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"Ready-to-Go" or "Jump" Kit - Recommended Components

Radios and Accessories 

    * Handheld VHF or dual-band radio (some people also like to bring a spare)

    * Mobile VHF or dual-band radio

    * HF radio

    * Spare rechargeable batteries for handhelds

    * Alkaline battery pack for handhelds

    * Alkaline batteries

    * Microphone

    * Speaker microphone and earphone for handhelds or

    * Headphones for noisy areas and privacy with proper connector, adaptors

    * Headset with optional boom mike, if available,

    * Battery chargers, AC and DC for handhelds   

    * Multi-band HF antenna, tuner, heavy parachute cord or nylon mason's twine

    * Full length quarter-wave whip for 2M HT

    * 2M Mag mount with cookie sheet/pizza pan ground plane, coax, and connector

    * VHF/UHF gain antennas and adapters (roll-up J-Pole, mobile magnetic mount, etc)

    * Antenna analyzer, dummy load

    * Coaxial feed lines, jumpers, "coax seal"

    * Ground rod, pipe clamp, and wire

    * All related power, data, audio, and RF cables and adapters

    * Materials for improvisation: wire, connectors, small parts, insulators, duct tape, etc.

    * AC power supplies for VHF.UHF mobile and HF radios, accessories

    * 50' 12AWG AC extension cord and light-duty shorter extension cords

    * Large battery source for VHF/UHF mobile and HF radios, with charger

    * High intensity lamp, battery operated

    * Flashlight with extra batteries

    * Clock (battery operated)   

    * Small repair kit: hand tools, multi-meter, connectors, adapters, fuses, key parts

    * Multi-band scanner, weather radio, transistor AM-FM radio, battery-operated TV

    * Personal cell phone, pager, spare batteries and chargers

    * Photocopies of manuals for all equipment

    * Specialized gear for packet, ATV or other modes including

    * Laptop computer with charger and small printer with paper and ink

Personal Gear 

    * Name badge

    * Emergency orange vest

    * Clothing for the season, weather, and length of deployment

    * Toilet kit: soap, razor, deodorant, comb, toilet paper, towel

    * Foul weather or protective gear, warm coats, hats, etc. as needed

    * Sleeping bag, closed-cell foam pad, pillow, ear plugs

    * High energy snacks

    * Easily prepared dried foods that will store for long periods

    * Eating and cooking equipment, if needed

    * Water containers, filled before departure

    * First aid kit, latex gloves, personal medications and prescriptions for up to one week

    * Money, including a large quantity of quarters for vending machines, tolls, etc.

    * Telephone calling card 

    * Work gloves, dust masks, garbage bags, paper towels

Information 

    * ID cards and other authorizations

    * Copy of Amateur Radio license

    * Repeater frequency list and net schedules (Print from this website)

    * Maps, both street and topographic

    * Key phone numbers, email and internet addresses

    * Contact information for other members in your group, EC, DEC, SEC, and others

    * Copy of emergency plans

    * Resource lists: who to call for which kinds of problems

    * Local phone books, SBC, Sprint, Alltel, Verizon/Nextel

    * ARRL Field Resources Manual
  

Operating Supplies 

    * Preprinted message forms

    * Log sheets or books

    * Standard forms used by the served agency

    * Letter or legal size notepads

    * Sticky notes

    * Pencils, legal pads, pencil sharpener

    * Paper clips and rubber bands

    * Blank envelopes

    * Index cards

    * Marker pen

Power -- Your radio 72-hour kit should have several sources of power in it, with extra battery packs and an alkaline battery pack for your HT. For mobile VHF and UHF radios, larger batteries are needed. Gel-cell or deep-cycle marine batteries would be good sources of battery power, and you must keep them charged and ready to go. It is also wise to have alternate means available to charge your batteries during the emergency. You can charge smaller batteries from other larger batteries. You can build a solar charging device. If you’re lucky, you may have access to a power generator that can be used in place of the normal electrical lines. Have more battery capacity than you think you might need. Have several methods available to connect your radios to different power sources.

Gain Antennas -- You can expect to need some kind of gain antenna for your HT, as well as an additional gain antenna that can be used on either your HT or your mobile rig. The extra antenna might be needed by someone else, or your first antenna might break. For VHF and UHF, you can build a J-pole from a TV twinlead, for an inexpensive and very compact antenna. Have several lengths of coax in your kit, totaling at least 50 feet and with barrel connectors to connect them together.

Personal -- Include staples: water, or a reliable water filtration and purification system; enough food for three days; eating utensils, a drinking cup and, if needed, a means of cooking your food. Shelter is also important.Here, you are only limited by the size of your kit and the thickness of your wallet. Some hams plan to use their RVs as shelter, conditions permitting. Other disaster conditions may make the use of an RV impossible, so you should have several different plans for shelter. Light is important psychologically during an emergency. Make sure that you have several light sources available. Various battery-powered lights are available, and propane or gasoline-fueled lanterns are also good possibilities.