The second type is unpredictable and is much more common. These include short-fuse events such as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, large explosions, hazardous materials spills, plane crashes, train derailments, etc. Preparation Both for predictable and unpredictable events, operators should always ensure that their batteries are charged and the radio equipment is in working order. Ensure that there is at least one working wired telephone in your house with its ringer turned on- cordless telephones are a great convenience but often do not work when AC power fails leaving us no way of communicating by telephone. First, operators need to stay informed as to what is going on around them.
Most predictable events revolve around the weather.
NOAA Weather Radio is an excellent source of information as well as The Weather Channel and many, many Internet web sites. These provide a source of forecast information as well as probabilities of severe weather occurring, when, and where. Our secondary frequency is the Middletown 440 machine on 448.725-, PL151.4. Once you are aware of the impending situation, you should be listening to 147.045. If a call-up of operators is necessary it will occur there.