CERT / Neighborhood Radio Net Planner

• Routine check: Top of each hour during an outage, then 9 AM / 6 PM for longer incidents.
• Before storm/fire season or planned events: test every selected method, chargers, spare batteries, written contact cards, and the backup net-control handoff.
• During an outage: keep transmissions short, confirm who is safe/needs help, and move non-urgent details to a later check-in.
• After the incident: collect logs, note what failed, and update the plan before the next drill.

This is TBD net control opening the Neighborhood emergency information net for 12 participants.
This net is for preparedness status, welfare checks, and local information sharing only. HazardNow does not transmit or coordinate emergency communications.
Follow FCC rules, licensing requirements, local procedures, and emergency management guidance. Emergency traffic and official instructions take priority.
Primary/backup plan: Primary cell phones; Backup SMS; Tertiary FRS radios.
Meeting point if communications fail: TBD safe meeting point.
Stations, check in with name/call sign if applicable, location or block, status, needs, and available resources. Net control will acknowledge each station.

Net control: [Name], please check in.
Participant: This is [name/call sign if applicable] at [general location]. Status is [OK / needs assistance / has information]. People accounted for: [number]. Immediate needs: [short, non-sensitive]. Resources available: [short]. Over.
Net control: Copy [summary]. Stand by for updates or next check-in time.

• Message number: ____
• Date/time: ____
• From: ____
• To: ____
• Priority: Emergency / Urgent / Routine / Welfare
• Method used: ____
• Location/general area: ____
• Message, kept brief and non-sensitive: ____
• Action requested: ____
• Received by / relayed to: ____

• Channels/frequencies/settings: User-entered channel/frequency plan; verify it is legal and approved before use
• Before transmitting: listen first, confirm the channel is clear, identify as rules require, and keep messages short.
• Use tactical/plain-language labels only if your group procedure allows them; avoid codes that confuse new participants.
• Battery plan: charge radios/phones, label chargers, keep spare batteries/power banks, and reduce screen/radio power when possible.
• NOAA Weather Radio: receive official alerts and updates; it does not replace local instructions or two-way coordination methods.

• Social Security numbers, full dates of birth, financial information, passwords, alarm codes, or door/key details.
• Detailed medical diagnoses, medication inventories, or personally identifying health information unless a life-safety situation requires direct official assistance.
• Rumors, unverified damage reports, names of victims, photos of private property, or exact locations of unattended homes and valuables.
• Privacy note for this plan: Use plain status categories; keep personal, medical, financial, and security details off shared channels.

• NOAA Weather Radio receives official alerts and hazard information; it is not a two-way radio service.
• FRS can be useful for short-range neighborhood or household communication when used with compliant radios and within rules.
• GMRS may provide a practical local backup where licensed users, permitted radios, and local procedures are in place.
• Amateur radio can support emergency communications by appropriately licensed operators working under applicable rules and local plans.

• Follow FCC rules, licensing requirements, local procedures, and emergency management guidance. Verify current rules with official FCC sources before relying on any radio plan.
• FRS is short-range and license-free only within applicable rules. GMRS generally requires an FCC license. Amateur radio requires an appropriate license except true emergency exceptions under applicable rules.
• This planner is a printable preparedness aid. HazardNow cannot transmit, dispatch, monitor, or coordinate emergency communications for you.
• In immediate danger, call 911 or the appropriate local emergency number if available, and follow official instructions.