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Telephones in a Major Disaster

Communications is key to the success of disaster mitigation, response and recovery. With the introduction of new technology, the reliability of the type of service to communicate can no longer be considered an afterthought as the technology selected will impact the response and recovery from a major disaster or catastrophe.

Residents now have a wide range of options other than the traditional analog copper wire telephone for communicating. All of which have limitations when it comes to emergency communications. Both Fiber Optics (FIOS) and Cable depend on Edison power to function. Both concepts provide battery backup, but depending on use, will only last from two to eight hours. Cell phones one to two hours. Wireless phones have no backup batteries and will not function with loss of power. This is of course assumes that the cables and poles that connect the home to the network are not damaged as a result of the disaster.

The traditional analog copper wire phone was, up until now, considered the most reliable system, operating on an independent DC power source. This can longer be counted on. Communications companies are slowly converting their analog system to FIOS so that they can provide their customers additional services such as TV and internet. As this transition takes place many areas are becoming hybridized where the core network is FIOS while still retaining the analog phones. Residents need to be made aware of this situation as it may produce a false sense of security for those who have retained their analog phones as part of their emergency preparedness plan.

Recently, this situation was brought home to those residents living on the eastside of the City when all power and phone service was lost for over 24hours due to the recent fire and again during the recent winds.

Even if all phone service is still functioning after a disaster you still might not be able to communicate with emergency services. Switching centers are designed for only a 10% to 20% service load at a time. When this level is reached the system will block all calls. In either case you will not be able to communicate to the outside. To keep lines free in the disaster area, your area code may be blocked to incoming calls. Outgoing calls from within blocked areas will be possible, but not incoming calls. The best course of action is to stay off the phone unless it is an emergency.

This does not necessarily mean that your neighborhood will be isolated. The City has been working to provide a volunteer emergency communications system throughout the City in the event of a disaster where all power and normal communications are lost. The Peninsula Volunteer Alert Network (PVAN) made up of Amateur Radio Operators and Neighborhood Watch volunteers support a self help network at the neighborhood level until First Responders are available. PVAN operators will be able to communicate directly with the City’s Emergency Communication Center. If your neighborhood or association is not part of the system and you would like more information on how to join please call the City Hall.
Here is what you can expect when using the phone after a disaster and some guidelines:
1.  Who are you calling and, why? Ask yourself if this call can wait. Lines within the disaster area should be kept as free as possible for immediate emergency traffic. Think carefully before placing a call, especially to 911 if you only are asking for status information. ("Did we just have an earthquake?" "Am I supposed to do something?" etc).
2.  Ensure all handsets are placed back on their cradles or hook switches. Switching centers are designed for only 10% off-hook at a time. Overload occurs above 10% and dial tones will be delayed. Immediately after the disaster, check all the phones around you to be sure handsets have not fallen off their cradles.
3.  There is no dial tone. No dial tone (a "dead" phone) indicates an overload condition. Ensure step 2) above has been met, then just wait patiently for a tone. You will likely receive one within a few seconds. (The Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco averaged 15 seconds delay for a tone. Worst case was 45 seconds). During this waiting period, DO NOT tap the hook switch. It will only return you to the end of the queue and will start your waiting period all over again.
4.  But I really have to make a call. If you must make a call and cannot get a dial tone, check the nearest public pay phone, the type in public places accessible 24/7 -- perhaps at a nearby gas station or shopping center. These phones are high priority and will be returned to service as quickly as possible. You might keep a few quarters handy for just such calls. (Pay phones are currently running 35 to 50 cents per call). In some cases, however, public pay phones may not accept incoming calls to thwart drug dealers. Outgoing calls, however, should still be possible.
5.  Can my out-of-area friends call me? Most likely not, at least not for a few hours. To keep lines free in the disaster area, your area code may be blocked to incoming calls. Outgoing calls from within blocked areas will be possible, but not incoming calls. It would be best to establish an out-of-state friend or relative as an information collection point as part of your emergency preparedness planning. Your status could then be reported to this point for dissemination to other friends and relatives. That will free your responsibility, your telephone and the switching centers serving your area.
6.  Cell phones will work because they are really radios, aren't they? Unfortunately, low-power cell phones can only transmit to the nearest "node". From that point on they are in the regular land line system and are thus as limited as regular wired phones.
7.  But what if the telephones are really dead? Telephone companies have long realized the importance of their service in a disaster. Switching centers have re-mounted circuit board racks to roll with a quake, thus minimizing boards being shaken loose from their connectors. It is always best, however, to have an alternate plan in mind. Ask your City Emergency Preparedness Committee what communications are available. Radio and television stations may offer periodic public service announcements. Cox Cable, Verizon and the RPV channel will broadcast status and guidance information to its cable subscribers.

Amateur radio operators (hams), as part of the Peninsula Volunteer Alert Network (PVAN) and Disaster Communications Service (DCS), will be stationed throughout the city with radio equipment for local emergency communications. These operators will be able to communicate with the city's Emergency Communications Center (ECC). The ECC can communicate with adjacent Cities, the County Sheriff and hams across the country. There are over 500 amateur radio operators on the peninsula. Locate the ham nearest you and ask if he/she is a member of PVAN or DCS. Most will be pleased to send and receive messages for you during a large scale communications outage.

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