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Emergency Radio Frequencies Preppers Must Know
Emergency Radio Frequencies Preppers Must Know
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The ability to communicate post-disaster is absolutely essential if you want to make the most informed,
and safest decisions that you can. Emergency communications not only help you to know impending
weather, Knd resources, and avoid dangerous areas, but they also help you know where loved ones are
at, or even allow you to call out for help should Knd yourself in some dangerous predicament.
You don’t need a tricked-out communication system (though that’s nice) to meet meet your
communication prepper needs. You can start with a few simple products, some knowhow, and build
from there as your interests or needs change.
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It can be confusing to know just where to turn the dial to during a disaster if you’re new to emergency
communications, however. You may have a radio, but knowing how to use it to its fullest potential is
quite another matter. So, in order to help with this process, below are all of the emergency radio
frequencies that I know.
I would encourage you to add more to the list in the comments section so we can update this post
accordingly over time.
I would also encourage you to print this article off to keep should you need it some day down the road.
Store it with your communication equipment.
CB Radio
Citizens’ Band (CB) radio is particularly popular with truckers, hikers, and campers. It not only is
incredibly easy to use, but it’s a relatively easy form of disaster communications to break into. Part of the
reason is due to the fact that there is no license required to receive or transmit. That’s nice.
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Keep in mind that anything you say on CB radio frequencies can be heard by anybody else within range,
so it is not a source of private conversation. There is also a lengthy list of “10 codes” that people use on
CB radios. You will want to familiarize yourself with those.
CB Radio Abbreviations
REACT – Radio Emergency Associations Communications Teams. These are volunteers throughout the
country who monitor this channel to assist in emergency situations. They often work at public events,
disasters, and other emergency situations to provide valuable communications services.
Channel 13 (27.115 MHz) – Typically used within campgrounds and marine areas
Freebanding CB Radio
Freebanding is the act of utilizing the frequencies in-between the diVerent CB channels. Oftentimes, you
may need a CB radio with “freeband operation” in order to even tune in to these channels. Freebanding
oVers improved privacy over the typical 40 channels (simply because less people use it), but it by no
means will give you a private conversation. Anybody within range can listen to what you say through
freebanding CB channels.
Ham Radio
While it requires a license to transmit, ham radio will allow
you a range and breadth of communication that is not
available post-disaster via other methods. You can get started
in ham radio with a simple $25 Baofeng UV-5R, but I would
highly recommend investing the money to get something a
little more user friendly as your Krst ham radio. I made that
mistake.
There is quite a steep learning curve with ham as well. The quintessential guide to learning ham radio
(and passing the license exam) is the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual.
If you really want to get into the nitty-gritty, you can learn how to bounce signals oV of the ionosphere,
oV of the moon, or even oV of meteor showers. That takes a bit of study to Kgure out how to do,
however. If you’re of a more technical/engineering mindset, you shouldn’t have any problem Kguring any
of this out. Keep in mind that night is typically a time of better reception quality.
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You’ll also want to know some ways to Knd important ham radio frequencies beyond what I have below.
NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government operated administration
that sends out broadcasts every Kve minutes 24/7 relating to hurricane, storm, solar eare, nuke, and
other emergency information.
FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Association. They are one of the frontline government
agencies to respond to any large scale disaster with medical care, triage, shelter, food, and other forms
of humanitarian aid.
156.80 – International maritime distress channel. All ships at sea are required to monitor this
channel.
162.40 – NOAA
162.425 – NOAA
162.45 – NOAA
162.475 – NOAA
162.50 – NOAA
162.525 – NOAA
162.55 – NOAA
163.275 – NOAA
168.55 – Emergency and disaster frequency used by civilian agencies of the federal government
462.675 – Emergency communications and traveler assistance in General Mobile Radio Service
There are diVerent tiers of ham radio licenses, and to transmit via high frequency (HF), you’re going to
need a specialized license. If you have a HF radio, these are some potential stations that you may want
to check in on:
ARES – The Amateur Radio Emergency Service. A nationwide group of HAM radio volunteers with
specialized training in emergency communications that provides communications services during
emergencies.
RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. HAM radio volunteers who have registered with RACES
to work with their state during various types of disasters. They are only called up after RACES has been
activated.
SATERN – Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio. Salvation Army workers with emergency comms and
message handling training that help the Salvation Army to coordinate its humanitarian aid eVorts during
and post-disaster.
03935.0 – Central Gulf Coast Hurricane, Louisiana ARES, Texas ARES, Mississippi ARES, Alabama
Emergencies
03993.5 – Gulf Coast health and welfare/South Carolina ARES/South Carolina RACES
07290.0 – Central Gulf Coast Hurricane, Gulf Coast Weather/Louisiana ARES/Texas ARES/Mississippi
ARES
14265.0 – SATERN
If you are near the coast or oceangoing, these are a few of the frequencies that you may want to keep
handy.
If you would really like to delve into more emergency radio frequencies in your area, I highly recommend
checking out the following sites:
Repeater Database
U.S Repeaters
In addition, you’re probably going to want to keep a copy of the ARRL Repeater Directory on-hand at all
times if you are truly wanting to be prepared for a disaster situation. This book will give you all of the
information you need for repeaters in your area, perchance the power ever goes down and you’re not
able to use your phone or the internet to Kgure out what repeaters are around you.
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I hope this article has helped you expand your knowledge on prepper communication gear and
strategies.
Are there other frequencies that you know about that didn’t make our list? Do you have other tips for
emergency communications?
21 COMMENTS
DUKEYUKON REPLY
SPARKS REPLY
Hi,
This has been my biggest fear. No comms. I am a HAM but I was soured by your comment on HF radio. If
you want to have the big picture, you need an HF rig and someone that knows how to play with it. I think
you know what I mean. I have an HF rig that will XMIT and RX from 1.8MHz to 463.975 continuous excluding
general broadcast and Aviation band, but it will receive the blocked XMIT bands. That is world wide! Down
the corner and around the block isn’t going to work in a SHTF scenario. Squad tactics, yes it will work well,
but big picture will not. You want to know what everyone else is doing and thinking as well. Just my 2 cents.
MO REPLY
TUNNEL REPLY
Do not understand what soured you. Have nothing againist HF. I plan on using it for local and regional
comms using Near Vertical Incident Skywave propagation. My need for skywave propagation is minimal
however. VHF/UHF, particularly the 2 meter band, will the most used.
Not a wire head… unskilled w/comms. Leaving on a month + long .. leaping bug out trip & test to see the
country Sept 13th. on. Lot to see.. lot to learn. Taking notes.. map notes.. and trying to see & listen to the
‘ques’ the land gives me. I’ll be on CB37 .. C.Q.ing now and again….. Handle is “Tinker” .. as in Tom the Tinker
…..
This is a good article, thank you. The thing I have been thinking about is super low power communications
that can cover local, regional, and world-wide all at the same time and is also portable with antennas that
are very manageable. Local is always the most important thing, but regional is also pretty essential as
knowing what is going on, as can be worldwide ability. Battery powered that can be recharged with a small
solar panel. And so on. That is CW Morse code commo. Folks need to take time to learn Morse code, if the
SHTF we aren’t going to have repeaters or Internet. And power will be an issue.
TOM REPLY
You are not going to Knd something that can do ‘local regional national ‘ communications at the
same time.
The only possibility would be the 20 meter amateur band.
Most other bands are going to be either local in nature or national/international.
The distance factor is also dependant on :
The time of day
The band selected
The mode used ( am,fm, ssb, digital ( including things like wsjt. ) )
The power and antenna type/height used
There’s a couple of other things that can make a MAJOR diVerence on any ham band.
One is whether it’s night or day. the ionosphere behaves diVerently at night than it does
during the day. Some bands work better in the daytime, others better at night. Also,
space weather can aVect communications. And local meteorology can as well. Twenty
meters is a good all around band but I’ve talked very long distances on 40 and 80 meters
at night, and the higher hf bands can be quite good under the proper atmospheric
conditions. It’s not Kxed in stone. When you get your radio and license, read up on which
bands are best at night, day, etc. And also about the diVerences the seasons make.
Fascinating. I’ve been in the ham hobby since the 1970s.
TOM REPLY
The ionosphere aVects the high frequency (1.8-30 mhz) bands primarily, and to
a lesser extent 50 mhz.
This makes 50 mhz and up local bands , pretty much line of sight.
The higher the antenna the better.
Vhf and uhf are good choices when you want local communications.
If you are concerned about others overhearing your transmissions, use the
lowest power necessary to achieve comms and don’t discuss sensitive stuV ( we
have xxx trucks of food, ammo, supplies, etc coming at 3:00 today…)
LYNN MAGNUSON
VINCE REPLY
Most of the time, my 50-watt HAM Radio goes about 30-50 miles on 2 meters.
But lately, I have been talking with other HAMS WAY far away in other States
hundreds of miles away. Called ‘Atmospheric Propagation’.
Vince
KD0JGB
CARRIE
LAB3 REPLY
This is just the kind of information the public NEEDS for when Hillary Clinton uses her Illuminati powers
granted to her by the Reptilians to control Bigfoot when he comes to tAK HouR GUNzs?!!!
TOM REPLY
The author may not know a great deal about them. They are useful services in an emergency and I
don’t think FRS requires a license, but I’d deKnitely check on it before transmitting on one. Not
sure about GMRS. I believe a license is required there. I’m a licensed ham radio operator
personally and have been since the 1970’s.
Just a comment on your article. Channel 9 on Citizen’s Band is actually reserved by Federal law for
emergency use. I don’t have the law handy, but it’s in the Federal statutes relating to the Citizens Band
Radio Service. And NOAA and FEMA are not ham radio abbreviations. They’re abbreviations for Federal
agencies hams sometimes interact with. NOAA is the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration which among other things, runs the NOAA Weather Radio Service nationwide. Other
countries also have their own versions of Weather Radio and in every place, it’s a receive only frequency …
no transmitting permitted. FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Service which is most well known
for responding after disasters like hurricanes or eathquakes. They also would likely be activated for
something like a war as well. Neither one of these agencies license or control ham radio but hams interact
with them, especially FEMA which has some agreements with hams concerning radio. I hope this has
helped you out some. I’ve been an amateur radio operator since the 1970’s.
LAKEMECHANIC REPLY
The “Midland’s Dual Band Amateur Two-Way Radio” link appears to be intended to take one to Midland’s
DBR2500 amateur dual band two way radio, which apparently has been discontinued. …But the AnyTone
AT-778UV appears to be exactly the same except for the Midland/AnyTone logo swap & it is available
I am new to radio but a prepper since 2008. Always had cb radios as comms. But recently pirchases a 10/12
meter raduo and added cb or 11 meter to it. Radio is PEAKED TO 75 wats, so just was on cb long enough to
test range. in Dallas texas and talke to someone in NJ and NM, if they are telling the truth that is. i have a
wire antenna and base station antenna and good mobile antenna, just incase i need it. Bought a 150 to 200
watt amp just in case and battery packs. Getting my ham tech license. However this set up gives me far
more capability than b4. Have no idea how to use repeaters yet, but got more power incase those are
down. I CAN RELAY INFO TO CB USERS THIS WAY IN EMERGENCIES. Best of both worlds. Dont count on
repeaters being up..However somwnwill be protected and some will be put up afterwords..Incase of an
emp nocks them out..
,
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