If a person lives near a powerplant, the chances are that the
electricity they use daily is from the said plant are high. But when an
emergency strikes, it is best to be prepared and ready. Scrambling and hoping
to find all the devices you need during a crisis is not ideal and will stress
the person out even more.
Not all power plants are nuclear; some plants generate power
through solar energy, geothermal energy, or wind energy. Therefore, non-nuclear
power plants like the ones we have stated will be less of a danger to the
immediate public if they were to break or go offline. But losing a power plant,
no matter what type, can be devastating to the local city or community. In the
case of a violent storm, hurricane, or earthquake, powerplants have emergency
protocols to handle disasters or overloads. Some protocols call for a plant to
be shut down if events are severe enough.
Why you should have a
Ham Radio in case of emergencies
If a powerplant goes offline, a citizen won’t be able to
communicate with anyone outside of their voice’s yelling range. Electricity
powers our phones, traditional radios, electric stoves, gas pumps, and our
utility infrastructure. So, if there is no electricity, there is also no
running water or gas either. So not only is communication unavailable but also
the utilities that we use every day do not work either. However, if you have a
ham radio, you can listen to nearby radio chatter, and you can also communicate
with those who can tune into radio waves.
Ham Radio
Unlike a CB radio, which can only pick up radio signals and
allow the users to hear them, ham radios are radios built for two-way
communication. When phone lines and cell phone towers are down, a ham radio operator
can communicate with other ham radios across miles. There are some radio
stations that are advanced ham radio constructions.
Please know that if you live in the United States and you want
to buy and operate a ham radio, you will also need to purchase a ham radio
operating license from the FCC. The test is quite easy, as you need less than a
week to study and learn the material. The test costs only $15 too.
Unlike a CB Radio, which is small enough to be recharged on a
solar battery, a ham radio requires more power. A ham radio owner may need a
gasoline or propane generator or connection to roof solar panel installation.
If they already have a solar panel, then they have electricity in case of a
power outage. If they don’t, purchasing a non-electrical generator for power
outages would be a reasonable consideration.
Some smaller ham radio models can operate on batteries. Check
out some models here: https://www.ratedradardetector.org/radio/ham/best/. If you purchase a battery-enabled ham radio, make sure to
acquire and store batteries together with the radio.
Communication and information are vital to have in an emergency.
Ham radios can enable you to gather information and help you make wise
decisions that will protect you and your family. Any equipment a person has
before an emergency occurs will keep them safe and prepared.