Emergency Communications Kit
One of the worst situations
is to be in the middle of a crisis with no form of effective communications.
Unable to contact loved ones to see if they are safe. Not knowing the extent of
the situation. Being in the dark. This is akin to being caught with your pants
down. Not a good place to be. The good news is that you do not have to be in
such a situation. The focus of this
article is preparing an Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) Kit that will keep
you in the loop during a crisis or disaster.
Before I get to the kit
itself let me clarify that this is about an individualized EMCOMM kit and not
necessarily part of a bug out bag, get home bag, or everyday carry bag. You can incorporate this kit into another kit
but the focus of this article is strictly a stand alone EMCOMM kit.
As you will see I am a firm
believer in the concept of redundancy.
This is by necessity as Mr. Murphy has a tendency to show up at the
worst possible time to mess with you and provide you with a little grief.
Redundancy will keep him at bay…at least for a little while.
EMCOMM Kit
Platform:
The EMCOMM kit is based off
a Maxpedition Remora platform. When choosing a platform pick one that works for
you and fits your needs. I chose the Remora because I had it lying around not
being used, it is small, convenient, and carries everything I need for EMCOMM.
You may choose to go with a different kit and that is fine. Any kit that you
own should be customized and individualized to your needs.
Contents:
Attached to one side of the Remora is a Maxpedition flashlight sheath with holds a Surefire G2 Nitrolon LED flashlight. On the other side of the Remora is attached a 5.11 Radio Pouch with holds my Yaesu FT-60R ham radio. Inside of the front slip pocket on the Remora I have a laminated copy of my FCC amateur radio license with a list of all the frequencies that are programmed into my radios. I also keep a small Bic lighter in this pocket.
In the next pocket I keep hand mics for my Yaesu FT-60R and BaoFeng UV-5R+. I also have an orange Powerpax Pack Battery Caddy which holds 12 alkaline batteries. Also included in this pocket is a Maxpedition Mini Pocket Organizer which holds a Vertex Standard Alkaline Battery Case (FBA-25) for the Yaesu radio. It also holds a cloning cable for the Yaesu in case I need to clone another radio. I keep an assortment of different size Band-Aids. The Mini Pocket Organizer is used as a means to protect the battery case which is easily damaged. I want to protect my power sources completely. Without power my kit is useless.
Inside the main compartment of the Remora is the wall charger for the Yaesu radio. More importantly is a back up power supply called the Goal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Solar Charging Kit. I also have spare AA and AAA batteries. Also included is a Rite-In-The-Rain notebook and pen. I also carry a back-up ham radio which is the BaoFeng UV-5R. The BaoFeng is a nightmare to program but serves well as a back up radio. I would never recommend a BaoFeng as a primary radio. I also carry spare antenna’s for both radios. In the back of the Remora I have a small Coast LED flashlight. If needed, I could also fit a compact revolver or pistol.
Conclusion
When a crisis or disaster happens you cannot count
on electricity, cell phone service, text messages, or the Internet for
communications. Having a functional back-up plan is crucial. Amateur radio will
provide you with reliable form of communications. You will need to take the
time to study for your FCC license but the reward is a game changer. Also
remember that you can incorporate your EMCOMM kit into any other kit that you
have for emergencies. It does not have to be a stand alone kit.Don’t get caught with your pants down. It is not a good feeling.
TC
© Copyright 2013
