Communication

When the phones go down

by Joe Miller

Cell towers fail or jam in big emergencies. A weather radio tells you what's happening, and two-way radios let your family talk.

Ways to stay in touchNOAA weather radioAlerts and news;hand-crank modelsGMRS radiosFamily radios, 1 to 20+miles; $35 FCC license,no testHam radioAcross town to around theworld; license testCB radioNo license; truckers,short rangeTextingGets through when callswon'tTexts use far less network capacity than calls. Keep a list of numbers on paper.
Have more than one way.
Two-way radio optionsRadioLicenseTypical rangeCostFRS (blister-pack walkie-talkies)NoneUnder 1 to 2 miles$30 to $60 a pairGMRS handheld or mobile$35, covers your family 10 years, notest1 to 5 miles; 20+ with arepeater$40 to $400CBNone1 to 10 miles$60 to $200Ham (amateur)Technician testMiles to worldwide$30 to $1,000+Satellite messengerSubscriptionAnywhere with sky view$300 + plan
Range depends on terrain, antennas and power.
A family communication plan1Contact cardEvery number on paper inevery wallet2Out-of-town contactEveryone checks in withone person3Radio channelPick a GMRS channel and atime to check in4Meeting placesNear home and out of theneighborhood5PracticeTwice a year
Decide now, while the phones work.
Free narrated radio courses, from GMRS to ham, CB, scanners and EMP protection, at talkcritical.com.
🔒 Members guides ($15 a month): a one-year food plan, long-term water, gardening, livestock, canning, hunting and fishing, off-grid power, a bug-out location, nuclear and EMP, pandemics, barter, and community, plus five more tests and the monthly newsletter. Membership opening soon

Sources

Checked November 11, 2026.