Radio Communications for Retreat Intelligence Gathering, by R.Y.

Situational Awareness is simply knowing what is happening. Information enables us to make more intelligent or informed decisions. Informed decisions could be the difference between surviving or not surviving. Communications is the exchange of information between a sender and receiver. It could be a simple shout, Morse telegraph or a complex computer network. This article will focus on using radios that are available to the general public. All frequencies listed in the following, except AM broadcasting, are in megahertz (MHz) or million cycles/second.

Radio and Television Broadcasting

There is usually a radio playing in my home and vehicle. The radio station I regularly listen to has news every 30 minutes and bulletins for breaking news. No special equipment is needed, just listen to your favorite station. The AM broadcast frequencies are 540 – 1700 KHz. During daylight hours these frequencies are absorbed by the upper atmosphere, only local stations can be heard. During nighttime hours they are reflected back to earth enabling distant stations to be heard. Most tabletop radios can be used without modification but they often lack the selectivity needed to separate stations. Adding an external antenna can make the selectivity problem worst.

I recommend using a good quality AM/FM radio designed for vehicles. They can operate on 12 volt batteries, with very short antennas, good selectivity, push-button tuning and often have scanning functions. Many automotive radios have front and rear speakers. Connect the rear speaker wires to a stereo phone jack for headphones. Distant FM and TV stations can not be received. These stations use much higher frequencies and are seldom reflected back toward earth therefore limited to “line-of-sight” or less than 100 miles.

List of 50,000 watt “clear channel” AM stations. Frequencies are in kilohertz (KHz)

540 WFLF ORLANDO, FL
580 KMJ FRESNO, CA
640 KFI LOS ANGELES, CA
650 WSM NASHVILLE, TN / KENI ANCHORAGE, AK
660 WFAN NEW YORK CITY, NY / KTNN WINDOW ROCK, AZ
670 WSCR CHICAGO, IL / KBOI BOISE, ID
680 KNBR SAN FRANCISCO, CA / WRKO BOSTON, MA / WPTF RALEIGHT, NC
700 WLW CINCINNATI, OH
710 WOR NEW YORK CITY, NY / KIRO SEATTLE, WA / WAQI MIAMI, FL
720 WGN CHICAGO, IL / KDWN LAS VEGAS, NV
740 KCBS SAN FRANCISCO, CA / KTRH HOUSTON, TX / WQTM ORLANDO, FL
750 WSB ATLANTA, GA / KFQD ANCHORAGE, AK
760 WJR DETROIT, MI / KFMB SAN DIEGO, CA
770 WABC NEW YORK CITY, NY / KKOB ALBUQUERQUE, NM
780 WBBM CHICAGO, IL / KKOH RENO, NV
810 WGY SCHENECTADY, NY / KGO SAN FRANCISCO, CA / WKVM PUERTO RICO
820 WBAP FT WORTH-DALLAS, TX
830 WCCO MINNEASPOLIS, MN
840 WHAS LOUISVILLE, KY
850 KOA DENVER, CO / WEEI BOSTON, MA
870 WWL NEW ORLEANS, LA / KAIM HONOLULU, HI
880 WCBS NEW YORK CITY, NY / KRVN LEXINGTON, NE
890 WLS CHICAGO, IL
940 KWRU FRESNO, CA
950 KJR SEATTLE, WA / WWJ DETROIT, MI
1000 WMVP CHICAGO, IL / KOMO SEATTLE, WA
1010 WINS NEW YORK CITY, NY
1020 KDKA PITTSBURGH, PA / KINF ROSWELL, NM / KTNQ LOS ANGELES, CA
1030 WBZ BOSTON, MA / KTWO CASPER, WY
1040 WHO DES MOINES, IA
1050 WEVD NEW YORK CITY, NY
1060 KYW PHILADELPHIA, PA
1070 KNX LOS ANGELES, CA
1080 WTIC HARTFORD, CT / KRLD DALLAS, TX
1090 WBAL BALTIMORE, MD / KAAY LITTLE ROCK, AR / KYCW SEATTLE, WA
1100 WTAM CLEVELAND, OH / KFAX SAN FRANCISCO, CA
1110 WBT CHARLOTTE, NC / KFAB OMAHA, NE
1120 KMOX ST LOUIS, MO / KPNW EUGENE, OR
1130 WBBR NEW YORK CITY, NY / KWKH SHREVEPORT, LA
1140 WRVA RICHMOND, VA / KHTK SACRAMENTO, CA
1150 KXTA BURBANK, CA
1160 KSL SALT LAKE CITY, UT
1170 KFAQ TULSA, OK / WWVA WHEELING, WV
1180 WHAM ROCHESTER, NY
1190 KEX PORTLAND, OR
1200 WQAI SAN ANTONIO, TX
1210 WPHT PHILADELPHIA, PA
1220 WHK CLEVELAND, OH
1500 KSTP ST PAUL-MINNEAPOLIS, MN / WTOP WASHINGTON DC
1510 KGA SPOKANE, WA / WLAC NASHVILLE, TN / WWZN BOSTON, MA
1520 KOMA OKLAHOMA CITY, OK / WWKB BUFFALO, NY
1530 KFBK SACRAMENTO, CA / WSAI CINCINNATI, OH
1540 KXEL WATERLOO, IA / WPTR ALBANY, NY
1560 WQEW NEW YORK CITY, NY
1580 KBLA SANTA MONICA, CA / KMIK PHOENIX, AZ

Additional information about AM/FM broadcasting including this list of “clear channel” stations obtained here.

National Weather Service all hazards alert radios

Every family, and many businesses, should have a National Weather Service (NWS) all hazard alert radio. The NWS not only provides current weather conditions and forecasts, they also transmit all hazard alerts for a wide area. These alerts are not all weather related: such as “shelter in place”, “radiation hazard”, “civil emergency message”, “evacuation immediate”, “911 telephone outage” or “child abduction emergency”. All hazard alert radios can be programmed for only one county. The “Specific Area Message Encoding” ( SAME ) is a 6 digit code: ABCDEF. A = in most cases 0, it can be used to sub-divide a county into zones ( 1 – 9 ) otherwise zero for the entire county, BC = state number; DEF = county number. Example: Clay county
Missouri 0 29 047 / 0 = entire county / 29 = Missouri state code/ 047 = Clay county code. If a hazard affects a larger area or region, then all the affected counties will be individually triggered by the alert signal. Most NWS radios can be programmed for multiple counties. The National Weather Service has seven radio channels, frequency modulated ( FM ) voice & data:

162.400 162.425 162.450 162.475 162.500 162.525 162.550

National Weather Service station coverage and “SAME” codes can be obtained a the NOAA web site.

International Shortwave Broadcasting:

Nearly every country broadcasts on shortwave ( 2.3 – 26.1 MHz ). Many of these countries transmit powerful signals that are some times beamed toward North America. These broadcasts can often be heard on portable shortwave radios. International broadcasters often cover stories not reported in the American media. If you use or are learning another language there are many non-english broadcasts. These signals travel thousands of miles via the upper atmosphere and they may have static, fading or interference. These signals are also affected by the seasons, time of day and solar activity (sunspots etc). Broadcasters often change frequencies, languages and times. Any schedule would soon become out of date. I have never used a “schedule. In stead, I just tune around the dial and listen to any interesting stations.

Usually good only at night:

2.300 – 2.495, 3.200 – 3.400, 3.900 – 4.000, 4.750 – 5.060, 5.900 – 6.200, 7.100 – 7.450

Usually good day or night:

9.400 – 9.900, 11.600 – 12.100, 13.570 – 13.870, 15.100 – 15.800

Usually good when sun is active:

17.480 – 17.900, 18.900 – 19.020, 21.450 – 21.850, 25.670 – 26.100

Listing of English shortwave broadcasts sorted by time.
Listing of English shortwave broadcasts sorted by country.
Listing of English shortwave broadcasts sorted by frequency.
An excellent web site: “Shortwave Monitoring Guide”

SHORTWAVE EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES

There are many shortwave frequencies used for long distance emergency communications. AM and International broadcaster’s transmit a carrier with two sidebands [ lower / carrier / upper ]. Both sidebands have the same information therefore redundant. Shortwave frequencies use single sideband modulation ( SSB ). SSB removes the carrier and one sideband, only one sideband is transmitted. The advantage of SSB is a narrower more powerful signal. Disadvantages: SSB signals are harder to tune, when mistuned they sound “quacky” and when the talking stops the entire signal disappears. Almost all signals on shortwave are upper
sideband ( USB ).

It takes a better and more costly receiver to correctly copy SSB signals. If you purchase a shortwave radio I recommend it be capable of receiving SSB signals. Practice listening to USB signals by tuning to amateur radio operators ( Hams ) between 14.150 – 14.350 MHz. When you hear a signal slowly tune back and forth until the voice sounds normal. ( Read the radio owner’s manual ).
The frequencies listed are the suppressed carrier, which is not transmitted. The actual USB signal will be centered about 1.4 KHz higher or lower sideband ( LSB ) signals will be centered about 1.4KHz lower.

SECURE ( State Emergency Communications Using Radio Effectively ) is a secondary emergency back-up communications network. Each state in the network may operate base and mobile stations, transmitting in USB voice, data and maybe morse code. I do not know of any scheduled drills or net operations. Suggest monitoring the interstate coordination frequency 2.326 MHz.

SECURE; Listed by states ( 33 states in network )

AL 2.326 2.487 5.135 5.192 7.805 7.935
CA 2.326 2.419 2.422 2.804 2.812 5.140 5.195 7.480 7.802 7.805
CO 2.326 2.466 2.471 2.274 5.135 7.802 7.805
CT 2.326 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805
FL 2.326 2.439 2.463 5.140 7.805 7.932
ID 2.326 2.414 2.471 2.535 2.804 5.135 5.140 5.195 7.477 7.805 7.932
IL 2.326 2.414 2.569 2.804 5.135 5.140 5.192 7.480 7.802 7.932 7.935
IN 2.326 2.487 2.511 5.135 5.140 7.802 7.805 7.935
LO 2.326 2.812 5.192 7.477 7.480 7.805
ME 2.326 2.414 5.135 5.192 7.805
MA 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.447 7.805
MI 2.326 2.414 2.804 5.140 7.477 7.805
MS 2.326 2.535 2.569 5.195 7.477 7.805
MO 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.419 2.439 2.463 5.140 5.192 7.477 7.802 7.805 7.935
MT 2.326 2.804 2.812 7.477 7.480 7.805
NE 2.326 2.804 2.812 5.192 7.805 7.935
NV 2.326 2.487 2.511 5.195 7.480 7.805 7.932
NH 2.326 2.414 5.135 5.192 7.805
NJ 2.326 2.411 2.587 5.195 7.805
NM 2.801 2.804 5.135 5.140 7.477 7.480 7.805
NY 2.326 2.812 5.135 7.477
NC 2.326 2.411 5.135 7.477 7.935
OH 2.326 2.419 2.422
OK 2.801 2.804 5.135 5.140 7.477 7.480 7.805
OR 2.326 2.414 2.801 5.135 5.195 7.480 7.802 7.805 7.935
RI 2.326 2.411 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805
SC 2.326 2.422 2.511 5.135 7.480 7.932
TN 2.326 2.419 2.474 5.135 5.140 5.195 7.480 7.805 7.932
TX 2.326 2.419 2.422 2.587 2.801 2.804 2.812 5.140 5.192 5.195 7.802 7.805 7.932 7.935
VT 2.326 2.411 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805
VA 2.326 2.411 2.463 2.511 2.587 2.801 2.812 5.140 5.192 5.195 7.805
WA 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.587 2.801 5.192 7.805 7.935
WY 2.326 2.414 2.419 5.195 7.805 7.932

SECURE: Listed by frequency

2.326 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY
2.411 MA MO NJ NC RI VT VA WA
2.414 ID IL ME MA MI MO NH OR WA WY
2.419 CA CT MA MO OH RI TN TX VT WY
2.422 CA OH SC TX
2.439 FL MO
2.463 FL MO VA
2.466 CO
2.471 CO ID
2.474 AL CO TN
2.487 AL IN NV
2.511 IN NV SC VA
2.535 ID MS
2.569 IL MS
2.587 NJ TX VA WA
2.801 NM OK OR TX VA WA
2.804 CA ID IL MI MT NE NM OK TX
2.812 CA LA MT NE NY TX VA
5.135 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY (ALTERNATE)
5.140 CA FL ID IL IN MI MO NM OK TN TX VA
5.192 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY
5.195 CA ID MA MS NV NJ OR TN TX VA WY
7.477 CT ID LA MA MI MS MO MT NM NY NC OK RI VT
7.480 CA IL LA MT NV NM OK OR SC TN
7.802 CA CO IL IN MO OR TX (DAY ONLY)
7.805 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY
7.932 FL ID IL NV SC TN TX WY
7.935 AL IL IN MO NE NC OR TX WA (DAY ONLY)

SECURE locations and frequencies obtained from the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) database.

SHARES ( SHAred RESources ) is a network of over 1000 stations representing 93 federal, state and industry sharing radio resources. They have standardized message formats and procedures, so any agency can transmit emergency messages for other agencies. Each agency maintains their own ( unpublished ) frequencies. Drills and weekly nets are called on Wednesday 1600 – 1800 z ( 1100 – 1300 EST or 1200 – 1400 EDT ). Large scale drills are conducted in April, August and December.

4.490 5.236 5.711 5.901 6.800 7.632 9.064 9.106 10.5865 11.108
11.217 13.242 14.3965 14.455 14.3965 15.094 17.487 20.107 26.812

Information about SHARES found here.

FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency ) has a network of shortwave stations between their regional offices: The day primary frequency is 10.493 MHz USB and night primary frequency is 5.212 MHz USB.

Net is called almost daily on 10.493 MHz at 1600 z ( 1100 EST or 1200 EDT ).

Each Monday, Thursday and Friday by primary net control station in Philadelphia, PA.
Also 1st Tuesday in January, April, July, October by primary station in Philadelphia, PA.
Also 1st Tuesday in February, May, August, November by 2nd alternate in Denton, TX.
Also 1st Tuesday in March, June, September, December by 3rd alternate in Thomasville GA.
Then 2nd Tuesday in March, June, September, December by 4th alternate in Battle Creek, MI.
Finally, every Wednesday an open drill between all regional stations. During any disaster or emergency, the affected state is in authority.

FEMA HQ Washington DC
Region #1 Boston: CT MA ME NH RI VT
Region #2 New York City: NJ NY PR VI
Region #3 Philadelphia: DC DE MD PA VA WV
Region #4 Atlanta: AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN
Region #5 Chicago: IL IN MI MN OH WI
Region #6 Denton: AR LA NM OK TX
Region #7 Kansas City: IA KS MO NE
Region #8 Denver: CO MT ND SD UT WY
Region #9 Oakland: AZ CA GU HI NV
Region #10 Seattle: AK ID OR WA

2.321 ( Foxtrot 06 ) Regions 8,9,10
2.361 ( Foxtrot 07 ) Regions 6,8,9
2.375 ( Foxtrot 08 ) Region 4
2.446 ( Foxtrot 09 ) Regions 1,3,5,9,10
2.659 ( Foxtrot 10 ) Regions 3,4,7,8,10
3.342 ( Foxtrot 11 ) Regions 4,5,6,7,8
3.380 ( Foxtrot 12 ) Regions 5,6,8,9,10
3.390 ( Foxtrot 13 ) Regions 5,6,7,8
4.603 Region 4
5.212 ( Foxtrot 15 ) All regions, night primary frequency
5.403 ( Foxtrot 16 ) Regions 9,10
5.822 ( Foxtrot 17 ) Regions 1,2
5.962 ( Foxtrot 18 ) Regions 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10
6.050 ( Foxtrot 19 ) Regions 3,5,8,10
6.107 ( Foxtrot 20 ) Regions 3,4,6,7,8,10
6.109 ( Foxtrot 21 ) All regions
6.152 ( Foxtrot 22 ) Regions 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
6.177 ( Foxtrot 23 ) Regions 6,8,10
6.180 ( Foxtrot 24 )
6.809 Regions 9,10
7.349 ( Foxtrot 25 ) Regions 1,4,5,6,8,9,10 Point-to-point primary frequency
7.428 Region 4
9.463 ( Foxtrot 26 ) Regions 9,10
10.493 ( Foxtrot 28 ) All Regions, day primary frequency,
10.589 ( Foxtrot 29 ) Regions 8,9,10
10.793 Region 9
10.407 ( Foxtrot 30 ) Regions 1,4,6,8
11.802 ( Foxtrot 31 ) Regions 3,6,8,9,10
11.958 ( Foxtrot 32 ) Regions 5,7,8,9
12.010 ( Foxtrot 33 ) Regions 9,10
12.217 ( Foxtrot 34 ) Regions 5,6,8,9,10
14.451 ( Foxtrot 35 ) All regions
14.777 ( Foxtrot 36 ) All regions
14.837 ( Foxtrot 37 ) All regions
14.886 ( Foxtrot 38 ) All regions
14.900 ( Foxtrot 39 ) All regions
14.909 ( Foxtrot 40 ) All regions
16.202 ( Foxtrot 41 ) Regions 9,10
16.431 ( Foxtrot 42 ) Regions 9,10
17.520 ( Foxtrot 43 ) Regions 9,10
17.650 ( Foxtrot 44 ) Regions 5,8,9,10
18.745 ( Foxtrot 45 ) Regions 9,10
19.758 ( Foxtrot 46 ) Regions 9,10
19.970 ( Foxtrot 47 ) Regions 9,10
20.028 ( Foxtrot 48 ) All regions
20.405 Philadelphia, PA ( Primary Net Control ) to Washington DC
21.919 Denver, CO ( 1st Alternate ) to Mt. Weather VA
27.850 Philadelphia, PA ( Primary Net Control ) to Washington DC

FEMA information and frequencies obtained here.
Additional information about FEMA and SHARES can be found here.
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS operates shortwave base stations and mobile units for long-distance
emergency communications. The listed locations and frequencies, from the FCC database.

Washington DC, Austin TX, Kansas City MO and Berryville VA.

2.326 2.463 2.801 3.170 3.201 5.135 5.140 6.858 7.480 7.549 7.697 7.932 7.935

Gretna LA has only one frequency listed: 3.201 MHz, USB only

AMATEUR ( Ham ) RADIO NETS handle emergency messages during disasters. Amateur radio stations do not have assigned frequencies. All frequencies listed are approximate.

ARRL ( American Radio Relay League ) during a communications emergency transmits hourly bulletins from their station W1AW in Newington, CT.

VOICE hh:00 MORSE CODE hh:30

1.855 LSB 1.8175
3.990 LSB 3.5815
7.290 LSB 7.0475
14.290 USB 14.0475
18.160 USB 18.0975
21.390 USB 21.0675
28.590 USB 28.0675

See the ARRL web site.
ARRL has an online search for amateur radio nets.

Hurricane Watch Net is active whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of land in the northern western hemisphere. Amateur radio station WX4NHC located at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL.

3.977 LSB nights
7.265 LSB nights
14.265 USB daytime

More information about National Hurricane Center at http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/
Additional hurricane net frequencies can be obtained at http://www.hurricanefrequencies.com

SATERN The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network is called on 14.265 MHz daily ( except Sundays ) at 1500 z ( 1000 EST or 0900 EDT ).

3.740 LSB
3.977 LSB
7.265 LSB
14.265 USB – daytime primary frequency

See web site http://www.satern.org/net further information

RADIO FREQUENCY SCANNERS

I own two radio scanners yet seldom have them turned on. During an emergency both scanners would be operated 24×7. The first scanner is programmed with local public safety ( air, fire, police and medical ) channels. The other scanner is a wide-band receiver ( 1 – 1500 MHz ) is currently programmed for shortwave broadcasting and two-way channels.

Here are a few frequencies I will monitor during an emergency. All frequencies use FM voice.

MEDCOM ( Medical Communications )
Nation-wide most hospitals and ambulance services use these frequencies.

463.000 463.025 463.050 463.075 463.100 463.125 463.150 463.175
462.950 ( Dispatch 1 ) 462.975 ( Dispatch 2 )

Many local Red Cross chapters operate on 47.42 MHz for disaster relief and damage assessments.

Many CERT Community Emergency Response Teams use FRS channel 1 ( no sub-channel ). If there is a disaster near your area CERT maybe engaged in search and rescue. DO NOT TRANSMIT non-emergency messages on channel 1. Monitoring channel 1 ( 462.5625 MHz ) could provide important information.

Amateur radio national FM calling frequency = 146.520 MHz and local repeater channels.

Here are two web sites for finding local frequencies: http://www.fcc.gov/searchtools.html and http://www.ac6v.com

TWO – WAY COMMUNICATIONS

Disaster planning should include using two-way communications. Anything said on a radio is not secure. Keep all transmissions short! Instead of “cute handles” use false names. Example; Bob could always be called Jim on the radio. Anybody listening would assume Jim is on the radio. If available, use the “automatic roger” feature that sends a “beep” at the end of each transmission. Request repeats only if transmission was not fully understood.

Use a prearranged phrase that is said at the end of the message, such as; ” Good day! “. If that phrase IS NOT said, ( or the WRONG phrase is said), then that could indicate trouble without alerting people outside your group. Do not call back and ask if they are okay. Instead ask for a repeat, like you did not understand their last transmission. If the phrase is omitted again take pre-planned action.

PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE ( POTS ). Have at least one telephone that is powered by the phone line. These telephones will continue to function during power outages. However storm damage can cause service outages.

Do not place unnecessary calls during a disaster. Too many people trying to use the telephone at the same time can deny dial tone to everyone. Reserve the phone lines for real emergencies.

CELLULAR TELEPHONES: Everybody has them. Easy to use, reliable until disaster strikes! Too many people using their phones at the same time will crash the network. Disasters can take down towers and disturb power. Do not depend on cellular telephones for emergencies. Federal law prohibits listening to cellular telephone conversations and most scanners have those frequencies blocked.

CITIZENS BAND: ( CB ) Unlicensed 40 channels limited to 4 watts for AM or 12 watts for SSB voice modulation. If you decide to use CB install a good base station antenna. Every vehicle used during a disaster should be equipped with a CB radio. A good base station has a range of 10 miles or more. A big disadvantage of CB is interference and lack of security.

CB could be used to communicate with nearby sites or groups. Every site monitors the national emergency channel 9 ( 27.065 MHz ). Place a call on channel 9 using tactical call signs or handles. If the conversation lasts longer than a few seconds move to another [pre-arranged] channel. When the call is finished all sites return to monitoring channel nine.

CITIZENS BAND FREQUENCIES

1 – 26.965 8 – 27.055 rc – 27.145 23 – 27.255 32 – 27.325
2 – 26.975 9 – 27.065 16 – 27.155 24 – 27.235 33 – 27.335
3 – 26.985 10 – 27.075 17 – 27.165 25 – 27.245 34 – 27.345
rc 26.995 11 – 27.085 18 – 27.175 26 – 27.265 35 – 27.355
4 – 27.005 rc – 27.095 19 – 27.185 27 – 27.275 36 – 27.365
5 – 27.015 12 – 27.105 rc – 27.195 28 – 27.285 37 – 27.375
6 – 27.025 13 – 27.115 20 – 27.205 29 – 27.295 38 – 27.385
7 – 27.035 14 – 27.125 21 – 27.215 30 – 27.305 39 – 27.395
rc 27.045 15 – 27.135 22 – 27.225 31 – 27.315 40 – 27.405 rc = remote control / no voice

Rules and regulations for CB operations can be found here.

FAMILY RADIO SERVICE ( FRS ) is unlicensed 14 channels ( 1 – 14 ) limited to 1/2 watt with frequency modulation ( FM ) voice. FRS has a range of only 1/2 to 2 miles. Do not believe the mileage claimed on the handheld packaging! The commonly available FRS/GMRS handhelds have 22 channels. Do not use channels 15 – 22 unless you have a GMRS license.
Have your older child(ren) carry a FRS radio in their school back-pack(s). In case of an emergency ( school lock-down ) your child may be able to communicate with you. They may not have access to their back-packs so you need to wait for them to call you!

Learn more about using FRS radio for emergencies here.

GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICE ( GMRS ) is licensed 15 channels ( 1 – 7 & 15 – 22 ) limited to 50 watts with FM voice. GMRS requires a no-test license, obtainable with an application and fee. GRMS can provide greater base to mobile range with far less interference then CB and FRS. The costs may be higher but a base station with external antenna and repeaters are allowed with GRMS. Unless you plan to use a higher powered base station or repeater I see no reason to obtain a GMRS license.

MULTIPLE USER RADIO SERVICE ( MURS ) is unlicensed 5 channels limited to 2 watts with FM voice and data. MURS has a range of 1 – 3 miles with low interference. External antennas are allowed to extend the range. MURS handhelds are rarely sold at retail stores therefore uncommon [and hence slightly more secure than CB and the other other commonly used bands]. I purchased 8 MURS heldhelds on the Internet and donated them to my church which is a local Red Cross shelter.

FRS FREQUENCIES GMRS FREQUENCIES MURS FREQUENCIES

1 – 462.5625 Channels 1 – 7 1 – 462.5625 1 -151.820
2 – 462.5875 shared by FRS 2 – 462.5875 2 -151.880
3 – 462.6125 and GMRS 3 – 462.6125 3 -151.940
4 – 462.6375 4 – 462.6375 4 -154.570
5 – 462.6625 5 – 462.6625 5 -154.600
6 – 462.6875 6 – 462.6875
7 – 462.7125 7 – 462.7125

8 – 467.5625 Channels 8 – 14
9 – 467.5875 FRS only
10 – 467.6125
11 – 467.6375
12 – 467.6625
13 – 467.6875
14 – 467.7125

15 – 467.550 Channels 15 – 22 can be used for repeater
Channels 15 – 22 16 – 467.575 output channels. The input channels are
GMRS only 17 – 467.600 + 5.0 MHz up from output frequencies.
18 – 467.625
19 – 467.650
20 – 467.675
21 – 467.700
22 – 467.725

Channels and sub-channels? Everybody on same channel shares the same radio frequency. Sub-channels are low frequency audio ( below voice ) tones that are transmitted along with the voice. That tone enables the receiver to hear the signal. If other stations transmitting on the same radio channel but with different sub-channels ( tones ) your radio will remain silent. Using a sub-channel does not provide privacy, anybody monitoring the radio frequency channel ( sub-channel off ) can hear all transmissions on that channel. Using a sub-channel only prevents you from hearing their transmissions. During an emergency recommend setting the sub-channel OFF.

Amateur (“Ham”) Radio.
An amateur radio license requires passing written tests, but there is no longer a Morse Code test. Hams have access to many frequency bands and up to 1,000 watts (or 1.500 watts in SSB). Hams can operate local line-of-sight to global communications. Every survival group should have a licensed amateur radio operator. Because of their license test studies, hams understand radio theory, propagation, and operating procedures.

Amateur Radio Bands

1.800 – 2.000 CW & LSB
3.500 – 3.600 CW & digital
3.600 – 4.000 LSB
5.3305 5.3465 5.3665 5.3715 5.4035 Five channels limited to 50 watts USB only
7.000 – 7.125 CW & digital
7.125 – 7.300 LSB
10.100 – 10.150 limited to 200 watts CW only
14.000 – 14.150 CW & digital
14.150 – 14.350 USB
18.110 – 18.168 CW & USB
21.000 – 21.200 CW & digital
21.200 – 21.450 USB
24.890 – 24.930 12 meter band CW
24.930 – 24.990 USB
28.000 – 28.300 10 meter band CW
28.300 – 29.700 USB FM above 29.5
50.000 – 50.100 6 meter band CW
50.100 – 54.000 USB FM
144.00 – 144.10 2 meter band CW
144.10 – 148.00 CW USB FM

There are several more bands of frequencies above 200 MHz.

“CW” means morse code. Rapidly turning the transmitter on and off with a hand operated switch called a telegraph key. When passed through a beat frequency oscillator (BFO) in the receiver, it sounds like a series of short and long tones. Each letter or number have an unique Morse Code pattern of tones.

More information about amateur radio, see the ARRL web site.

About the Author: Ron Y. is an amateur radio operator since 1964 with an Amateur Extra Class and commercial
radiotelephone licenses. Retired from a “Bell System Telephone company” after 31 years of service.

Two Letters Re: Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge

Mr. Editor:
Since stumbling across SurvivalBlog a few months ago, I’ve been amazed at the amount of valuable information contained here. This site has become a daily read for me, and I’ve learned much from the contributions here. That said, however, I did find some of what Todd S., the writer of “Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge” to be both disturbing and impractical.

First, the disturbing part. What the writer does not plainly state, but what is clearly implied, is that when he decides that when a particular societal situation arises, and he wants food, he quite clearly plans to steal it from its rightful owners. Notice that he never explicitly states that he would steal the food. However, to cite one example (regarding the SYSCO truck filled with food), is he assuming the truck driver will be there with a cash register, ready to take a Mastercard and bag the groceries? Of course not. Nor would that be the case for any of the other examples he cites.

The fact is that looting is stealing, plain and simple. If you can spend the time and effort to scope out all the lootable food storage locations in your neighborhood, then you can spend the same time and effort to create your very own storable food depot in your basement. You don’t need to become a thief of someone else’s goods if you have your own.

Now, as for the second point — the impracticality of looting these locations. You may think that you are the only one who has noticed these storage facilities, but think again. The first people who are going to be heading there are the owners and employees; and these people also have the keys to the entryways, room doors, and padlocks. They will get there long before you do. And if one of them does happen to arrive, armed, while you are attempting to crowbar your way in, you will have a very ugly situation develop very fast

I know that JWR wrote in an epilog to this letter that these actions would be unconscionable in any situation other than a massive depopulation scenario. However, even in that case, how can you be certain that you know all the actual owners of this property, where they are located, and that they and all their heirs are dead?

Far better should you put yourself in a position of implementing a food storage program, with several caches at secret locations, which would carry your family through an extended problem scenario — than implementing a plan to loot others’ property while putting yourself in serious potential danger. – DP

 

James,
There are only two ways to look at Todd’s wargaming: Either he assumes the entire world is going to drop dead at the same time, leaving him free to mill around and take anything he wants, or he is well on his way to becoming a competent and dangerous thief/looter.

I was with him up through the abandoned Sysco truck. I lost him sometime around his cataloguing all of the areas cattle. Does he think the ranchers, their hired help, and their families won’t have an interest in these animals? So does he hope to hire out to these people, or rustle their stock?

Just because that contractor doesn’t have the means to store the large quantities of fuel at his house,, doesn’t mean he isn’t taking it from his yard a couple of hundred gallons at a time. That might be naive of him, but it doesn’t make Todd correct in taking it because he assumes it has been abandoned. Todd is liable to get himself shot or blown up by a booby trap. Contractors are generally resourceful. They work hard for what they have, and are going to be loathe to part with it.

God help all of us if preppers have to sink to the lowest common denominator. Todd’s letter starts him out close to it. Perhaps I’ve been going about this preparedness thing all wrong. Instead of saving, packing, stacking and storing,, I should just be making lists of everybody else who does.

Thank you for your work, – J.B.

Economics and Investing:

“Card House” sent us this: CBO: National Deficit to Hit Nearly $10 Trillion Over Upcoming Decade

GG flagged the latest Friday Follies news: Regulators shut down banks in 4 states, making 26 US bank failures this year

Also from GG: National debt to be higher than White House forecast, CBO says

Another from GG: Greece is a harbinger of austerity for all–The effects of the stimulus are wearing off, leaving us with a nasty
hangover, says Jeremy Warner.

E.M.B. sent us this piece by Mish Shedlock: Construction Developer Says Banks Suddenly Playing Hardball, Asks “Mish, What’s Going On?”

Items from The Economatrix:

Stocks Jump After Better-Than-Expected Jobs Report

Consumer Borrowing Up in January After 11 Declines

Unemployment Rate Holds, Payrolls Fall

Oil Settles at $81 on Jobless Report

More Fake Gold Bars Found

Gerald Celente: Neo-Survivalism Trend in Action

Odds ‘n Sods:

Art suggested this piece by an economist: Stocking up on meds and ammo, NOW!

   o o o

Norman in England mentioned that he had found 680 tree fact sheets available from University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department.

   o o o

Ready Made Resources has expanded their 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are now offering free shipping on mixed case lots, as long as you order increments of full cases! There’s just one week left for the sale, so order soon!

James K. sent a link to a humorous little video clip: Prepared Police Fail.

   o o o

In my recent mention of the recently-passed Wyoming Firearms Freedom Bill, I neglected to mention that the South Dakota legislature has passed similar legislation, and that another 10 Amendment amplifying bill has already been signed into law, in Utah.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Art suggested this piece by an economist: Stocking up on meds and ammo, NOW!

   o o o

Norman in England mentioned that he had found 680 tree fact sheets available from University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department.

   o o o

Ready Made Resources has expanded their 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are now offering free shipping on mixed case lots, as long as you order increments of full cases! There’s just one week left for the sale, so order soon!

James K. sent a link to a humorous little video clip: Prepared Police Fail.

   o o o

In my recent mention of the recently-passed Wyoming Firearms Freedom Bill, I neglected to mention that the South Dakota legislature has passed similar legislation, and that another 10 Amendment amplifying bill has already been signed into law, in Utah.

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 27 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

Please note that I’m posting this only as an illustration of what NOT to do, in the aftermath of a disaster.

The prizes for this round will include:

First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Luger, 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo. This is a $249 value.

Second Prize: A "grab bag" of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $350.

Third Prize: A copy of my "Rawles Gets You Ready" preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing.

Round 27 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical "how to" skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge, by Todd S.

I’ve been fortunate to live in the same general area for my entire adult life, the Rocky Mountains of Utah. I am very familiar with the area made more so by various employments, a variety of interests all centered around the outdoors and twenty years of being a Scout Master. Being familiar with my surroundings for a long period of time increases my knowledge base of useful things to know, information unique to my immediate surroundings.
    
I have always been curious and a great observer, of both people and things.  Some years ago my brother mentioned something to me when we were talking about being prepared if anything big should happen. At the time he worked for a national car wash company, traveling around the region inspecting various car washes.  He said he didn’t need to store a fresh water supply because all of the car washes have enormous tanks of fresh water underground; most have more than 2,000 gallons. People didn’t know this so he figured he could use these as a source for fresh water. 
    
A light bulb went off in my head. This conversation was the start of what I call my Long Term Situational Awareness. I am always on the look out for information that could help me if I have to G.O.O.D. or heaven forbid if TEOTWAWKI happens; information, places and people that I store away in my data banks so I don’t have to figure it out on the run. For example the water tanks underneath car washes, I might have figured that out eventually, but now I know right where to head.
    
Here are some of the things I have made mental notes about that I think will give me an edge.  Maybe you can keep an eye out for this stuff in your immediate vicinity.  The longer you are in the same area, the more information you can collect.  The more stuff you know, the better your odds are of getting out and surviving.
    
ESCAPE ROUTES: Where I live we our bound on the West by a harsh desert environment, not a good escape route.  To the East are mountains, which I know intimately from hunting and camping, especially every paved and dirt road in an out of them for fifty miles. It would take several road blocks to prevent me from getting where I wanted to go if I choose to go that direction.  This direction is my choice if evasion or defense is the highest priority.  

There is only one North South freeway, which of course would prove completely useless. A bottle neck of both surface streets and alternate routes to the South make this direction a bad choice.  To the North, a bottle neck of alternate routes is still passable but not ideal. A little known closed rail road line, (Google Earth is a great source to start looking for these kinds of routes.) is only blocked by a flimsy gate. It bypasses the bottleneck by twenty miles.  A friend showed me this years ago as an access to some hunting ground.  I realized its other potential as an escape route and have never forgotten it. If I have to bug out, I’m going north.  
FOOD: We all know the grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants will be looted first.  I’ve noted several places that might be over looked at least during the first few days. I keyed in an idea several years ago that anyplace that serves meals to large groups of people will have stores of food.  

There are two small convention centers within five miles of my house.  They are not in a retail, shopping or restaurant area, they are in the office and business districts.  I go to both several times a year.  Every night of the week they cook and serve dinner for several hundred people. The convention centers have storage rooms and commercial kitchens that will probably be overlooked in the first few days [of a societal collapse].
    
Any place with a snack bar, especially in an overlooked area, is a great source for food supplies.  I know of three indoor soccer arenas with snack bars.  All are in warehouse and industrial areas. All of them have snack bars and I’ve noted where the storage rooms are for the snack bars.  Two of the soccer arenas are on my bug out route.

The last several years I have seen an explosion of small gyms, many in strip malls and professional office districts.  Nearly all of these small gyms have supplies of nutrition and protein bars, bottled water and re-hydration drinks. Most will be overlooked the first few days.
    
Most Boy Scout camps store and cook food for hundreds of people everyday. I know of at least a dozen scout camps along different travel routes.

We have three, regional food distribution centers. These will be hit hard, but I know where they are and won’t have to look for them in the telephone book. What might be overlooked are the restaurant food supply companies. Not only might their warehouses be missed at first, some people might walk right pass a SYSCO semi truck and not realize it is filled with food. One semi truck from a restaurant supplier and I’m set.  I know the names of all the suppliers and their logos.  
    
Fuel:  Two miles from my home is a warehouse complex with over two hundred companies and a thousand semi-trucks, all with big fuel tanks, going in and out every day. It will obviously be looted, but it is so large the out lying trucks and smaller ware houses will go unnoticed at first.
    
Excavator companies and large construction companies often store their own fuel. I’ve hired several of these companies and have identified three that are located in areas that may be easily overlooked.

There is farmland all around me.  Many farmers store fuel.  This would be a last resort for me because they also have guns, know how to shoot, are willing to shoot and if any group will survive WTSHTF it will be farmers.

TEOTWAWKI         
A few random notes I’ve taken over the years in case I find myself in TEOTWAWKI situation. I know where three large sheep herds and two large herds of cattle graze in the summer. I know where a high-fence elk hunting outfit is located with 300 head of elk. I know of three small residential subdivisions in the mountains that are self sustaining, on there own wells and solar powered. I know of three large snowmobiling lodges in the mountains that are self sustaining.  They are virtually abandoned six months out of the year.  I know where a small, private fish farm, surrounded by a hundred fruit trees can be found two miles past a locked gate. I know where all of the wildlife resources fish hatcheries are. I know where a rancher has sixty head of domesticated buffalo penned in a remote mountain valley.
    
All of these observations have taken no extra time and effort, simply the realization that someday I may need to know this stuff and it would be a good idea to remember them.  Keep your eyes and ears open, you never know what will pop out at you if you’re looking for it.   You never know what piece of information you store in your data banks will give you the critical edge.

JWR Adds: Most of the foregoing would only be appropriate in the aftermath of a situation with massive depopulation, such as a pandemic. In anything lesser, appropriating “abandoned” supplies would simply be unconscionable theft, because those supplies would still have rightful owners. There have also been several discussions in SurvivalBlog about the inadvisability of crossing private land that belong to someone else. Even worse is shooting someone’s livestock. In essence, that is just a good way to get yourself ventilated, in the event of a societal collapse. I have posted this just to show SurvivalBlog readers one sort of threat that they will face. It is encapsulates the horribly astray and ill-advised “justified looting” mentality. Keep plenty of .308 ammo on hand. You may need it.

Letter Re: Afghanistan is 7.62 NATO Country

Dear CPT Rawles:

I’d like to bring your attention to a paper prepared at Ft. Leavenworth, titled, “Increasing Small Arms Lethality in Afghanistan: Taking Back the Infantry Half-Kilometer.”

Essentially, the old M14 rifle has not yet met its demise, even though Jimmy Carter did order the destruction of 700,000 M14 Rifles.

As you have known for years, the 5.56 NATO cartridge is not the best cartridge for a Main Battle Rifle. You have written extensively regarding this issue in your books.

For some time now, I have witnessed a sizable number of M14 Rifles, in various configurations, from the original wood stocked version, to the new Enhanced Battle Rifle, EBR-14, all “tricked out” with modern optics and night vision equipment capability.

As stocks are low, due to the ill-conceived destruction of so many M14s in the 1970s and the fact that the US sold the tooling and equipment for manufacturing this weapon, years ago to [the civilian company] Springfield Armory, in Geneseo, Illinois is the prime contractor for the EBR-14 platform.

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): We may see the Army Leadership finally realize that the old 7.62 NATO cartridge is hard to beat at not only close-in combat, but also at extended ranges as are common in Afghanistan.

There are many of us in the military community who believe that the M14, in whatever configuration is sorely needed by the soldier today and most likely in the future as well.

Best Regards, – M.B. LTC, US Army (Retired)

Letter Re: Finding Community

Jim,
A quick observation about a dog’s ability to judge character or to determine a person’s intentions: They can’t, they have no clue; they are terrible at it. What a dog can do, however, is study their master. Remember, we are their world and the object of their attention 24/7. Your dog knows your thoughts almost as fast as you think them. After all, they have nothing better to do but watch you. So if your dog doesn’t like someone new, they are picking up that vibe from you, and acting on it. Your dog doesn’t care about hurt feelings or offending someone. I find this most beneficial.

I have noticed that after the person that I deem to be ok is around awhile, my dogs will start to reflect how that person feels about them. If the dog’s reaction is positive or negative I don’t put allot of stock in their behavior, as the new guest has passed muster. It is their initial reaction to a person I’ve just met that I’m sensitive to. It helps me to hone my gut feeling and to pay attention to it when my dogs aren’t around.

There is a book called “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker. It is a great read and very informative with regard to how we humans act and how to read and interpret those actions. The author shares the same opinion about a dog’s observation skills that I do.

I hope this is of value to you and your readers. – JM

Letter Re: Some Comments and Personal Experiences in Haiti

Jim,

Concerning the lack of sanitation at some Haiti evacuation camps: Porta-john [chemical toilets] are nice, but must be pumped out, cleaned and refilled regularly in order to remain usable. A simple solution I have used on the farm is to cut out the bottom of the john’s holding tank. Then we dig a hole and position the outhouse over the hole. As it is used, we occasionally throw a little lime or wood ash into the hole to control smell and bugs. The outhouse is on skids and is easy to move by hand, so when the hole is half full, we pull the john aside, dig a new hole and use the dirt to refill the “used” hole. When we have repositioned the outhouse over the new hole, we heap the remaining dirt around the outside edges of the building for more smell and insect control and to keep out ground water. Thus we have an always ready, clean and private facility for when the need arises.

I suggest that readers call their local porta-john rental companies. The suppliers in my area often have ones in need of slight repair available for purchase, at low cost. A non-chemical using, easy to move and clean outhouse would make a very nice, and most helpful, addition to

Economics and Investing:

GG flagged this piece over at Zero Hedge: CLSA’s Chris Wood “In Five Years The US Dollar Paper Standard Will Collapse”

Greg C. suggested a piece posted at Money News: Rogoff: U.S. Has Defaulted Before, May Do So Again

Bob G. liked this piece: ‘Buy some gold every month’ as protection against falling currencies, says Marc Faber

Items from The Economatrix:

Gold Going Higher: Even George Soros Agrees With Marc Faber

Is Moving Out of the US A Way to Escape the Coming Economic Collapse?

Gold and Silver Supply: Get Some While You Can (The Mogambo Guru)

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mike T. sent this: Drug gangs taking over US public lands

   o o o

Wyoming House Passes Firearms Freedom Act. (Thanks to George S. for the link.) I suspect that this will be signed into law, following suit with Montana and Tennessee.

   o o o

I found an interesting article linked at The Drudge Report by South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint: White House land grab

   o o o

Zac in Kentucky mentioned a congressional candidate from Missouri that is seeking donations of $5.56 apiece.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“He’d forgotten the precautions and the care a human had to observe in the depths of the arctic winter. How very easy it would be to cease to exist, by doing nothing, just being out there, getting lost, freezing.” “It’s called death by omission,” said Ian. – from the novel “Ice Trap” by Kitty Sewell , 2008

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 27 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include:

First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Luger, 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo. This is a $249 value.

Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $350.

Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing.

Round 27 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Finding Community – Part 2, by Jim Fry

Suggestions on how a survival community might enlist new members.

The lights have gone out. It may be years, if ever, before they come on again. You haven’t seen a banana, orange or avocado in a long time. Of course that’s not surprising since there hasn’t been an open grocery store in a long while either. You have heard rumors that the death toll from disease in China and India is in the hundreds of millions, perhaps even in the billions. But you don’t really know, because you haven’t heard a thing from Washington or the State Capitol in quite a while.

You are on your own.

It is the end of the world as we knew it. Disease, the collapse of the economy, the failure of power, water, septic, delivery and legal systems have seen to that. There’s no gas, which means no cars. All of a sudden you find yourself living in the 18th Century. About the only good thing that has happened lately is that you managed to find safety in a “survival” community.

You have a number of good people with you. There’s 24 hour security, enough food, (barely), everyone’s health seems to be holding out and the gardens are growing. But you have a problem. The group needs to expand in order to survive. There’s just too much to do. The herd animals you have must be cared for and watched constantly because you can’t risk losing any of them. Perimeter security must be maintained, but unfortunately security and animal herding are very different jobs, so that takes a number of separate workers. Making soap and candles, weaving cloth, sewing, and boot and harness making are all time consuming. And garden and field crop weeding is a full time job for many. Just doing the laundry is a major task, not to mention cutting firewood year ’round, and food prep. and cooking all day. 16 hour days of hard work are the norm, and mistakes are happening because some folks are just so tired.

So your group has met, and decided to seek out several more folks to join your community. The several bachelors would like to have a couple of more women join the community. And the single women feel the same about available men. You’d like some trades and crafts people who could start producing some trade goods like wooden buckets, tinware, paper, and a good bow maker would be great. More help in the house and gardens is certainly needed. Just getting someone to build a new pig pen would be wonderful. And there’s always the necessity for additional folks on security.

So what do you do ?

There’s still occasional “road people” and other wanderers. But picking the right ones to ask in can be very dangerous. You’ve heard that sometimes roving gangs will send out “spotters” who try to enter communities just to scope out defenses and resources. Anyone who might be sick is always a problem. Vaccinations are a thing of the past, so a touch of the “bad” flu could kill you all. And then there’s the personality problems, and the crazies. Strangers can simply carry many problems with them. Not the least of which is your need to first confirm that they are not an immediate threat. But if a stranger seems initially ok, there are a few things that might help you decide if you should consider them for community membership.

Fortunately, a built in human survival trait often called “gut reaction”, that is so often ignored in good times, will likely come into greater use. These feelings are sometimes called “the hair standing up on the back of your neck”, but in good times are usually dismissed as paranoia or “being judgmental”. Dogs have never had that problem and have always used it. You’ll need to quickly relearn to pay attention to it. It’s simply becoming more aware of, and learning to more often trust, your gut feeling, your first impression.

So the first thing to do on meeting someone is to trust your senses. If a stranger appears overly nervous, stands or walks kinda funny, seems too well fed, or too dirty, if their eyes don’t meet yours, or they stare too intently, if their skin appears yellowish or too red, even if their smell seems “different” somehow, you want to trust your first impressions. “Casually” study any strangers. Notice if they are making an attempt to stay clean, or seem to be dirty by choice. In a friendly way ask about the meaning of something they are wearing or carrying, if it is fairly unusual. You may be surprised at the answers you might get, that could indicate some sort of mental “weirdness”. Look for what doesn’t exactly fit. If something just doesn’t seem quite right, maybe it isn’t.

But so far, your, (informed), first impression seems ok. Then what ? Well, on meeting someone new, notice what they talk or ask about. If they ask inappropriate questions, or blurt out asking to be given food, that’s not so good. If they say they are traveling and looking for a place to settle, and ask if it would it be possible to do a bit of work in exchange for a bite to eat to help them on their way, that’s better. You’d also want to notice how they react to things said. If you ask the stranger how are conditions back up the road, and they spit out that those blank, blank so and so’s ran them off, that’s not generally a good sign. (Unless of course you happen to know the so and so’s don’t like anybody who’s decent.) If you make a joke, does the stranger laugh, or do they just frown or maybe laugh too much. Just really pay attention to how they react socially.

Next, check out what they are carrying. (Remember that earlier you had already confirmed they were no immediate threat.) Explain to them that if they are going to be allowed to stay in the area, you need to know they are okay. There’s the obvious security issues involved, and you need to know what weapons they have. But also, what a person chooses to carry on their back says a lot about that person. If their kit is well organized, that’s more likely a useful person. If they are carrying mood altering drugs, dirty utensils and unclean firearms and knives, they are more likely to just be a problem. If they object to a “friendly” search, its probably time for them to hit the road.

So, now you’ve met a person who has passed the “smell” test, seems socially appropriate, and appears well organized. You still don’t know much about them, but it seems like maybe a work for food trade is all right. You don’t want to let them into your community proper, they haven’t been cleared for medical issues and diseases, and you never let anyone in for security reasons unless you fully trust them. But, since they asked to trade work for food, you can set them to work cutting firewood, in the wood lot outside the fence, or some other such job. It also would be a good opportunity to work with them to see if they can use a saw or axe without getting hurt. And you could push them a bit to see how they do with some hard labor. Pay attention to their ability and attitude towards what they are doing. And notice how well they take direction.

Then set down with them, serve them the food they earned, and talk. Ask them about being on the road, what their skills are, what they are looking for, maybe even what their dreams are. Ask if they have any family or friends they are looking for, or hope to find. And ask if they have been married, or would want to be. You could tell a story about some charity work you had done before TEOTWAWKI, and ask if they had done any themselves, (which can be an indication of their selfish or giving nature). If you make it a conversation and just have a casual talk, they may answer more fully and truthfully than if you act like it is an interview. Most people who have been alone for awhile, and still have their head screwed on right, like to talk if the person they are talking with seems at ease. So just be informal. It is amazing how much you can learn about a person by asking the right “inconsequential” questions.

If they pass all those tests, it’s time to get down to business. It’s time to be very, very clear and forthright. Tell them you are looking for a member or two. Ask if they are interested. If they are, explain they will need a complete medical check. If they pass that, they will go on probation. For several weeks, they will work a full day every day, be talked with a lot, be expected to make a few examples of the craft or trade they claim to be proficient at, and will live in a removed tent, cabin or teepee. In return they will receive fair trade for their work, and the same food as the rest of the community. Tell them if they get along with most everyone, pass the medical quarantine of living separate and have showed no new disease or illness, can work enough to contribute, and actually have the skills they claim, they will be held up for vote to become a member. Finally explain to them in detail the community’s rules. And explain in as much detail the communities cultural norms, such as folks like to share meals, or pray together, or hold book readings and sing-a-longs every evening, ..or whatever. Every group or community has its own ways, and new members need to know what they are going in.

If they agree with all that, you’re possibly on the way to growing.

But just remember. Do your due diligence in checking them out. We all often approach new opportunities and people with overly optimistic hope. It isn’t until later we become more realistic. Living in a close knit community can be a bit like marrying into a family. Make sure that the “family” you choose, will continue to be the family you want. You really need to get along with each other as well as possible. Someone who always seems to need to do things in a way counter to the rest of the group, or who later displays an initially hidden problem personality, can tear a group apart. Then they are going to have to leave, one way or another.
–Problem is, in a survival situation, if you banish someone, they may come back with new friends. And the “problem person” will know every single one of your weaknesses and strengths. Having them leave, (vertically), may not be an option. And that will be one of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make. Who you take in can really matter. For the good or the bad.

–Note: For the past 35 years, I have had folks living in my home, out in one of the cabins, in tents, motor homes, or in various teepees at my place. One guy was here for 20 years, others only lasted three days. There’s been homeless women with infants, recovering drunks, new age moon gazers, kids in school, some goof offs, others with no teeth and a few with too many lice. Some were good, some terrible. The suggestions in the above article are some of the ways I have developed over time in order to avoid the “terrible”. I suggest that if you are able, take in some people now during good times, give them a break, help them get on their feet, then send them on their way. In return, you will have done a good thing, and learned many lessons about how to get along with folks. You will also learn some quick and valuable lessons about how to decide who to take in. You will find the experience very helpful in the coming TEOTWAWKI.

We are currently having free Disaster Preparedness classes. Please see the Survivalist Groups “Meet-up” web page–a listing posted on Feb. 28th, listed under “Ohio & Midwest”. Lets help each other now, in order to be able help those less fortunate later. – Jim Fry, Curator, Museum of Western Reserve Farms & Equipment