One of the most important things for a true disaster is having backup coms. I’m not talking just having walkie-talkies or radios for in-group communications, but multiple ways of getting information from, and to, the outer world.
The disaster in Appalachia is proving that every day. Without alternate coms, people are not getting rescued, not getting supplies, and are unable to let anyone know their plight. With alternate coms, things get done to help them. Have heard of at least one use of a signal mirror, with rumors of more.
In this previous post, some good comments came in on alternative coms. At the risk of sounding paranoid, here are some quick thoughts.
Get Starlink. It truly has been the backbone of restoring coms, data, and more in Appalachia (and elsewhere). Also, check into upgrading your phone as needed to take advantage of satellite com (again, Starlink) for them. Purportedly Elon is looking into a “plan” for those wanting it as a backup so that you only pay when you use it. Meantime, Starlink has made it free to use it from the worst hit areas. That’s leadership and service. Also, Starlink is a lot harder to jam. More on that in a bit.
Look into Citizen’s Band (CB) radio. We used to use it in my neck of Appalachia as a way of coms, sharing news, and even relaying info in emergencies. If someone has a CB, especially a CB base station, and a working phone, you have a lifeline. It also didn’t require a license or other paperwork. These days, it is so far off the mainstream that some jamming systems probably aren’t set for it.
Ham radio has been a backbone of emergency relays and communications since radio first hit the scene. If there isn’t a ham near you, look at helping start a local or school club. It may not be the best for intra-local, but you can reach the world with it and if you have multiple users (not uncommon even in small towns), multiple opportunities to communicate with the wider world.
Corollary: Have one or more radios that can pick-up multiple bands including short wave. Many emergency radios already have them, but get as many radios as you can with them. Even if you can’t transmit, word can still get to you. It worked well in WWII and for a literary reference think of Potterwatch in the Harry Potter books. Be prepared.
Keep in mind that even with generators or batteries, cell phone towers are often the first to go down in a disaster. Don’t count on them, though it is great if they do keep working. However, keep in mind that cell phone jamming systems are powerful, portable, and common. The government (at more than one level) actually does have plans to jam over large areas at need to prevent “unauthorized” communications in a variety of situations. Again, don’t count on them.
Why the talk on jamming and such? Well, here’s a few things. Government, particularly the feds but also far too many states, are at best chaotic neutrals in a true disaster/emergency. In fact, as we’ve seen in Maui (where if you listened to/obeyed LE and the govt, you died) and now in Appalachia, they often tend towards chaotic evil. When you see helicopters grounded and non-governmental groups ordered to stop operations (videos out there), and LE threatening to arrest people for trying to salvage their belongings (again, video out there), you start to see the problem.
Over on X, Dennis Wingo and I had a short (in my case, very as was on a bus bouncing badly) discussion on FEMA and some state agencies. I’m extremely thankful that I did not do a practicum to complete certification to be an On-Scene-Commander given what things have devolved to today. Short version is that the system has rotted and become corrupt. If your thought that the corruption at the border with the various NGOs and such was limited to that part of operations, you are sadly mistaken. Read both chains at the link: the corruption with the NGOs, preferred providers, etc. has firmly taken hold in the main disaster response area.
The best disaster response is LOCAL, then area, then state. The worst thing to come out of Katrina is the current system. The current federal system hates and works by any means to prevent “self-deployment” and initiative, and frankly is dedicated to controlling all information exchange and operations. Even if so doing causes deaths or makes the situation worse. Also keep in mind that it is a very short walk from chaotic neutral to active evil in such a situation.
And again, let me state that FEMA and even some state (sadly even some local based on another video) agencies, will try to retaliate against those who did deploy and get things done before they got there. They can block those agencies from working with FEMA, issue advisories official and unofficial that block grants, and do other things to put them out of business and keep them out of future operations and operational areas. Just wait, watch, and help raise hell when they do it.
Meantime, a good rule of preparedness is not only not to count on the government for anything, but plan from the start to be prepared to work around it at need to ensure your survival and safety. At best it will be a neutral entity, and as we have seen from Maui and elsewhere, it is far more likely to be effectively an enemy. Given how some of the FEMA (and TEMA) people are acting, don’t be surprised if some go missing sooner or later in Appalachia. Remember those strangers who went up Rocky Top…
Oh, as for some of the stories of confiscations, turn-aways, etc. possibly being bot driven: given the videos out there where turn-arounds, arrest threats, and other delights being committed by our “elites” and “betters” in government and LE, the big problem is that the stories are quite believable. We see and hear the actions of government at every level doing those very things. Why wouldn’t we believe that it extends further? When you squander public trust for power, don’t be surprised when people believe the worst of you and don’t trust you.
One more thought: given that I have no faith in the upcoming election, might I suggest that people of like minds start developing networks right now to stay in touch off grid as much as possible? Networks, relays, and such of like-minded might come in handy during unrest, much less a full-up disaster.
You can never have enough redundant coms. Period. Plan accordingly.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.
