Fantastic response thank you guys!

With the talk of the chewing through power and lack of grid power

why not a solar unit that charges AA or AAA batteries?

Although thinking about it maybe its worth looking at what caravan users have by way of solar.

Christchurch Earthquake (February 22nd):

No mobile network (2degrees, Spark or Vodafone) in the CBD due to overloading, physical landlines were also down, power was out and so was water to our offices. Our local dairy was asking $10 for a bottle of Milk and there was much drama going on.

Lucky for us we had water in storage containers. But, you can never be over-prepared for a disaster like this.

michaelmurfy:

 

Christchurch Earthquake (February 22nd):

 

No mobile network (2degrees, Spark or Vodafone) in the CBD due to overloading, physical landlines were also down, power was out and so was water to our offices. Our local dairy was asking $10 for a bottle of Milk and there was much drama going on.

 

Lucky for us we had water in storage containers. But, you can never be over-prepared for a disaster like this.

 

Agreed, it took us all by surprise. People freaked a day after and lines to the supermarket were out of control same as lines to the petrol stations with people panicking. We have our BBQ which came in handy for cooking, made sure neighbors were all ok and started mass cooking for everybody as no power and food was going to spoil if not eaten. Was the first time I had met and spoken to a lot of people in our neighborhood.

We have 2 hand radios with 3 twenty packs of AA batteries set aside now just in case.

Sideface:

 

gnfb:  <snip> Oh what was the case in Christchurch? What comms were up and running? Maybe CB radio?

The internet went down, but the cellular network kept going.

 

That was not my experience - internet continued uninterrupted, our UPS backed wifi kept things up and running well. Cellular network may have kept going generally however it was largely unusable with calls unable to be made and texts delayed significantly..

You have to assume that internet could go down and cellular will not be able to be relied upon..

AM/FM radio was OK & TV if you had power.. CB would be fine too

Linuxluver:

 

I have a wind-up AM/FM radio / torch / flashing beacon. I think it was $25 from Mitre 10 or similar.

 

No need for batteries.....just give the handle a few cranks every few minutes. 

 

Something like this: http://qsquakesafe.com/product/solar-wind-up-radio/

 

I've got something similar in my emergency kit. It's a torch / radio that I can power by cranking it (a minute of cranking gives about half an hour or so of radio).

No mucking about with batteries going bad or waiting for solar to charge things up.

gnfb:

 

Fantastic response thank you guys!

 

With the talk of the chewing through power and lack of grid power

 

why not a solar unit that charges AA or AAA batteries?

 

Although thinking about it maybe its worth looking at what caravan users have by way of solar. 

Plenty of caravan solar on Trademe. Decent battery chargers seem to need a good supply of current, you'd probably be better off charging a big battery, then charging the AAs off that.

Its worth noting that immediately after the large quakes in canty it was easier to reach others via SMS due to the congested network. Perhaps build this into your families emergency plan in case the need arises.

jnimmo:

 

 

 

AM/FM radio was OK & TV if you had power.. CB would be fine too

 

I herad somewhere that cb radio is a very efficient means of communications in disasters . LOL we all use to have them back in the UK in our cars to warn each other of coppers about!

you are best to take the view that everything that is connected be it for power or signal is going to be down or at best flakey for some time and plan accordingly. Any method you choose should be economic on resources. Dynamo devices are the best as they do not require a 

supply of cells. You should also get a device that has an extending antenna that will allow you to pick up distant sources as local will be in the same state as you. Last but not least it needs to be light weight and can fit is a grab and bolt bag.

Buy a sat phone. At least you should be able to contact someone.

gnfb:

Question for the "Clever Ones"

There is always talk about having a conventional radio am/fm battery powered on hand in case of "the big one"

So the FM radio that is on my cell phone will that work if cellular towers are down?

also will terrestrial tv still function?

I am assuming that there is a good possibility that the internet on landlines will be down.

Towers will be possibly down..

Oh what was the case in Christchurch? What comms were up and running? Maybe CB radio? LOL

joker97:

gnfb:

 

Question for the "Clever Ones"

 

 

 

There is always talk about having a conventional radio am/fm battery powered on hand in case of "the big one"

 

 

 

So the FM radio that is on my cell phone will that work if cellular towers are down?

 

 

 

also will terrestrial tv still function?

 

 

 

I am assuming that there is a good possibility that the internet on landlines will be down.

 

 

 

Towers will be possibly down..

 

 

 

Oh what was the case in Christchurch? What comms were up and running? Maybe CB radio? LOL

 

Internet may be down, but landlines will be fine. Need a non cordless phone though.

Why do you assume landlines will be fine?

Small AM/FM radio. Receiver must be strong enough to receive signals from other places.

Portable LED lights for room lighting. Don't want candles with earthquakes.

Plenty of spare batteries for above.

LPG cooker and spare full gas bottle(s).

Lots of drinking water.

CASH. EFTPOS will be down.

Did I mention lots of drinking water?

Chch earthquake survivor.