Post by ogeezer on Jan 16, 2007 8:59:44 GMT -6
COMMUNICATIONS
In a time of distress, keeping in contact with family and knowing about local and national situations is important to maintaining both continuity and confidence. In general, telephone systems are on a different system than the electrical power grid, but they can be disrupted if there are earth movements or as the result of terrorist activities. Often cell phone towers are knocked down by severe storms.
During a catstrophe, we kept informed about events & news by watching a 4-inch black and white TV set that was plugged into our car battery through the cigarette lighter.
At night, we heard reports via a 4-AA battery powered shortwave radio ($70 from Radio Shack). I consider these two devices (shortwave radio and TV) minimum information devices for keeping up with what's going on if the phone system is down.
Satellite internet hookups, using a battery-powered laptop, could be an excellent communication tool, both for accessing news and for staying in touch with friends and colleagues by email.
Citizens Band (CB) radios are excellent tools, as well, operated off car battery. These devices can be used to stay in contact with neighbors and family when you are away from the house. 2-way radios (you’ll need at least two) to communicate between two locations, when in the field, or with neighbors upto 1/2-mile away. They’ll run on 6 to 8 hours (or more) AA batteries.
Family Radios are FM-band devices that have a short range, about ¼ mile. These are handy for keeping family in contact during outings, when traveling in a caravan, or when one member needs to go out to the barn during a storm. They run on 2 AA batteries. And if you have the right crystals installed, are capable of bringing in police & military frequencies.
Having a law enforcement (police) scanner, 12vDC to 120vAC converter attached to the car battery, will permit you to keep up with a lot of situations you might not normally hear on AM/FM/TV stations.
SUMMARY
Even though circumstances may change in the world, we can choose how we wish to react. We can live in a state of helpless anxiety—or control what we can. We can control our responses, in part, by maintaining as much normalcy in our lives as possible.
If your family relaxes in the evenings with a video, plan to continue doing that. Acquire a battery-powered TV/VCR combination, and make sure you have enough power sources to keep that going for at least two weeks. (If things get dicey, you can wean off the system in two weeks.) A cassette player or CD player with external speakers can provide relaxation and entertainment, and they run off of AA batteries as well.
Kids have difficulty adjusting to sudden changes in their environment, so if you expect them to play board games if the power goes out, they should be comfortable with board games now. Keep routines consistent, arising at the usual time in the morning and going to bed as you have in the past. Prepare familiar meals with foods everyone enjoys. Have fun foods and goodies on hand. Remember to reach out to your neighbors and older folks who live nearby, and provide extras to help them, as well.
Do all or some of the things discussed in this 5-part series and you might just keep you sanity while living through this experience of LIFE off the Grid.
In a time of distress, keeping in contact with family and knowing about local and national situations is important to maintaining both continuity and confidence. In general, telephone systems are on a different system than the electrical power grid, but they can be disrupted if there are earth movements or as the result of terrorist activities. Often cell phone towers are knocked down by severe storms.
During a catstrophe, we kept informed about events & news by watching a 4-inch black and white TV set that was plugged into our car battery through the cigarette lighter.
At night, we heard reports via a 4-AA battery powered shortwave radio ($70 from Radio Shack). I consider these two devices (shortwave radio and TV) minimum information devices for keeping up with what's going on if the phone system is down.
Satellite internet hookups, using a battery-powered laptop, could be an excellent communication tool, both for accessing news and for staying in touch with friends and colleagues by email.
Citizens Band (CB) radios are excellent tools, as well, operated off car battery. These devices can be used to stay in contact with neighbors and family when you are away from the house. 2-way radios (you’ll need at least two) to communicate between two locations, when in the field, or with neighbors upto 1/2-mile away. They’ll run on 6 to 8 hours (or more) AA batteries.
Family Radios are FM-band devices that have a short range, about ¼ mile. These are handy for keeping family in contact during outings, when traveling in a caravan, or when one member needs to go out to the barn during a storm. They run on 2 AA batteries. And if you have the right crystals installed, are capable of bringing in police & military frequencies.
Having a law enforcement (police) scanner, 12vDC to 120vAC converter attached to the car battery, will permit you to keep up with a lot of situations you might not normally hear on AM/FM/TV stations.
SUMMARY
Even though circumstances may change in the world, we can choose how we wish to react. We can live in a state of helpless anxiety—or control what we can. We can control our responses, in part, by maintaining as much normalcy in our lives as possible.
If your family relaxes in the evenings with a video, plan to continue doing that. Acquire a battery-powered TV/VCR combination, and make sure you have enough power sources to keep that going for at least two weeks. (If things get dicey, you can wean off the system in two weeks.) A cassette player or CD player with external speakers can provide relaxation and entertainment, and they run off of AA batteries as well.
Kids have difficulty adjusting to sudden changes in their environment, so if you expect them to play board games if the power goes out, they should be comfortable with board games now. Keep routines consistent, arising at the usual time in the morning and going to bed as you have in the past. Prepare familiar meals with foods everyone enjoys. Have fun foods and goodies on hand. Remember to reach out to your neighbors and older folks who live nearby, and provide extras to help them, as well.
Do all or some of the things discussed in this 5-part series and you might just keep you sanity while living through this experience of LIFE off the Grid.