Last week, Spain and Portugal lost electrical power for a day. Communications came to a halt; there was plenty of confusion. This week, the National Weather Service is featuring “Hurricane Preparedness Week,” and it is important for Newport residents to consider all aspects of emergency readiness. Newport’s exposure to late-season hurricanes demands thoughtful preparation—not just food and water, but also reliable communications.
Today, most of our communications infrastructure is digital and Internet-based. In a power outage, these systems—including vital alerting services like CodeRed—are likely to fail. Without cell service or Internet, staying informed and reaching emergency services could become extremely difficult.
Recent disasters in California, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico clearly demonstrated the dangers communities face when communications are lost. Here in Newport County, many first responder agencies are building backup communication systems to maintain operations during emergencies.
Members of the Newport County Radio Club — celebrating its 75th year — are helping to bolster these efforts through a “Community Radio Lifeline” initiative. Members conduct weekly radio check-ins across Newport County every Wednesday evening at 7:30PM and host informal information sessions at the Middletown Public Library on the second Tuesday of each month from 6PM-7:30PM. (The next one is May 13th). These gatherings are open to all residents interested in learning more about simple, resilient communication options.
Two-way radios are an easy and affordable addition to any emergency kit. Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, requiring no license, are available for under $20. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios, compatible with FRS radios, offer greater range and capability, cost under $50, but do require a $35 FCC license that’s good for 10 years and blankets an entire household and a list of relatives. The project’s web site — www.gen4AI.org — has more information.
In these uncertain times, taking small, practical steps to prepare for a range of situations just makes sense. A low-cost two-way radio—and having the basic knowledge of how to use it—could make all the difference when it matters most.
Let’s take this opportunity to strengthen our personal and community resilience as we head into the 2025 hurricane season.
