Emergency Travel/Radio Broadcasts

Quercus-robur · Post by **Quercus-robur** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:58 am

I was in the car tonight on the way home listening to my Les Miserables CD when the song cut out and instead I got a broadcast about a crash and transport disruptions in and around Cumbria. I know that these sorts of emergency/travel broadcasts can interrupt normal radio stations. I had no idea that while listening to a CD they can cut in with the broadcast. Not that I am complaining. My mum found it annoying. I found it fascinating if I'm honest. In all the years I have listened to CD's in the car this is the first time I have had one interrupted for an emergency broadcast. Is this something new or has this been around for a while? I can see the potential it has in an emergency situation. I know about having emergency broadcasts on TV and radio. This was just something new to me so thought I would share.

It it got me thinking as well. There are so many different mediums of communication out there and news does travel around the world and through communities very quickly. But, very specifically, I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the capabilities the Government and the emergency services have to interrupt lines of communications to broadcast live emergency information (I already understand they can interrupt TV channels and websites etc. I'm thinking outside that and in particular personal devices such as phones.)

Qr

Post by **Yorkshire Andy** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:15 am

The travel alert thing on the radio has been on the the go for years on most cars its activated by the TP or TA button
often in the menu you can select between local and national broadcasts...

Mine also has a news button...

As for mobiles
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ing-trials

janso · Post by **janso** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:24 am

Was going to mention that; it's the traffic awareness preset which cut in. I think it does the same with playing off mp3... I think it's cut in whilst listening to podcasts

Sent from my hidey hole using Tapatalk... sssh!

Malthouse · Post by **Malthouse** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:44 am

The police have the capability to broadcast text messages to all phones in a mobile network cell, local authorities have access to CB radio as well the ability to transmit on normal radio station frequencies in emergencies.

Hamradioop · Post by **Hamradioop** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:56 am

And don't forget Raynet as well for emergency communications.

ukpreppergrrl · Post by **ukpreppergrrl** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:21 am

I have it on my car stereo, interrupts whatever source is playing. I accidentally activated it a year or so ago and now I can't work out the key presses to switch it off!

Quercus-robur · Post by **Quercus-robur** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 12:57 am

Malthouse wrote:The police have the capability to broadcast text messages to all phones in a mobile network cell, local authorities have access to CB radio as well the ability to transmit on normal radio station frequencies in emergencies.

Didn't know the police had that capability. Do you know of any incidence of it ever being used?

Qr

Quercus-robur · Post by **Quercus-robur** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:00 am

Hamradioop wrote:And don't forget Raynet as well for emergency communications.

Never heard of that before but it sounds really useful. Would be great to have fellow preppers as part of Raynet.

Qr

Quercus-robur · Post by **Quercus-robur** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:13 am

Yorkshire Andy wrote:The travel alert thing on the radio has been on the the go for years on most cars its activated by the TP or TA button
often in the menu you can select between local and national broadcasts...

Mine also has a news button...

As for mobiles
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ing-trials

Thanks for the link. I actually think this is a really good idea and prefer the CBS approach. Seems to be in trials at the moment. I would like to see this put into use. In an instance on civil unrest, large scale fire, terrorist attack etc there will be a lot of frightened people. Having a text sent to people that will give them clear instructions as to what to do could save lives and help alleviate stress on the situation.

Qr

Malthouse · Post by **Malthouse** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:05 am

Quercus-robur wrote:Didn't know the police had that capability. Do you know of any incidence of it ever being used?

It is not used or useful often, but is relatively simple to do. I think one time it was used was a fire at a chemical factory, the message told people to stay indoors and close windows etc., and to listen to local radio for updates.

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