Anybody have thoughts on communications?
I'm considering picking up a set of FRS/GMRS radios that can run off of AAs and have channel privacy codes. My mom lives across town (about 2 miles), and we would stash two more in our bags. I'm not sure how much more robust the cell system is now than during the blackout, but I do remember very limited cell service (even SMS).
During emergency situations, don't count on the local mobile (GSM/CDMA) networks to be operational. Assume best case scenario under worst case conditions to be SMS functioning with high latency and slow delivery. I speak of this with experience from being out in the thick of
the May 31st 2013 El Reno tornado and working in EmComm network support for a while. With this in mind, considering the newer software available...
On top of just owning an FRS/GPRS radio, one of my favorite new apps for Android is called
Serval Mesh from the
Serval Project. It's basically a local ad-hock WiFi/Bluetooth mesh network app that enables VoIP calls, texting and file sharing on Android handsets that's completely network independent, utilizes your existing phone number for contact, and the app can be easily shared to other phones for install. Works best on a rooted device running third party firmware like
LineageOS or
Resurrection Remix, as then you can use your phone as a node in the mesh network. Given most unrooted Android devices can't act as WiFi mesh nodes (they can only connect to), Bluetooth is a good networking fallback (and why it's included). I may be one of the last remaining Windows Phone users on the planet day to day, but the BOB/GoBag now has a cheap MotoE running Ressurection Remix loaded with Serval Mesh specifically for this purpose. I deeply dislike Android, but it is at least good for
something.
Couple that with an amateur radio license (which you should get for the FRS/GPRS radio anyway), pick up a couple compatible
UBNT AirOS devices (such as the NanoStation LocoM or Bullet), and set up both a fixed point and possibly a portable
AREDN node or two to help build up a data mesh network for your area. You can do simpler WiFi mesh networking with cheap TPLink equipment and OpenWRT, but a radio license and the AREDN option opens up bands for traffic that couldn't otherwise be used in crowded airspace for trunking between nodes and provides additional EmComm infrastructure.
Of course, all this relies on having power available, so keep around some solar chargers and batteries as well. Also, this is post-disaster communications. KISS. Don't depend on two-way in the middle of the madness. Coordinate in advance.
As for the FRS/GPRS equipment, understand that "channel privacy codes" don't mean much.
It's not actual encryption and not actually private, it's just a tone filter to filter out possible cross-chatter on the same band from other users.