Emergency Kits for Communicators and Non-Communicators

N6QAD – SC4ARES EC

March 25 2020

Field

Introduction

This presentation is intended to get you thinking about your Emergency

Kits:

• Why you need Emergency Kits.

• What items you should put in your Emergency Kits.

• How you should divide it up for ease of transportation and for

optimum utility.

By showing you my emergency kits, I hope to offer some suggestions

for items you can include in your own emergency kits.

2—

• By gathering supplies in a kit, you will be better prepared to provide for you and

your family in the event of an emergency.

• Your could be without power, heat, water, and telephone. Most

businesses in the area may be closed, due to the emergency. You may

need to evacuate.

• As a volunteer (ARES, CERT) during an activation

• You are responsible for your own Safety, Welfare and Comfort

• You should provide your own basic Equipment and Gear.

• You should be familiar with available gear (SC4ARC Resource trailer)

• Building your Emergency Kits ensures that items you need are:

• Available when you need them.

• Where you expect them to be.

When an Emergency happens or an Activation Call comes,

you won’t have time to hunt for things!3

Why do you need Emergency Kits?

Characteristics of the Emergency Kits

Emergency Kits:

• should be modular

- divided into small, easily-transportable modules depending on

• Function

- Family Preparedness

- Emergency Response (ARES/CERT Activation) characteristics

• Incident Type

• Assignment or Mission

• Length of Assignment

• Location

- Carried on Person

- Carried in Vehicle

- Stored at Fixed Location (Home, Office, etc.)

- Non-Stored Equipment (gathered as needed)

- Modules should supplement each other with additional equipment

and supplies, to extend your capabilities and endurance

• should be tailored to your needs and your equipment4• • •

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Basic Emergency Preparedness kit for your family

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Basic Emergency Preparedness kit for your family

• In case of emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being

prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 7

days (ideally 14 for long lasting emergencies e.g. pandemic).

• Store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two

easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

• After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place

• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers

• Replace expired items as needed

• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

• Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies

for home, work and vehicles.

• Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to

leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.

• Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should

include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable

walking shoes, stored in a ―grab and go‖ case.

• Vehicle: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least 7 days, for drinking and sanitation

• Food - at least a 7-day supply of non-perishable food

- Canned, packaged or dried food to be kept as part of the usual food rotation

- Lightweight food should be packed ready in case of evacuation

- MREs aren't designed to be eaten more than 3 days in a row and will most likely eventually expire and

be discarded.

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

• Flashlight

• First aid kit

• Extra batteries

• Whistle to signal for help

• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-

place

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

• Manual can opener for food

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

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Basic Emergency Preparedness kit for your family

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Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual

needs:

• Prescription medications

• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids

or laxatives

• Glasses and contact lenses solution

• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream

• Pet food and extra water for your pet 7-days

• Cash or traveler's checks

• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and

bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container

• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes

• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water

• Fire extinguisher

• Matches in a waterproof container

• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils

• Paper and pencil

• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Basic Emergency Preparedness kit for your family

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Emergency Go-kits for Activations

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Basic 12hrs Emergency Communication go-kit

All SC4ARES members should have this go-kit:

• Hand-held 2 meter transceiver (a dual band 2M/440 is better.)

• Power source for at least 12 hours operating time, e.g., extra ni-cads, gel cells,

AA pack, etc.

• Ten foot coaxial cable patch cord, with BNC male connectors at each end, 2

each BNC to PL259 adapters, one SO239 to SO239 barrel adapter and one

SMA to SO239 patch cable (note the SMA needs to e compatible with your

radio). With these items you will be able to connect to nearly any antenna drop

at any location.

• Notepad and writing instruments.

• SC4ARES Field Operation Guide (Maps for our areas, Forms, etc.)

• ID badge and FCC license.

• Personal medications, food and water for a 12 hour shift.

• Appropriate clothing for weather and terrain.

• First aid kit, flashlight and spare batteries.

• Bag, briefcase, etc.to hold all of the above.

Keep it in your car trunk and you will always have it with you when you need it.

Example of Modular Kit for Emergency Response

In the following as an example of a modular kit I will describe my go-kits

You don’t need to have all this!

This is meant only to give you ideas of how a go kit could be expand beyond the basic if you

wish and suggestions you may find useful while you develop your own Emergency kits.

11• •

Car House Basem

ent

Description

Day Pack X Short-duration or mobile/foot assignment

24hr Pack X Supplemental items needed for an overnight assignment

72hr Pack X Supplemental items needed for an extended assignment

of up to 3 days.

Evacuation Pack X Supplemental items needed in case of evacuation

Office Kit X Paperwork and references that may be useful for

managing a communications station.

Radio VHF/UHF Kit X For voice or packet

Radio HF Kit X For voice and digital modes

HF Antennas and Masts Kit X Portable antennas, mast, and tripod

Emergency Power Kit X Batteries

• Hand-held dual band 2m/70cm HT w/ External Speaker/Microphone

• 2 Battery packs, 1 AA battery pack with spare batteries, External 12Vdc power, w/ Power Pole

connector,

• Antenna adapters, SMA to SO-239 cable,

• HT manual

• ID badges, FCC license, Com Plan

• Notepad and writing instruments

• Flashlight (2) and spare batteries, light stick

• CERT field operating guides

• Protective equipment: Gloves, Glasses, Masks, Ear plugs,

Hard Hat

• First aid kit

• Tools: Multi-tools, Rope 50ft, Utility Bar, Cable ties, Duck Tape

• Vests: ARES, CERT

• Clothing: Rain poncho - Jacket (in the car)

• Whistle

• Compass

• Water bottles

• Some cash12

12hr Day Pack ARES/CERT

Kept in my car, ready for

immediate use.

24hr Supplemental Kit

(x2 people + a dog)

• Blanket

• 2 Non perishable meals

• Toiletries: towel, toilet

paper, tooth brush and

paste, wipes

• 6 bottles of water

• Extra AA batteries

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Supplemental kits

72hr Supplemental Kit

(x2 people + a dog)

• A change of clothes

(change of collar for Theo)

• 4 Non perishable meals

• Sweater

• Another blanket

• More toiletries

Evacuation Bag

• Camp stove / cooking tools

• Water purification filter

• Matches/Firestarter candles

• Light sticks

• Tent

• Crank up radio

• Italian playing card

• Some cash

In addition we store 14 days of non perishable food and 15 gallons

of water (x2 + a dog)

We rotate food and water every 6 months

• Laptop with 12V power adaptor (power poles)

• All software to operate digital modes

• ARES Field Resource Manual, SC4ARES Field Operations Guide, National Interoperability Field

Operations Guide

• Basic office supplies: pens, pencils, markers, scissors, staples, elastic bends, clipboard

• Maps

• Camera

• Reading glasses, Binocular

• USB key

• SC4ARES Information Binder

• FCC Licenses, Amateur Radio/GMRS (copy)

• ARES Taskbook

• Driver's License (copy)

• US Amateur Radio Band / HF Band Charts

• Radio Programming Chart

• FSD-255, FSD-3, FSD-218, FSD-220

• Forms: ICS 205, ICS 213, ICS 309

- Net Control Sheet

- Radiogram, ARRL NTS format

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Office Kit

This kit, carried in my car, contains operational

references, office supplies, and forms required to

operate a station.

• Dual band 2m/70cm mobile radio w/ External Speaker

• TNC for packet communication / Winlink,

• Box with a 20Ah LiFePO battery,

• Radio manual and programing cable

• Universal HT programing cable

• Power pole extension cable, 12V Power Pole to 5V USB adaptor, Lighter Plug to

Power pole adaptor, spare fuses

• USB light

• Writing pad and a pen

• Folding Slim Jim antenna with wire to hang it to a tree

• J pole with painters pole (not in the picture)

• Mag mount antenna

• 25ft coax

• Various cable and bongo ties

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Radio Kit, VHF/UHF

Carried in my car, this kit

provides portable voice or

packet capabilities wherever

needed.

HF Radio Kit

• All band, all modes radio

• Auto-tuner and power meter,

• Soundcard for digital modes

• Radio manual

• Programing cables

• Audio preamp with cables and adaptors

• Power supply, power strip and

power pole distribution strip

• USB hub

• GPS receiver

• 2 Headphones

• Coax patch cables

Antenna Kits

• 30ft Military Mast with tool bag (stakes, guy wires etc)

• 40m/20m inverted V

• Several other antennas stored in buckets ready to go

• Coax cables + adaptor box

• Antenna analyzer

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HF Radio Kit and Antennas,

These kits stays at home, ready to go if needed.

Emergency Power Kit

17• •

• Box with a 50Ah LiFePO battery,

• Box with a 50Ah LiFePO battery with solar power input

• 45W folding solar panel

• Boltpower D28U 13.5Ah LiIon battery

• Connecting cables

• Chargers

• Portable Inverter

This kit stays at home,

ready to go if needed.

Additional Resources

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• FEMA - Are you ready guide https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/7877

• Ready.gov https://www.ready.gov/kit

• CDC – All Hazards Preparedness Guide

https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/documents/AHPG_FINAL_March_2013.pdf

• CERT Training Documentation https://www.ready.gov/cert

• KE7HLR Personal Go-Kits for Emergency Communications

https://www.soara.org/classes/technician/personal_go_kit_ke7hlr_2011.pdf

Note: in the official guides 3 days of supplies are suggested for preparedness kits.

In the Bay Area this has been raised to 7