Having GMRS (and some FRS radios) radios (base, mobile, handhelds and the use of repeaters) at your disposal for use within your community and knowing how and when to use them is an important element when working with others in a team effort to provide quality communications , especially during a disaster situation. To get the most out of your radios, keep fresh or properly charged batteries and have plenty of spares handy where possible. As part of your community or neighborhood disaster planning, agree on who will use what equipment, what channels, and what privacy codes, if any, will be used. Remember, having backup channels and frequencies to be used by all preplanned is always ideal in case a major situation occurs that warrants having to change up the original plans for communications. Once you have a pre-staged location planned out, set date and times for all team members to practice using their radios at their preplanned locations. It's important to remember when transmitting to always speak slowly ( not one word per second -- but also not too fast either) and clearly. GMRS & FRS radios operate on the FM band. Unlike CB (11-meter band) don’t have to yell into the microphone while holding it approximately one to two inches from your mouth. And if at all possible, try to avoid areas of loud background noise, which make it harder for the other party to understand you and even harder for you to hear them.

Monitoring public safety channels like police, fire and military radio operators frequencies can assist you and your team in learning the proper use of radios during a disaster. Never use first names as unit numbers as it can lead to major confusion with many users on the same channel. If a lot of users are working as a team, you may want to separate out your team members into smaller numbers or by areas, Your "house checker team" that goes door-to-door for checking on those needing assistance, for example, may want to use “A1 Or Adam One”. “Adam Two”, etc. Your plans should include a mixture of call signs in case the situation warrants doing so.

It is good practice, not mandatory, but good practice, to start each initial transmission by stating your calls sign first and then the party you’re trying to reach. Something like WQYX489 Mobile Unit One to Base, or on FRS Channels "Adam One to Base", then wait a minute or two for an acknowledgment from the person you are calling before continuing with sending any additional messages. Professionalism calls for keeping all messages and all transmissions short. Once you have delivered your message and have no additional information you feel needs to be transmitted then sign off by giving your callsign and then saying "clear" so the other party(s) are not left waiting to see if you have more to say. Others may be waiting for you to clear so they can then attempt to deliver their messages.

One last note: During normal use of a GMRS or FRS radio, in non-disaster situations, long conversations on GMRS & FRS (like CB and Amateur Radio operators like to do) is not an uncommon occurrence. But one of the hardest thing for GMRS and FRS (and yes even CB'ers and Amateur Radio also) operators to understand when it comes to an emergency situation(s), working a disaster(s), and/or even when storm chasing....long conversation doesn't cut it and is a major no-no. Say what needs to be said and get off the channel except for listening, don't use the frequency unless it is a matter of life or death, and/or when asked a question by a supervisor or team leader. Also, during an emergency or disaster you as a radio operator and your radio equipment are important....but you are not in charge of the frequency/channel.... once an emergency has been declared by the team leader (or the EMC) and has been properly announced over the air for all to hear, then that team leader is now in charge of that frequency/channel. If this is something you don't like, then don't offer your services or your radio equipment for assisting others or your community.

The Emergency Management Coordinator, County Judge, Sheriff, the Police Chief within the city limit, and/or any individual can mandate the confiscation and use of your radio equipment and/or the seizure of the frequency (regardless of the frequency (like Ham, Police, Commercial, etc...)) when no other form of communications is available, and when it is a matter of life or death for communication purposes.