Should Families Use Walkie-Talkies for Coordination After a Disaster?

Choosing the Right Walkie-Talkies

When selecting walkie-talkies for your family, consider the distance you need to cover, the terrain, and the number of users. For a small family, a pair of two-way radios with a range of up to 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) should suffice. Look for devices with 22 channels, as this will help you avoid interference from other users. The FRS (Family Radio Service) band operates on 22 channels and is a good starting point.

Setting Up a Communication Plan

Once you have the walkie-talkies, create a communication plan with your family. Assign a meeting point and designate a primary and secondary contact person in case someone gets separated. This plan should also include a system for checking in with each other at regular intervals. For example, you can designate a specific time each day for family members to check in with their location and status.

Using Walkie-Talkies in a Disaster Scenario

In the event of a disaster, use your walkie-talkies to stay in touch with each other. Start by scanning the channels to see if there are any other users nearby who may be able to provide assistance or information. Use your walkie-talkies to communicate with your family members and coordinate your response to the disaster. Make sure to keep your transmissions brief and to the point, as you don’t want to waste battery life or cause interference with other users.