TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATERUS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 12.02 DATE: January 8, 2012
SUBJECT: THREE DAY RULE
Now that winter is here are you ready? You've heard several times that during disasters you should be able to support yourself for at least three days. You shouldn't have to go running to the store for something to eat or fix dinner with. It doesn't take much food to survive from three days to a week, so you should have that on hand all the times.
Winter is no different then a disaster. You should have at least a three day supply of food, water, and warmth. You should also be able to have some kind of backup power to operate your communications equipment, or at least be able to listen to a scanner or a broadcast radio, to see what is going on.
During bad weather if the commercial power goes off, there's a good chance your telephone service will also be affected, both landline and cellular. If you have a handheld two way radio, you should have a battery pack that will hold dry cell batteries, and have a good supply of them.
You should also have a set of cheap Family Radio Service (FRS) radios for a couple of reasons. If you have to leave your house and go out in the weather, but not going very far, you will have a short range communications to get help from the house if you need it. Another reason is because of your neighbors. If they also have a set of FRS radios you may be able to communicate with them if the telephone service is interrupted.
If you don't have to go somewhere, it's best that you stay at home and not become a part of the problem, but you may be a part of the solution.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV