Start with who needs to reach whom
- City to residents: warming and cooling centers, water notices, road closures, when power is expected back.
- Residents to city: “I need help,” “I’m OK,” downed lines, medical needs.
- Staff to staff: public works, police, fire and city hall coordinating.
- Neighbor to neighbor: checking on older residents and people living alone.
Plan in layers
No single system covers every case. A good plan uses several, from most to least dependent on infrastructure:
- Phones, text and social media while cell service lasts.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts and county alert systems for one-way warnings.
- Public safety radio for responders.
- A community mesh text network for two-way text between residents and staff when cell service is gone.
- Amateur radio volunteers for links beyond the county.
- Paper and people: posted notices, door knocks, a known meeting place.
Decide in advance
- Who sends messages on the town channel, and how often.
- Where residents go if they can’t reach anyone.
- Which residents need a check-in, and who does it.
- How you’ll test the plan: a yearly drill is enough to find the gaps.
Where a mesh network fits
A mesh network fills the gap between one-way alerts and responder radio: two-way short text between residents and the city, without cell service or power. It’s cheap enough for a small town, and residents can take part. See what it gives a city.
Your county emergency manager is the right partner for the plan itself. We can help with the communications layer.