Disaster (including wildfire) STHF communications plan

[Robert Stewart]

Rightio fellow prepper peeps with the recent thread about wildfire pre-preparedness taking off and being fairly active as result of the California wildfires figured I might start up a STHF communications plan one that is not only related to wildfire but also all other types of disasters

As we all know mobile phones and internet have become a mainstay in this day and age but far too often heavily relied upon for emergency alerts or updates when nearly 100% of the time infrastructure suffers damage from fire, storm or flood of which has been witnessed recently in LA and also during the Grampians fires where mobile bases/towers have been either destroyed or severely damaged to the point where it could be weeks or even months before they can be properly put back online pending if repair crews can get into the locations which are usually remote or hard to reach

Bushfires are a major hazard here in country South Australia even though its been 42 years this year without a bushfire event which has caused damage on a scale likened to 1983 where 4 townships were directly threatened and communications back then being a complete mess with only 4 channels available for use by fire crews down here in the South East I've had to slowly piece together my own STHF communications plan over 3.5 years roughly same time it took to put together a solid bushfire pre-preparedness with final piece completed early 2024 by getting my foundation amateur radio license

With the addition of an updated vehicle with more space in December last year and subsequent complete installation of all 3 radios last week on the 08/01/2025 and purchase of a hf radio set around in late 2024 the plan has been completed but yet to be tested in any actual emergency

STHF COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Initial communications-Home (until power/internet fails)

* GME XRS 370C UHF

* Xiegu G90 HF

* Uniden UBCD536PT scanner

* Tecsun S2000

*GME XRS 660 handheld

*Hamgeek apx-8000 handheld

*Laptop with wireless internet


Field/command operations (Evacuation to an allocated refuge if not occupied with spot fire patrol)

* Icom 2730A (communicating and relaying messages)

* Uniden X86 UHF
* GME XRS 660 handheld

*GME TX6160 handheld

* Uniden UH755 handheld

* Hamgeek apx-8000 handheld

* Uniden UBCD436PT scanner

*iPad with mobile internet

Chucked in amongst my comms gear will also be

*Folding chair

*2x first aid kits

* Portable camping table

* Note pad and pen as well as pencil

* Quick setup awning attached to my Tucson

 

[bkt]

We have similar configurations. My home setup (the part that could be turned portable quickly) includes the G90 with a 160M-10M antenna and a BTech 50+ watt VHF/UHF rig that can transmit and receive on ham, gmrs, frs and murs frequencies. A Midland 75-822 is my CB. It works reasonably well but I need to figure out a proper antenna with a ground plane for it.

For portable work, I'm working now on a 40M nvis rig. It consists of a (tr)uSDX, 40M ladder-line antenna (only about 40 feet long), an Evolve III laptop and a Bioenno 12aH battery. The laptop can recharge off any 12V power source, which is convenient. The idea is to be able to communicate in a 0-200 mile diameter using js8call or phone and not be concerned with signals being obstructed. There's a USB GPS dongle for synchronizing the time.

For handhelds, I have several. I'd probably pack my Wouxun KG-UV9PX because it works as a scanner and has two superhet tranceivers for true dual receive, and probably my Anytone D868UV which has almost all the repeaters in my state programmed and grouped by county.

Great point that a means to take notes is critical! Also, a camp stool and small table would be necessary.