If you watch the news even as little as once a week, you understand the importance of communications in an emergency. Whether it is flood, fire, earthquake, hurricane or whatever emergency can and may happen, it is wise and responsible to have a plan in place. In many emergencies, traditional land and cell phones may not be functioning. Your electricity may go out. How will you plan around these emergency inevitabilities? There are tools and supplies, such as battery operated radios and flashlights that can help you navigate the emergency situation.

It is comforting to know that most people won't be affected by a hurricane in Florida or an earthquake in California, or a tornado in Kansas. However, it is also impossible to predict disaster. Therefore, it is best to be prepared. Build your emergency communications kit before something happens that might necessitate the need for it. In the event of a complete failure of land and cell phone technology, you will need a way to communicate with your family, friends and neighbors. In this situation you would be best served by a bull horn, walkie-talkies and survival whistles. Being able to convey your position through the use of sound is invaluable in an emergency.

It is smart to have a plan in place with your family in the case of an emergency. Tools and supplies like the aforementioned bull horn, walkie-talkie and survival whistles are just the start of your plan for communications in an emergency situation. Investing in an am/fm solar powered or transistor radio is essential. Look for models that include speakers so that you can stay abreast of news and information about the emergency situation. A radio can be a lifesaver. Knowing which roads are closed or blocked and where emergency personnel are located can help you and your family get to safety as quickly as possible.

Some battery and solar powered radios are equipped with a siren, which is a good thing to have in your survival tool kit. Again, making noise can save your life. It can alert rescue personnel to your location. The best preparation is one that is thought out before it is needed.