Neighborhood & family preparedness
For people who want to help themselves, their neighbors, or their block — not full emcomm deployment, but real plans that work when cell service fails.
Who this is for
You do not need ARES membership to coordinate a cul-de-sac, farm road, or rural cluster. You do need agreed channels, a check-in time, and gear that was tested before the outage.
Just my household
PACE plan + GMRS or FRS + charged radios in known location. PACE worksheet
Immediate neighbors
Shared simplex/GMRS channel, welfare check time daily at 1900 local.
Subdivision / rural road
Map who has ham/GMRS, designate one net control for drills.
Want to serve wider area
Graduate to SKYWARN / ARES / RACES.
Baseline supply checklist
- Comms: At least one radio per household (GMRS, FRS, or ham HT) + spare batteries.
- Power: Battery bank, car charger, small solar panel for extended outage.
- Written plan: Laminated channel sheet — go-bag freq sheet template.
- Water & meds: 3-day minimum per person; rotate on maintenance calendar.
- Weather: NOAA radio or app backup; NOAA/SAME tool.
- Light & heat: Headlamps, chem lights, safe indoor heat source per season.
- Documentation: Printed contacts, meeting point, medical needs list (privacy-aware).
Testing & maintenance schedule
Use the kit maintenance calendar on your phone or print a copy for the pantry door.
| Frequency | What to do |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Charge all HT batteries; 5-minute radio check on agreed channel; test NOAA receive. |
| Quarterly | 15-minute neighborhood drill — roll call, backup channel, meeting point reminder. |
| Semi-annual | Full go-kit review; update CHIRP/GMRS programming; rotate water/meds. |
| Annual | Re-run assessment checklist; update PACE; review who moved in/out. |
Emergency communications plan (PACE)
- Primary — Cell/text when towers work. Agree a group text thread today.
- Alternate — GMRS or FRS family channel (license as required). First week GMRS
- Contingency — Local ham repeater or simplex if a licensed operator is in the group. Just licensed
- Emergency — Meshtastic text, satellite messenger, or drive-to relay point.
Document it in the PACE planner and share a one-page summary with neighbors — not full addresses on social media.
15-minute neighborhood drill
- Net control calls drill on Primary (text) and Alternate (radio) at agreed time.
- Each household checks in: name, status, power status (OK / on backup / need assist).
- Switch to backup channel — confirm everyone can hear or receive.
- Note gaps (who had no radio, wrong tone, dead battery).
- Assign one fix before next month (cable, programming, spare battery).
Estates, farms, and multi-building sites need engineered layers — consulting or free discovery call.