!  The range of any 2-Meter radio will depend upon the radio output, antenna, repeater height, atmospheric conditions, and other factors.  I regularly talk through one of our local repeaters from as far away a 40 – 45 miles.  I have hit another local wide-area repeater from 52 miles away!

 

 

There are many thousands of 2-Meter repeaters in theUnited Statesalone!  Repeaters are also on the 6-Meter, 10-Meter, 70-CM, and other bands!  The websites below will give more information on the repeaters in your area:

 

www.arrl.org               www.artscipub.com/repeaters/           http://www.usrepeaters.com/

http://www.levinecentral.com/repeaters/google_mapping.php

 

The bands 160 – 10 Meters are referred to as the HF or High Frequency bands.  They are great when hurricanes hit theUnited Statesor when other long distance communication is required.  Many areas along theGulfCoastandAtlantic Oceanhave Hurricane Watch Nets and offer assistance in times of storms or other disasters.  Communications across the country and around the world are possible on some frequencies, with some being better in the daylight hours and some better at night.

 

 

Listed below are Amateur (Ham) HF emergency network frequencies that I monitor.  Also included are the Mode (Lower or Upper Sideband) and the areas of operation. These frequencies are usually in use during disasters in the immediate area designated. Some frequencies are listed more than once due to multiple areas using them.  A lot of information and advisory alerts can be gained from monitoring these frequencies.  However, most over the counter scanners will not receive these frequencies.  You will have to purchase a higher priced scanner or an Amateur HF radio to receive them.  Some frequently seen abbreviations are:

 

SSB -              Single Sideband

Wx  -               Weather

ARES -            Amateur Radio Emergency Service

RACES -         Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (affiliated with local EMO’s)

NTS  -             National Traffic System

altn -                Alternate frequency typically used for night time operations

AMATEUR HIGH-FREQUENCY EMERGENCY & HURRICANE NETS

 

FREQ MODE                         LOCATION

03808.0 LSB              CaribbeanWx

03815.0 LSB               Inter-island (continuous watch)

03845.0 LSB              GulfCoastWest Hurricane

03862.5 LSB              MississippiSection Traffic

03865.0 LSB              West VirginiaEmergency

03872.5 LSB               Mercury Amateur Radio Assoc ad hoc hurricane info net

03873.0 LSB               West Gulf ARES Emergency (night)

03873.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

03873.0 LSB               Louisiana ARES Emergency (night)

03873.0 LSB              MississippiARES Emergency

03910.0 LSB              Central TexasEmergency

03910.0 LSB              MississippiARES

03910.0 LSB              LouisianaTraffic

03915.0 LSB              South CarolinaSSB NTS

03923.0 LSB              MississippiARES

03923.0 LSB              North CarolinaARES Emergency (Tarheel)

03925.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

03925.0 LSB               Louisiana Emergency (altn)

03927.0 LSB               North Carolina ARES (health & welfare)

03935.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

03935.0 LSB               Louisiana ARES (health & welfare)

03935.0 LSB               Texas ARES (health & welfare)

03935.0 LSB               Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)

03935.0 LSB              AlabamaEmergency

03940.0 LSB              Southern FloridaEmergency

03944.0 LSB              WestGulfEmergency

03950.0 LSB               Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-NationalHurricaneCenter) (altn)

03950.0 LSB              Northern FloridaEmergency

03955.0 LSB              South TexasEmergency

03960.0 LSB              North East CoastHurricane

03965.0 LSB               Alabama Emergency (altn)

03967.0 LSB               Gulf Coast (outgoing traffic)

03975.0 LSB               Georgia ARES

03975.0 LSB               Texas RACES (altn)

03993.5 LSB               Gulf Coast (health & welfare)

03993.5 LSB              South CarolinaARES/RACES Emergency

03995.0 LSB              GulfCoastWx

07145.0 LSB              Bermuda

07165.0 LSB               Antigua/Antilles Emergency and Weather

07165.0 LSB               Inter-island 40-meter (continuous watch)

07225.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

07232.0 LSB               North Carolina ARES Emergency (Tarheel) (altn)

07235.0 LSB              LouisianaEmergency

07235.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

07235.0 LSB              LouisianaEmergency

07240.0 LSB               American Red Cross USGulfCoastDisaster

07240.0 LSB              TexasEmergency

07242.0 LSB               Southern Florida ARES Emergency (altn)

07243.0 LSB              AlabamaEmergency

07243.0 LSB              South CarolinaEmergency

07245.0 LSB              Southern Louisiana

07247.5 LSB               Northern Florida ARES Emergency (altn)

07248.0 LSB               Texas RACES (pri)

07250.0 LSB              TexasEmergency

07254.0 LSB              Northern FloridaEmergency

07260.0 LSB              GulfCoastWest Hurricane

07264.0 LSB               Gulf Coast (health & welfare)

07265.0 LSB               Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) (altn)

07268.0 LSB              Bermuda

07268.0 LSB               Waterway

07273.0 LSB               Texas ARES (altn)

07275.0 LSB               Georgia ARES

07280.0 LSB               NTS Region 5

07280.0 LSB               Louisiana Emergency (altn)

07283.0 LSB               Gulf Coast (outgoing only)

07285.0 LSB               West Gulf ARES Emergency (day)

07285.0 LSB               Louisiana ARES Emergency (day)

07285.0 LSB              MississippiARES Emergency

07285.0 LSB               Texas ARES Emergency (day)

07290.0 LSB              CentralGulfCoastHurricane

07290.0 LSB              GulfCoastWx

07290.0 LSB               Louisiana ARES (health & welfare) (day)

07290.0 LSB               Texas ARES (health & welfare)

07290.0 LSB               Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)

07290.0 LSB               Traffic

14185.0 USB             CaribbeanEmergency

14222.0 USB              Health & Welfare

14245.0 USB              Health & Welfare

14265.0 USB              Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) (health & welfare)

14268.0 USB              Amateur Radio Readiness Group

14275.0 USB             Bermuda

14275.0 USB              International Amateur Radio

14300.0 USB              Intercontinental Traffic

14300.0 USB              MaritimeMobileService

14303.0 USB              International Assistance & Traffic

14313.0 USB              Intercontinental Traffic (altn)

14313.0 USB              Maritime Mobile Service (altn)

14316.0 USB              Health & Welfare

14320.0 USB              Health & Welfare

14325.0 USB              Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-NationalHurricaneCenter)

14340.0 USB             Louisiana(1900)

21310.0 USB              Health & Welfare (Spanish)

28450.0 USB              Health & Welfare (Spanish)

 

MARITIME / U.S. VHF CHANNELS

            When traveling in the coastal areas and along navigable waterways I monitor the Maritime / US VHF Frequencies.  I have provided a frequency list here with two frequencies highlighted.  The highlighted frequencies are the Distress and Information channels for and from Mariners and the US Coast Guard.  It should be noted that to talk on these frequencies a license is required:

 

Channel Number	Ship Transmit MHz	Ship Receive MHz	Use
01A	156.050	156.050	Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only inNew Orleans/Lower Mississippiarea.
05A	156.250	156.250	Port Operations or VTS in theHouston,New OrleansandSeattleareas.
06	156.300	156.300	Intership Safety
07A	156.350	156.350	Commercial
08	156.400	156.400	Commercial (Intership only)
09	156.450	156.450	Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial.
10	156.500	156.500	Commercial
11	156.550	156.550	Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
12	156.600	156.600	Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
13	156.650	156.650	Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters.
14	156.700	156.700	Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
15	–	156.750	Environmental (Receive only). Used by Class C EPIRBs.
16	156.800	156.800	International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel.
17	156.850	156.850	State & local govt maritime control
18A	156.900	156.900	Commercial
19A	156.950	156.950	Commercial
20	157.000	161.600	Port Operations (duplex)
20A	157.000	157.000	Port Operations
21A	157.050	157.050	U.S.Coast Guard only
22A	157.100	157.100	Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts announced on channel 16.
23A	157.150	157.150	U.S.Coast Guard only
24	157.200	161.800	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
25	157.250	161.850	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
26	157.300	161.900	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
27	157.350	161.950	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
28	157.400	162.000	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
63A	156.175	156.175	Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only inNew Orleans/Lower Mississippiarea.
65A	156.275	156.275	Port Operations
66A	156.325	156.325	Port Operations
67	156.375	156.375	Commercial. Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in lowerMississippi River. Intership only.
68	156.425	156.425	Non-Commercial
69	156.475	156.475	Non-Commercial
70	156.525	156.525	Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed)
71	156.575	156.575	Non-Commercial
72	156.625	156.625	Non-Commercial (Intership only)
73	156.675	156.675	Port Operations
74	156.725	156.725	Port Operations
77	156.875	156.875	Port Operations (Intership only)
78A	156.925	156.925	Non-Commercial
79A	156.975	156.975	Commercial. Non-Commercial inGreat Lakesonly
80A	157.025	157.025	Commercial. Non-Commercial inGreat Lakesonly
81A	157.075	157.075	U.S. Government only – Environmental protection operations.
82A	157.125	157.125	U.S.Government only
83A	157.175	157.175	U.S.Coast Guard only
84	157.225	161.825	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
85	157.275	161.875	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
86	157.325	161.925	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
87	157.375	157.375	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
88A	157.425	157.425	Commercial, Intership only.
AIS 1	161.975	161.975	Automatic Identification System (AIS)
AIS 2	162.025	162.025	Automatic Identification System (AIS)

Power

When transmitting on any radio equipment, transmitter power must be the minimum necessary to carry out the desired communications.  Different power limits are allowed on different bands.  Some Amateur bands allow up to 1500 Watts (PEP) while the FRS only allows ½ watt!

 

Other Frequencies

When monitoring the airwaves you will want to search the Internet for any frequencies in your area or areas of intended travel.  Some CB’s purchased at truck stops are called “import models” and have the capability to transmit and receive out of band (and are illegal to own and operate in theUnited States).  I scan the “out of band” CB frequencies with my scanner and have found some interesting conversations taking place from all over the US, Canada, Mexico, and areas in the Caribbean!  Since it is illegal to own or use out of band equipment I will leave the researching of frequencies to the individual users.

 

Conclusion

            There are a lot of different frequencies for everyday use, both talking and monitoring, in the times of disasters or other crisis, or just for fun.  Even if you do not choose to purchase or do not own any radio equipment, the frequencies provided in this article can be programmed into a scanner to give a “heads up” of what’s happening around you.  Frequencies for your local and area law enforcement can be found on the Internet.  Amateur (Ham) radio frequencies for you area can also be found on the Internet.

 

If interested in getting your Amateur (Ham) Radio license the following two websites offer great information and study guides (books and audio CD’s) can be purchased from them:

:

www.arrl.org   and      www.W5YI.com

            I personally used the Gordon West (WB6NOA) books and audio CD’s to assist in learning the rules, regulations, and necessary information needed to pass the exams!

 

            Remember, to talk on the Amateur or Ham bands, GMRS, and the VHF Maritime bands or frequencies, a license is needed.  Listening or monitoring any frequencies listed here is free!

 

            I look forward to hearing some of you on the air!

 

73’s,

 

Jim – KC5DOV

 

© 2013, Rourke. All rights reserved.

Source: http://modernsurvivalonline.com/emergency-communications/