Portable Radios and Batteries for Emergencies
A portable radio with good batteries or your car radio may be your only source of information
as to what is happening outside your local area during a time of emergency.
Radio and television stations that survive a disaster like an earthquake will
be your best source of information since phone service will most likely be
disrupted or reserved for life-threatening emergencies only. Radio and television
stations will provide information to what has happened and what to do, where
to go, and how bad things really are. A radio will increase your chances of
having up-to-date information regarding.:
- Road conditions
- Damage Areas
- Evacuation and shelter sites
- Available services
- Utility service
- Condition of drinking water
- Survival and safety instructions
Emergency Broadcast System
Communications, as well as dissemination of news, instructions and other
information to the public, are vital to survival and recovery before, during
and following an emergency. The government broadcasts emergency information
and instructions to the public over commercial radio and television to ensure
the largest number of survivors and to communicate effectively with them.
The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) exists to enable federal, state and local
governments to communicate with the public through broadcast stations in the
event of an emergency. The system uses broadcast industry facilities and
personnel on a volunteer basis. It is operated by the broadcast industry under
the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.
Power Outage
Some tips on what to do when the lights go out:
- turn on a batter-powered radio to find out what is happening and get
emergency information.
- Unplug all electrical equipment, movie projectors, TV sets, VCR's, computers,
and audio-visual equipment; turn off light switches unless needed. Power
may return in a surge and blow out light bulbs and other equipment.
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