Only after you have checked on the safety of 1.     Yourself 2.     Your Family 3.     Your Home Then you are ready to help the community.
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		Safety is always your top priority.    Communications is essential to safety.
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		After a large-scale earthquake in our area, the existing communications systems may not be available either due to physical damage or system overload.  Wires to telephones may be damaged and cellular phone towers and antennas may fail or lose power.  The PANDA-5 communications plan is based on the utilization of FRS, GMRS, and Amateur Radio for emergency communications following a major earthquake.
		Currently, all cities in Santa Clara County affected by the quake will activate their Emergency Operations Centers (EOC's). When two or more cities within the county  have declared a state of emergency, the county is required to activate its own EOC.  Emergency Communications teams will begin staffing the various local EOC's. Large-scale emergencies undoubtedly will require activation of the state and federal EOC's, as well. PANDA-5 has a 2 meter amateur radio in the emergency trailer. An authorized Palo Alto RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) operator will staff this position and become the link to the City of Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center, located in the basement of City Hall.
		Immediately after you have checked on yourself, your family, your house, etc., members of the PANDA-5 team should put on their backpacks  and turn on their personal GMRS radios to Channel 5 (No Sub-Channel, No Privacy Codes, No Selector Codes). In an emergency, the radio channels will be very busy. Privacy codes cause problems on busy channels because you cannot hear radios that may be using the channel.  Remember to LISTEN (monitor the channel) before talking on the radio. There may already be active emergency communications on that channel.
		Emergency communications teams have established special rules for quickly creating a working communications system. The first person on the radio (after making sure the channel is clear) becomes the Net Control Station (NCS). This person may have to handle several command and operations roles until additional help arrives, pursuant to the Incident Command System, which is described more fully below. His or her role is to control communications on that channel. Initially, the PANDA-5 GMRS NCS would ask if any other PANDA-5s are listening. NCS's need to keep accurate records of people, the nature of reported emergencies, etc.  All team members should have been provided communications log forms. The PANDA-5 trailer, also has communications log forms, notebooks, and pens available.  Remember to WRITE it, or you will forget it later.
		Important Rules for Radio Operations Listen BEFORE talking.  Press the PTT (talk button) and then WAIT 1 to 2 seconds. If you do not, the first part of your communications may not be heard.  Say who you want to talk to FIRST. People listen for their names, not yours, so always state their name or call sign or role name FIRST.  State your name, or call sign, or role (Net Control) next.  Hold the PTT an additional 1 to 2 seconds, so they hear the full transmission.  Wait for the other party to acknowledge your call.  Say your message, slowly, clearly, concisely, and spell confusing names. Remember the two second rules.  Wait for the other party to acknowledge the message. Remember, the communication is not complete until the other party acknowledges the message. Another station could have been transmitting at the same time and over-powered your transmission.
WAIT 2 Seconds
		REMEMBER THE NUMBER FIVE  The NCS has a very challenging role. In large emergencies, people are nervous and talk quickly. The NCS has to write the critical information and then forward it to an Emergency Operation Center.  The EOC communications forms break the message down to groups of five words.  A PANDA-5 NCS can instruct anyone sending a message to say only five words and then wait for the NCS to say "Go Ahead" before continuing with the message. Also, EOC messages need to be specific, concise, and clear.
		EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PRIORITY  After a large earthquake, there may be hundreds or thousand of emergencies, and hundreds or thousands of people needing help. The City of Palo Alto will not have the resources to help everyone, and the Net Control Stations (NCS's) cannot talk to everyone at the same time. Accordingly, the following are the priority assignments for messages.  Life Threatening  (Some forms list this as URGENT).  Property Threatening (Some forms list this as IMMEDIATE) Routine (Some forms list this as INFORMATION)   The NCS needs to handle the highest priorities first, before handling lower priorities.
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		THINK LIKE AN OUTSIDE RESPONDER  Large earthquakes will be impossible to handle with only local resources. Help will  need to come from other parts of California as well as other states. Remember, when sending emergency messages, especially to persons not from this part of California, be careful about using abbreviations, words, or phrases that only the PANDA-5 team would understand. That will only generate  problems at the higher levels, and may result in help being delayed.  This is especially important when talking about locations or using abbreviations that might not be understood outside of Palo Alto.
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		WHAT IS OUR BACKUP PLAN?  The City of Palo Alto has no official authority over GMRS channels. That�s the domain of the Federal Communications Commission. Thus, anyone with a GMRS license has the same access (i.e., authority to use the airwaves for radio transmission) as do PANDA-5s. Some people in other nearby cities have very high power GMRS transmitters and high antennas, which may cause our pre-selected channel to become useless for PANDA-5 operations. Our alternate channel  would be 7.  Thus, every member of the PANDA-5 team should know how to change to another channel. Not all radios have the same buttons and controls, so everyone needs to understand the control buttons on his or her own personal radio.
		WHAT ABOUT THE FRS RADIOS IN THE TRAILER?  FRS radios look very similar to GMRS radios. The differences  are power, channels, and licensing.  GMRS radios can transmit over a greater distance because they are allowed to operate at higher power levels than FRS radios. GMRS radios have more channels available. Operating a radio in GMRS mode has several restrictions. GMRS operations require that the operator, or a family member, have a GMRS license from the FCC. The license costs $80 and is valid for 5 years.  Although most GMRS radios have 22 channels, only channels 1 though 7 are shared between FRS and GMRS. Channels 8 through 14 operate in FRS mode, and channels 15 through 22 operate in GMRS mode. The PANDA-5 trailer has several FRS radios. FRS radios only have access to channels 1 through 14. Team leaders need to remember not to use channels 15 through 22 for tactical operations if anyone on the team has an FRS radio.
		HOW TO EXTEND COMMUNIATION DISTANCE?  Antenna height and transmit power are two ways to increase distance. GMRS radios operate in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) spectrum. At UHF frequencies, changes in antenna height are more significant than higher power levels.  Increasing the transmit power from 5 watts to 50 watts (a factor of 10) does not increase the communications distance significantly with UHF. Some people report only 20% to 30% improvement. On the other hand, going from ground level to the 10th floor of a building can triple communications distances. Operating from top floor of Tan Plaza, across the street from the PANDA-5 emergency trailer, would provide significant communications capabilities.
		RAISING THE ANTENNA UP HIGH?  Antennas can be raised up a flag pole to gain additional height. GMRS antenna height is normally restricted to 20 feet above a building. Portable flag poles are commonly used for gaining additional height in emergencies.   Tall trees are another option for antenna height. Techniques used for  food storage when camping are very useful here. The only difference is that instead of using the rope to pull your food high enough to keep it safe from animals, you will be pulling an antenna high above ground level.  The City of Palo Alto has several restrictions on permanent antenna mounting and  city permits are required. The FCC also regulates antennas.  Also, remember to check all of the FAA  regulations on antenna height if you are near an airport.
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		WHO ELSE USES GMRS RADIOS?  When normal phone communications are unavailable after large disasters, such as an earthquake, people will start using alternate communications for business and family communications. Many Palo Alto residents already own GMRS radios; hence, we need to anticipate individuals in this area transmitting non-emergency traffic, while the PANDA-5 team is handling emergency communications.  In most situations, the NCS can simply ask the non-PANDAs to go to another channel, and most of the time this will work. Sometimes, however, it may be difficult to reach them, because of transmit power levels, privacy codes, etc.  It is unknown how may people will be using the GMRS channels for non-emergency conversations, but with 50 to 100  million FRS/GMRS units already in existence and 12.2 million sold each year, we should expect some non-emergency communications on the PANDA-5 channel.
		WHAT ARE THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN AN EMERGENCY?  Sec. 95.143 Managing a GMRS system in an emergency. (a) The stations in a GMRS system must cease transmitting when the station operator of any station on the same channel is communicating an emergency message (concerning the immediate protection of property or the safety of someone's life).  (b) If necessary to communicate an emergency message from a station in a GMRS system, the licensee may permit: (1) Anyone to be the station operator (see Sec. 95.179); and (2) The station operator to communicate the emergency message to any radio station.
		THE COMMUNICATIONS CHAIN OF COMMAND After an earthquake, initial communications may be very disorganized. The PANDA-5 initial NCS should expect this. Once the local Emergency Operations Centers are activated, RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) communications teams will link PANDA-5 to the Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center. All official messages, status, and requests for assistance will be sent via the PANDA-5 RACES operator to Palo Alto�s Emergency Operations Center. The PANDA-5 GMRS NCS and the PANDA-5 RACES operator should be two separate individuals. Overlapping only creates more problems.   PANDA-5 GMRS communications is a vital link in the City of Palo Alto disaster communications system. GMRS provides communication within the PANDA-5 team. It does not replace PANDA-5 RACES. The Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center does NOT have access to GMRS. The city will be sending all  official messages to the PANDA-5 RACES operator. The PANDA-5 RACES operator will forward all official messages to the PANDA-5 GMRS NCS for announcement on the PANDA-5 GMRS channel.
		TACTICAL OPERATIONS COMMUNICATION  Safety always is the top priority. All PANDA-5 team members know they should always work in teams and never enter a dangerous situation. PANDA-5 teams working on search and rescue operations should stay in communication with their team leader at the PANDA-5 trailer periodically.  However, PANDA-5 team members engaged in search and rescue activities in various neighborhoods should use  another channel for communicating among themselves regarding tactical operations, and reverting to the main channel when keeping the team leader informed about status and operational issues.  Remember, BEFORE switching to another channel, you MUST inform the GMRS NCS. We need to know how to reach you in the event of an urgent safety situation.
		AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE: EXPECT AFTERSHOCKS Safety is always your top priority.  Communications is essential to safety.  Situations can change very quickly.  Always keep your team leader informed of your location BEFORE entering any building or changing your location.
		INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM After a large-scale earthquake, the city-wide Incident Command System (ICS) is activated. Communications teams, and all emergency responders, including all PANDA-5�s, operate under the ICS system, which establishes a recognized chain of command to avoid confusion.  Initially, the first PANDA-5 responders to arrive at the trailer have to handle all of the command and operations roles.  As more help arrives, command roles are transferred to more experienced responders. The first person on the radio becomes the GMRS NCS. Once additional responders become available, the GMRS NCS role will be transferred to an experienced communications operator, and the initial NCS will report to PANDA-5 command, for assignment to a role that best matches the person's abilities with the incident needs.
		WHERE IS COMMUNICATIONS ASSIGNED IN ICS?  The communications team is usually assigned to the Logistics Section of the Incident Command System. Although communications is essential to every section, the Logistics Section usually needs the most communications assistance in carrying out its role of locating and obtaining people, equipment, and supplies needed in a large-scale earthquake. Some organizations assign communications to the Operations Section. The PANDA-5 GMRS NCS will work closely with the PANDA-5 RACES person, but the PANDA-5 GMRS NCS does not report directly to the City of Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The GMRS NCS reports to the PANDA-5 Logistics Section Chief, who reports to the PANDA-5 Incident Commander, who reports to the EOC.   The PANDA-5 RACES communication person reports to the Emergency Communications Coordinator (EC) at the City of Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EC reports to the Logistics Section Chief at the EOC.
(4)		GAS LEAKS AND YOUR RADIO  After an earthquake, gas leaks are a significant danger. In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, fires caused five times more damage than any  ground movement.  In the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a gas leak caused the fire in the Marina District. Fire also damaged the 911 telephone equipment room, so many residents could not call 911 to report other fires. After an earthquake, fire fighters and water are very limited so preventing fires is essential.  If you are near a significant gas leak, it is essential that you do not create any sparks. Most utilities recommend not using cell phones, 2 way radios, or switching a flashlight on or off anywhere near a gas leak. Also, many GMRS radio manufacturers have specific warnings concerning this issue.  GMRS radios that are certified as Intrinsically Safe are available, but they are very expensive. The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division specifies that "Intrinsically safe radios are specially designed to be incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy ignite an explosion in a volatile atmosphere (e.g., oil or gas fumes, grain or coal dust)". Although the risk of sparks from a handheld GMRS radio is low, it is very important to be careful near any gas leak. Consider moving to a safer location before pressing the transmit button.
		OBSERVE AND REPORT ROAD CONDITIONS  Stanford University and the City of Palo Alto experienced significant damage from the 1906 earthquake. One hundred years later, the earthquake risk remains the same, but the city has significantly more people and buildings.  Many parts of Palo Alto may not be easily accessible immediately after a large earthquake. Emergency response could be delayed because responders may have to turn back several times before finally finding an accessible road.  The Palo Alto Emergency Operations Center needs to know about roads that are closed due to collapsed overpasses, power pole, trees, or debris.  The PANDA-5 team should also provide radio reports on road conditions. After an earthquake, very few professional rescuers will be available. Knowledge of open roads is essential to getting the city's very limited resources into areas with major damage.

  GMRS Radio Suggestions

A lot of people have been asking, �What is the best GMRS radio for PANDA-5 emergency communications?� 

I have operated a lot of GMRS radios, in both emergency and non-emergency situations. So far I have not found the "best" radio. Every radio has both advantages and disadvantages. Some have so many disadvantages that I would never use them in emergency situations, and other radios have worked well in both emergency and non-emergency situations. 

In emergency situations, you need to be able to communicate with people who have GMRS radios that are not the same brand or model as your GMRS radio. Interoperability should be a high priority when selecting a GMRS radio. Most consumer grade radios are sold in pairs. When testing radios, never select an emergency radio based upon how well it works with the same exact model of radio. Even if everyone on your team has the same model of radio, you should still consider interoperability. Large scale disasters require communications with other organizations. 

Another critical consideration is ease of use. In disaster situations, you need to be able to operate your radio without having to search for the instruction manual, especially in the dark. Research has shown that after several months of not using their radios, people with complex radios have problems remembering the buttons to press for even the basic operations. At the same time, radios with simple interfaces can be used immediately by almost anyone without training. 

In emergency situations, I usually prefer professional grade radios. These are the high quality type of  radios carried by police, fire, and EMS. Unfortunately, these radios are very expensive. When professional grade radios are not available, I have found several consumer grade radios that have been  useful in emergency situations. The Cobra 4700 and the Uniden 1038 are usually my primary radios.

The Cobra 4700 has average transmit performance, but it has an outstanding receiver. It seems to be highly interoperable with a wider range of radios than most other models and brands. Most GMRS radios communicate well with the exact same brand and model of radio. The Cobra 4700 seems to work well communicating with other brands and models of GMRS radios. This is very important in emergency situations when critical safety information is coming from many different people. Sometimes, everyone has a different brand or model of GMRS radio. 

Also, the Cobra 4700 uses 4 AA batteries, so it can operate longer without recharging or changing batteries compared to radios that have AAA batteries. 

Although the Cobra 4700 has many features I look for in a GMRS radio, it also has some disadvantages. I usually also carry a Uniden 1038. In many emergencies, team leaders need to monitor several channels. The Uniden 1038 has features I find useful for monitoring several channels. 

The combination of the Cobra 4700 and the Uniden 1038 provides most of the important features needed for emergency communications. 

One disadvantage of the Uniden 1038 is AAA batteries. It has less battery capacity, but it allows the radio to be much smaller than the Cobra 4700. Also, the Uniden 1038 is lighter and has a rounded base. For situations where the radio may be dropped, or for people who like having a smaller radio, this radio was easy to operate, worked well, and even survived drops onto the pavement and continued to operate.  

The Cobra 4700 can be found at several local stores. Prices range from $45.00 to $65.00 for two radios, batteries, and a recharging stand. Several online stores also offer the radio. Buy.com, and Amazon.com, frequently has these items on sale. 

Click on this link for GMRS radio prices

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For someone looking for a very low cost FRS/GMRS radio, Uniden has several models that are worth considering. The GMR638 would be the lowest model to consider, although the GMR1038  is actually a better choice. The GMR1038 has a similar size, shape, easy to use front panel, and provides better features than the GMR638 model. The price of the GMR1038 has dropped significantly, and in some stores the GMR1038 is priced less than the GMR638.  The GMR1048 looks very similar to the GMR1038, but it has some additional features. The GMR1048 has an Emergency/Weather alert feature that will silently monitor the NOAA frequency and then automatically turn on the speaker when an official government approved emergency alert has been issued for your area. Most of the time the alerts concern severe weather, but the system is also being used for other emergencies that may require evacuations. The GMR1048 also has a voice scramble feature to increase communications security, although in most emergency situations we need more people aware of an emergency situation rather than less. The feature that I like best about the GMR1048 is that it has one of the best charger designs. It has a small charger that can plug into the charging stand or directly into the radio. Even in situations when space is limited in my communication bag, the GMR1048 usually goes with me since it requires very little space for the radio and the charger. I have other solutions for the AA powered radios in my communication bag. 

GMR1038 Notes 

1.    Low Cost.  Many PANDA-5�s want a simple GMRS radio for use around the PANDA-5 operations center, and since these radios are personal expenses, not city funded, they want it low cost. The price of this model is usually between  $19 and $45 for two radios, charging stand, and two packs of NiMH rechargeable batteries. I found a two pack locally for $19. The NiMH battery packs they throw in for free are worth more than the $19. The online prices vary significantly. Prices change frequently. Amazon had a two pack on sale for $23, but price has recently changed to $29 including the charging stand, batteries and free shipping for the GMR1038. 

2.    Easy to Use. Unless you use your GMRS radio frequently, you may have problems remembering how to use it under the stress of a disaster situation. Several people with other models of radios have told me they forgot how to use their radios, and have lost the instruction book. This radio is one of the simpler models to operate. Remember, we may have to switch channels or privacy codes in a disaster. Think Simple. 

3.    Battery Options. The radios come with a NiMH rechargeable battery pack, but they can also run on AAA alkaline batteries, which most people already have at home for other electronic equipment. Since power may be an issue after an earthquake, having the ability to use common batteries is very important. I prefer GMRS radios with  AA batteries for longer operating cycles, but for people who want a smaller radio, the AAA batteries help reduce the weight and size of the radio. 

4.    Dual Charging Stand. The storage system is also the charging system. Uses only one plug, and does not require a lot of work to figure out how to charge the radio. Some of the other models require a special adapter that you are expected to know needs to have the power adapter plug into the microphone jack. The average person will probably not remember this, years later under emergency conditions.

5.   Ergonomic shape. The sides are rounded to make it easier to hold. The finger positions have grooves which help reduce the chance of the radio slipping from your hand. Since the top of the radio has a large flat area, we use that area for a label with our call sign or contact information so the radio can be returned to the owner should it be lost. The bottom has an area large enough to place a larger label. We have found it very helpful to have a label containing the basic radio operations somewhere on our radios. Many times we loan our radios to other people, but the instruction manual and the radios are usually never together. Placing a small "cheat sheet sticker" of basic radio operations on the bottom of the radio solves this problem. Anyone can use this radio without the instruction manual or having to ask questions. 

We are creating a database of "cheat sheet stickers" for most GMRS radios. They will be posted on this website when ready.  

Here is a sample "cheat sheet sticker" of what buttons to press to perform most basic functions on the GMR638.

  6.    Availability. They are available at many retail stores. Several stores have shelves of this model available. 

       For those that would rather buy online and have it delivered, the online stores have it on sale also. 

Disadvantages: 

      Features. This radio has a lot of features and provides an excellent value for the price. It lacks two features common in higher priced radios. Selective scanning and selective transmit power. Most PANDA-5 responders will not need selective scanning, although team leaders may need to monitor several channels at the same time. Selective transmit power allows the operator to switch to a higher or lower transmit power levels. This can help save battery capacity when stations are close together, or increase transmit power to reach distant station when necessary. The batteries are AAA, which reduces your operating time. 

Product Note: The GMR1038 is advertised for 10 mile communications, and the GMR638 is advertised for 6 mile communications. The distance is rated for ideal conditions, not PANDA-5 conditions. Remember when operating any GMRS radio, height above ground has more of an effect on distance than the power level. At ground level the GMR1038 is usually strong and clear at 1 mile, and occasionally messages have to be repeated at about 2 miles. Also, remember that the more buildings, trees, cars, etc., between any two radios will reduce the effective distance. If you operate at FRS power levels in an urban environment, almost all FRS radios have problems beyond a half mile. Channels 8 to 14 are FRS only channels on almost all of the FRS/GMRS radios manufactured in the last several years.  

Click on the link here for the GMRS products specifications, etc..

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For people looking for a radio with more functions and higher power levels, the Motorola SX700R would be a good choice for a mid-level radio. I like this radio for outdoor activities, and it has several features that I have found useful.

Advantages:

1. Higher power than some of the lower priced radios, but do NOT expect to get the 12 mile range. Buildings, trees, and other objects in the way reduce the effective range of any GMRS radio. 

2. Better Scanning Features. In disaster situations, you may need to monitor more than one channel. The SX700R lets you skip channels you do not want to listen to. The lower cost GMRS radio models scan everything or nothing. Without selective scanning, you get stuck listening to channels that do not apply to you, and missing messages on channels you should be listening to. This may not apply to most people who only need to monitor one channel.

3. Brand Name. Many organizations like Motorola products. Motorola has a long history with Police, Fire, and other emergency services. Although the consumer GMRS radios are very different than commercial and emergency service radios, many organizations like the Motorola communication products.

4. VibraCall Alert. In noisy environments, you may have a hard time hearing someone calling you on the radio, or you may be in a meeting where you cannot leave the speaker of the radio on. The VibraCall is a silent alert, similar to a vibrate alert on a cell phone. I have found that a headset solves the noise issue, but some people like having the VibraCall Alert.

5. Weather Alert. This feature is can be very useful, especially during flood season. It has been useful, but not an essential feature

6. Noise Filtering. This is useful when many people are using GMRS at the same time. Although, since this is only specific to Motorola GMRS radios, it may not be helpful in situations where communications with a wide range of equipment is necessary. 

7. Hands-free speakerphone function. You can enable a mode where you do not have to press a PTT button to talk. Most lower end GMRS radios need a headset to send without pressing a button. This is useful when you need your hands for other activities. 

Disadvantages:

1. Price. $69 for a two pack. (2 to 3 times as expensive as the lower end GMRS radio brands).

2. Harder to find in local retail stores, but available online.  

Click on the link here for the GMRS products specifications, etc.. 

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The Midland GXT500VP4 GMRS radio has very similar features as the Motorola SX700R. 

GXT500VP4 Cheat Sheet

GXT500VP4 Summary 

When comparing GMRS radios remember that you will NOT achieve the distance listed by most manufactures. For example, the MIDLAND GXT500 has become one the best selling GMRS radio on the market. The GXT500 is a good radio, but the advertised 14 mile range is NOT possible for PANDA-5 activities. The advertised 14 miles was tested under ideal conditions. Most cities have trees and buildings which limit the range of any GMRS radio. 

The Midland GXT500VP4 does offer an excellent value for the price when it is on sale. The free headsets included with the radios provide additional value. Most of the concerns about this product are because users are experiencing communication distances far below the advertised range of 14 miles. The Midland GXT500VP4, like the Motorola SX700R, has more features than most lower priced radios, but remember that the higher price gets you more features not more distance. 

Click on the link here for the GMRS products specifications, etc..

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High End GMRS Emergency Radios.                        GMRS  Antennas

There are several high end GMRS radios that work great for emergency operations. Features such as repeater capabilities allow for communications over a very wide area. External antenna connections allow communications teams to quickly deploy J-Pole antennas that can be raised high using portable flag pole mounts. Higher power levels, up to 50 watts, allow for much greater coverage.

For emergency communications, communications  teams usually package this equipment in a strong equipment case for protection and portability. Strong plastic crates, such as milk crates, work well, too. They also have holes for ventilation. High power requirements of these radios can be provided by 12V gel-cells which can last for many hours under typical communications conditions. Batteries are heavy, so the radio and batteries are usually in a separate case. 

All emergency communication equipment for use in Santa Clara County should have connections for Anderson PowerPoles. Standard power connections are necessary in emergency situations. Emergency Communications Centers need the ability to power all types of equipment, and cannot support every possible variation of power connections. Also, standard connectors make the task of recharging the many types of equipment needed in a large-scale emergency much easier.

Recommendations for specific models will be on a different page, since high end communications equipment recommendations are more complex and usually for communications centers.

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Ni-MH Batteries 

Having enough batteries after a disaster can be challenging. When selecting a radio you should consider selecting one that has the capability to handle both alkaline and Ni-MH rechargeable batteries. 

You should also have extra rechargeable batteries. This allows you to continue communicating while your primary batteries are recharging. Currently, the rechargeable batteries being purchased by many ARES/RACES communications teams in Santa Clara County are the TENERGY 2600 mAh AA size batteries and the TENERGY 950 mAh AAA size batteries. The prices are around $1.11 per battery which is an excellent price for these high capacity batteries. Recently, several teams joined together for a large group purchase to get even better pricing. 

Even without a group purchase, TENERGY seems to have frequent half price sales. A 24 pack with 12 AA and 12 AAA was on sale for $23.99.  A pack of 24 AA and 12 AAA including the charger was on sale for $43.99.  The T-1000 battery charger is also a good choice. It can recharge Ni-MH batteries in 2-3 hours and has both AC and 12V car plugs. TENERGY also has a 10% off coupon ( at checkout use discount code: tenergy2007 ). Click here for the TENERGY website.

Alkaline batteries are available at most stores. Good prices are available if you watch for sales. A 24 pack of high quality batteries usually lasts for several years if stored in a cool environment. Since alkaline batteries are typically not rechargeable, you would want to use rechargeable batteries whenever possible and save the alkaline batteries for times when you do not have access to a power source for your battery charger. The PANDA trailers each have generators, but we may not have enough electric outlets or Power-Pole stations to meet everyone's needs. Having extra Ni-MH and alkaline batteries is helpful.  

Also remember DO NOT MIX alkaline and rechargeable batteries at the same time in your radio. Most manufacturers have strong warnings about this in the product manuals. 

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Author:

Howard Zolty:   PANDA-5, ARES/RACES, REACT C-57, Santa Clara County Mutual Aid Communicator.

Contact:howard@EmergencyCommunication.org

Photo Credits:

(1)Governor's Office of Emergency Services.  Robert A. Eplett

(2)HighAchievement.org    Howard Zolty  

(3)REACT C-57 

(4)USGS

Note: This document provides general information on Emergency Communications but does not cover all possible situations that may occur following a major disaster. Responders should always be aware of the dangers and risks when responding to any emergency, and should follow the safety protocols of the Office of Emergency Services and the local Incident Command System Safety Officer. Responders should always have a backup plan for communications in the event of problems with radio communications. Responders should also read the operating manual for their communication equipment, and be aware of any risks of operating any equipment.