Emergency Comms Drills You Can Do With Your Family

When disaster strikes, clear communication can mean the difference between chaos and calm. Practicing emergency communications with your family not only boosts preparedness but builds confidence in everyone involved. In this guide, we’ll walk through several simple, effective drills to prepare your household for real-world communication challenges.

Why Emergency Comms Drills Matter

Emergencies can cause infrastructure failures, power outages, and mobile network disruptions. If your family members are separated, how will you stay in touch?

Practicing comms ensures:

• Everyone knows how to use the gear
• Fallback channels and procedures are understood
• You identify gear weaknesses before it’s too late
• You build habits under low-stress conditions

What You’ll Need

• Basic handheld radios (e.g., Baofeng UV-5R) or FRS/GMRS radios for unlicensed use
• Charged batteries or external battery packs (spares here)
• Printed family comms plan (more on this below)
• Optional: whistle, signal mirror, flashlight, compass

Drill 1: Basic Radio Check

This is the simplest drill and a great way to get comfortable using radios.

1. Assign each family member a radio.
2. Spread out in or around the house.
3. Have one person initiate a call with a clear message (e.g., “This is Dan, checking in on Channel 3.”)
4. Each member responds in turn.

Practice using call signs or names, speaking clearly, and confirming receipt (“Copy that” or “Affirmative”).

Drill 2: Lost Contact Simulation

Choose one family member to “go dark” by pretending their primary comms are down. The others must:

• Try alternate channels or repeaters
• Attempt communication at pre-scheduled times
• Use physical signals (e.g., signal mirror, whistle)

This drill reinforces the value of fallback methods.

Drill 3: Comms From Afar

Have family members visit different parts of your neighborhood, park, or property. At a designated time, run a check-in net, assigning one member as net control. Rotate roles each time you do this drill.

Encourage brevity, clear transmission, and repetition of important info (e.g., “location, status, needs”).

Drill 4: Grid Down Scenario

Pretend the grid is down for 24 hours. No phones, no Wi-Fi. Rely only on:

• FRS/GMRS or ham radios
• Flashlights or lanterns
• Pre-agreed meeting points
• Whistles and light signals

Have regular check-ins throughout the day, simulate power failures, and test your ability to coordinate without modern tech.

Drill 5: Family Message Relay

If only one person has comms gear, how can they relay a message to someone else? Try this:

1. One person receives a message on their radio.
2. They must hand-write it and deliver it to another family member elsewhere on foot.
3. Use message forms (like the ICS-213) or just a notepad.

This simulates traffic handling when only one or two members are licensed or equipped.

Creating a Simple Family Comms Plan

Every family should have a written communications plan. Keep it simple and include:

• Primary and backup channels (FRS/GMRS or ham)
• Repeater info (if licensed)
• Times for check-ins (e.g., 9am, 3pm, 8pm)
• Pre-arranged meeting locations
• Out-of-town contact person

Laminate this plan and store it in each go-bag or emergency kit. Include printed maps and basic operating instructions for your radios (especially for the UV-5R).

Recommended Gear

• Baofeng UV-5R Radio
• Speaker Mic
• Radio Go-Bag Case
• Whistle with compass and LED
• Printable logbook / message pad

Conclusion

Emergency communication drills aren’t just for preppers or radio geeks—they’re essential for every household. With just a few pieces of gear and a little bit of practice, you can ensure your family stays connected when it matters most. Run these drills regularly, rotate responsibilities, and make them fun so the whole family stays engaged.

For more on building your first go-kit, check out this guide. Or see our full list of recommended ham radios at KI5QHC.com.