Your PACE Plan for Any Disaster

Stay Connected When Disaster Strikes

Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or tornadoes can cut you off from family or help, with phones and power gone. A PACE plan—Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency—ensures you always have a way to communicate using radios. This guide is your blueprint to build a rock-solid PACE plan before disaster hits. Written for everyone, from beginners to hobbyists, it uses clear steps to keep you ready. Study this page, explore our About, 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/. Start planning now—your survival depends on it.

Why You Need a PACE Plan

When disaster strikes, you need layered communication options. A PACE plan gives you four ways to connect, so if one fails, you’ve got backups. It’s like packing a spare tire, a patch kit, and a bike for a road trip. Radios—walkie-talkies or ham gear—make this possible, letting you share locations, check on loved ones, or call for help. Whether it’s a hurricane flooding your street or a wildfire forcing evacuation, your PACE plan keeps you in control. Our radio channels are the standard; CERT teams should align with them.

Step 1: Understand PACE Layers

Each PACE layer is a communication method, from easiest to most advanced:

Primary: Simple, no-license radios for instant local contact.

Example: During a tornado, tell your family, “Meet at the church” on a walkie-talkie.

Alternate: Licensed radios with farther reach for nearby towns.

Example: Contact neighbors during a flood, “Head to high ground.”

Contingency: Regional options, like shortwave or ham modes, for broader help.

Example: Message hams during a wildfire for supplies.

Emergency: Last-resort tools, like satellite or ham email, when all else fails.

Example: Send an SOS during a hurricane via satellite.

Practice PACE concepts on HAMQuiz’s PACE bank.

Step 2: Choose Your Radios

Pick radios for each PACE layer:

Primary: FRS Radios (~$30 for two, Retevis). No license, 1–2 miles.

Example: Call your kids during a blackout, “Come home now.”

Alternate: GMRS Radios (~$25, Baofeng UV-5R). $35 FCC license (fcc.gov), 2–5 miles.

Example: Coordinate with your town during a wildfire, “Evacuate east.”

Contingency: Shortwave Radio (5–15 MHz, Tecsun PL-880, ~$150) or ham radio (license needed, arrl.org).

Example: Reach hams during a flood for aid.

Emergency: Garmin inReach (satellite, ~$400) or ham Winlink (email).

Example: Email for help during a tornado.

Start with FRS—cheap and easy. Check with CERT (fema.gov/cert) to use our channels. Test radio types on HAMQuiz.

Step 3: Assign Channels

Set channels for each layer now:

Primary: FRS Channel 1 (462.5625 MHz).

Example: “This is Lisa, safe at home, over” during a hurricane.

Alternate: GMRS Channel 15 (462.5500 MHz).

Example: “Move north on GMRS 15, over” during a wildfire.

Contingency: Ham JS8Call (3.573 MHz) or shortwave (5–15 MHz).

Example: “Need food, JS8Call, over” during a flood.

Emergency: Winlink (ham email) or inReach (satellite).

Example: “SOS, stranded, Winlink” during a tornado.

Write your plan: “Primary: FRS 1, Alternate: GMRS 15.” Laminate it. Download at hamquiz.org [Insert QR: hamquiz.org]. CERT adopts our channels. Practice channels on HAMQuiz.

Step 4: Build Your Kit

Your PACE kit must be ready:

2x FRS Radios (Retevis, ~$30) with AAA batteries, USB charging.

1x GMRS Radio (Baofeng UV-5R, ~$25) with charger.

1x Shortwave Radio (Tecsun PL-880, ~$150) or ham radio.

Solar Charger (PowerFilm LightSaver Max, ~$300) for outages.

Laminated PACE card with channels.

Store in a waterproof bag. Download the kit list at hamquiz.org. See our Protocols page. Test kit prep on HAMQuiz.

Step 5: Practice Communication

Clear messages are key:

Say your name, keep it short, end with “over.”

Example: “This is Tom, need water, FRS 1, over.”

Focus on location, health, or needs.

Example: During a hurricane, say, “At the park, safe, need blankets.”

Train on HAMQuiz’s Messages bank. See our Radio Prepping and Emergency Communications page.

Step 6: Test Your Plan

Practice your PACE plan monthly:

Test Primary: Call family on FRS Channel 1.

Test Alternate: Reach neighbors on GMRS Channel 15.

Test Contingency: Listen on shortwave or try JS8Call (if licensed).

Test Emergency: Send a test Winlink email or inReach message.

Run drills with neighbors. Practice drills on HAMQuiz. See our Join Us page.

Step 7: Support Caregivers

Help caregivers, like those with dementia:

Pre-set FRS Channel 1 for one-button use.

Use bright Retevis radios with labels (e.g., “PRESS TO TALK”).

Example: During a flood, a caregiver calls for help with one press.

Train caregiver tips on HAMQuiz. See our Protocols page.

Step 8: Keep Learning

Your PACE plan evolves with practice:

Use HAMQuiz’s flashcard quizzes to master PACE.

Example: What’s the Primary channel? A) FRS 1 B) GMRS 15 C) CB 9 (Answer: A).

Earn 7000 BaconPoints on HAMQuiz’s leaderboard.

Study at https://hamstudy.org/ and https://hambook.org/.

Why This Guide Rules

This PACE plan is your survival edge:

Clear: Simple steps for anyone.

Proactive: Ready before the tornado hits.

Inclusive: Supports caregivers.

Fun: HAMQuiz quizzes keep you sharp.

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, 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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