Monday, 30-September-2024 No one expected the mountains of North Carolina to suffer the catastrophic destruction of a hurricane that made land fall in Florida over the weekend. No one expected the 35 inches of rain that fell, the tornados, the flash flooding and the destruction in Apalachee, an area well inland from hurricane fallout. No one would have expected towns to be cut off from one and another, the entire cellular infrastructure to collapse. People cannot communicate because of totally destroyed internet networks. Elon Musk assisting in the recovery efforts by deploying Starlink Satellite Internet so people and first responders can have mission critical communications.
The North Carolina National Guard C-17’s are beginning air drop missions of hundreds of thousands of pounds of emergency supplies into the mountains of North Carolina. FEMA still has not been able to make access into the affected areas.
I cannot tell anyone enough that this is exactly why we all need emergency communications added to our emergency kits. Right now FRS radios would be essential to communicate with other locals while they wait for governmental relief. Shortwave and solar or hand crank survival radios could be used right now to keep those who are cut off informed as to what is going on and Ham radio and even GMRS which can operate at higher wattages could be essential in communicating with help in base camps.
If every single American family owned at minimum a small solar generator, communities like these affected by Helene would not be in the dark. No they might not be able to make cellphone calls or access the internet but the would still offer a small, steady stream of power to keep radios powered and maybe a fan or two turned on to circulate air. The can even power small portable coolers which could be used to keep drugs such as insulin cool while diabetics wait for help to arrive.
I feel like America still isn’t prepared for wide spread disaster including long lasting power outages where access to internet will be non-existent and like this incident, cellular networks unavailable. A situation like this would create panic in a lot of America. But if every American family would take the time to make a simple, not very expensive kit for use during emergencies like this, they would have extra survival skills which will be crucial in any disaster.
GMRS radios regardless of whether you get the license. Shortwave radio with off grid power and any CB radio would be gold in a civil emergency. Adding a solar powered generator, is the icing on the cake!
Looking at YouTube weather, MaxVelocity, my favorite social weather guy, We have a potential for at least two more hurricanes that could disrupt life in the USA still brewing off the coast of Africa and the Caribbean. And, were going into winter severe weather season where cold fronts smashing into hot end of summer air can create supercell thunderstorms and tornados. This happens every October, November and even December in Texas and across the deep south.
And not to add insult to injury but we have an election about to happen that could throw the United States into civil darkness if either candidate wins. Oh let me salt that wound by adding the Long Shoremen are about to go on strike which will halt operations at 35 US ports including the Port of Houston and Port of New Orleans. Now lets add severe weather and political instability to the mix and yes, we have a recipes for destruction! You need to be prepared, one who isn’t is the one who doesn’t have high chances of survival.