Disaster Playbook
Radio Plans for Every Disaster
Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes can strike fast, cutting you off from help. This playbook gives you radio strategies tailored to each disaster, ensuring you’re ready before chaos hits. Written for beginners and hobbyists, it’s your guide to using radios when phones fail. Study this page, explore our About, PACE Plan, Protocols, Join Us, and Radio Prepping and Emergency Communications pages, and practice with flashcard-style quizzes on HAMQuiz. For more training, visit https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/. Get prepared—disasters don’t wait.
Why a Disaster Playbook?
Each disaster demands a specific radio plan. Hurricanes need local check-ins; wildfires require fast evacuation updates; floods rely on long-range SOS; tornadoes need recovery nets. This playbook equips you for all four, making you a lifeline for your family or community. Our channels are the standard; CERT teams should align with them.
Hurricane Radio Prep
Hurricanes bring wind, rain, and power outages.
Radios: FRS Channel 1 (462.5625 MHz) for home check-ins; GMRS Channel 15 (462.5500 MHz) for town coordination.
Modes: Voice (FRS/GMRS), NOAA Weather Radio (162 MHz) for alerts.
Kit: Waterproof FRS radios, solar charger.
PACE Plan: Primary (FRS 1), Alternate (GMRS 15), Contingency (shortwave), Emergency (Winlink).
Example: During a hurricane, say on FRS 1, “Power’s out, everyone safe?”
Practice hurricane plans on HAMQuiz’s Disasters bank.
Wildfire Radio Evacuation
Wildfires spread fast, demanding quick communication.
Radios: GMRS Channel 15 for evacuation routes; CB Channel 9 (27.065 MHz) for road updates.
Modes: Voice (GMRS/CB), APRS for sharing locations.
Kit: Mobile GMRS radio, car CB antenna.
PACE Plan: Primary (GMRS 15), Alternate (CB 9), Contingency (JS8Call), Emergency (Garmin inReach).
Example: On GMRS 15, say, “Head west, fire’s close, over.”
Test wildfire strategies on HAMQuiz.
Flood Radio Response
Floods isolate you with water damage.
Radios: FRS Channel 1 for local check-ins; ham Winlink for regional SOS.
Modes: Voice (FRS), Winlink, JS8Call for hams.
Kit: Elevated antennas, waterproof bag.
PACE Plan: Primary (FRS 1), Alternate (GMRS 15), Contingency (JS8Call), Emergency (Winlink).
Example: Email via Winlink, “Stranded in flood, need boat.”
Practice flood responses on HAMQuiz.
Tornado Radio Recovery
Tornadoes destroy fast, requiring post-storm nets.
Radios: Ham JS8Call (3.573 MHz) for regional nets; FRS Channel 3 (462.6125 MHz) for Wilderness Protocol.
Modes: JS8Call, voice (FRS/ham VHF).
Kit: Portable ham radio, solar charger.
PACE Plan: Primary (FRS 3), Alternate (JS8Call), Contingency (shortwave), Emergency (Winlink).
Example: On JS8Call, say, “Need supplies post-tornado, over.”
Test tornado plans on HAMQuiz.
Support Caregivers
Help caregivers during disasters:
Pre-set FRS Channel 1 for one-button use.
Use bright Retevis radios with labels.
Example: During a wildfire, a dementia patient calls for help.
Practice caregiver tips on HAMQuiz.
Keep Learning
Stay disaster-ready:
Use HAMQuiz flashcard quizzes.
Example: Best wildfire radio? A) FRS B) GMRS C) CB (Answer: B).
Earn 7000 BaconPoints on HAMQuiz.
Study at https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/.
Why This Guide Is Essential
This playbook is your disaster survival edge:
Clear: Tailored plans for each disaster.
Proactive: Ready before hurricanes hit.
Inclusive: Caregiver-friendly.
Engaging: HAMQuiz keeps it fun.
Our channels are the standard. CERT, ARRL (arrl.org), and REACT (reactintl.org) align with us. Email contact@hamquiz.org to connect.
Disclaimer
Our channels are the default; CERT adopts them.
Next Steps
Study our About, PACE Plan, Protocols, Join Us, and Radio Prepping and Emergency Communications pages at hamquiz.org.
Practice flashcard quizzes on HAMQuiz.
Train at https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/.
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