Ready Kits
Each member of an ARES organization must always consider that he or she will be asked to take a field assignment providing communication as a part of an emergency service response. In order to respond as quickly as possible, it is important to have a “Ready Kit”. Your ready kit should contain all necessary equipment to operate your radio station and to support yourself for assignments up to 72 hours in duration. (96 hour kits are now being recommended.)
Power
Your radio 72-hour kit (96 hours now recommended) 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. You must keep them charged and ready to go. Have more battery capacity than you think you might need. Have several methods available to connect your radios to different power sources.
It is also wise to have alternative 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 have access to an electrical generator, be sure to have enough fuel to keep it running when you need it.
Antennas & Coax
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 twin lead, for and inexpensive and very compact antenna. Have several lengths of coax in your kit, totaling at least 50 feet and with barrel connectors to connect the lengths 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. You will also need any prescription medications, spare eyeglasses, hearing aids and other personal items you might need. You should plan on having shelter and sleeping gear. Here you are only limited by the size of your kit and the thickness of your wallet. At a minimum you should plan on having a tent and sleeping bag.
Light is vitally important if you need to work at night. Make sure that you have several light sources available that will provide you with this ability. All sorts of battery-power are available and propane or gasoline fueled lanterns are also good possibilities.
Basic Deployment Equipment Checklist
First Aid Kit
Paper and pencils & pens
Message forms
Log books
Carbon paper
Area maps
Band-Aids, small & large
Band-Aids, finger & knuckle
2”x2”, 3”x3” gauze pads
Butterfly closures
Triangular bandage
Emergency dental kit
Blister care kit
Imodium & Benadryl tablets
Aspirin, Tylenol or other painkillers
Rehydration powder
Personal Kit
3 day change of clothes
3 day supply of water
(minimum 1 gallon per day)
3 day supply of food, snacks
Foul weather gear
Shelter (tent and sleeping bag)
Portable stove
Mess kit with cleaning kit
Prescription medication
Flashlight, candles, lanterns
Alarm clock
Soap or waterless cleanser
Handi-wipes
Toothbrush & other toilet articles
Waterproof matches & lighter
Throat lozenges
Sewing kit & safety pins
Hardhat
Dust masks
Ear plugs
Cash (not credit or ATM cards)
Hat
Sunglasses
Water filter or purification tablets
**Remember to check/rotate your supplies. A running inventory is recommended.
Tool Kit
Pliers
Wire cutters, small and large
Wire strippers – small and large
Vise grips
Screwdrivers, various sizes
Adjustable crescent wrenches
Socket & ratchet set
20 watt soldering iron and solder
60 – 80 watt iron (not gun)
Multimeter
AC tester
Electrical tape
Duct tape or gaffers’ tape
Safety glasses
Spare power connectors
100 ft rope
AC power bars
100 ft of extension cords
Pipe clamps, various sizes
Spare RF connectors
Spare Anderson Powerpoles
Spare 12ga zip cord
Miscellaneous wire
Record Keeping Kit
Resource CRF- S - Shadow Kit
Resource CRF- B - Base Kit
2-meter HT
2-meter mag mount antenna
2x 25ft coax
Ear phone, external speaker
Extra batteries
Battery chargers
Audio patch cords
2-meter mobile radio
20 ft portable mast
Guy wires & tripod
Base antenna (j-pole or other)
2x 25ft coax, 2x 50ft coax
Headphones, external speaker
Audio patch cords
RF Connectors
Batteries / generator
Power supply
Fluorescent or LED desk lamp
Resource CRF- H – HF
2-meter mobile radio & mic
2-meter mag mount, antenna
1x 25ft coaxial extension
RF adapters
Headphones, external speaker
Audio patch cords
RF Connectors
Batteries, chargers
GPS receiver would be handy!
HF radio for 20, 40, 80 meters
20 ft portable mast
Guy wires & tripod
Standard antennas
NVIS antenna
2x 25ft coax
2x 50ft coax
Headphones, external speaker
Audio patch cords
RF Connectors
Batteries / generator
Power supply
Fluorescent or LED desk lamp
Resource CRF- M – Mobile Kit
Resource CRF- DA & DM
Resource CRF- DT
2-meter mobile radio
Laptop w configured software
TNC or equivalent
20 ft portable mast
Guy wires & tripod
Base antenna (j-pole or other)
2x 25ft coax, 2x 50ft coax
Headphones, external speaker
Audio patch cords
RF Connectors
Batteries / generator
Power supply
12v DC to 120v AC converter
2-meter mobile radio & mic
2-meter magmount, antenna
TNC, Tinytracker or equivalent
GPS receiver
GPS to TNC cables
TNC to Radio cables
1x 25ft coax extension
RF adapters
Batteries, chargers
Ready Kit Sources – Containers
MTM Case-gard (spud boxes) http://www.mtmcase-gard.com
Plano Molding http://www.planomolding.com
SKB http://www.skbcases.com
Pelican http://www.pelican.com
Tac-Comm http://www.tac-comm.com
Hammobox http://www.hammobox.com
Ready Kit Sources – Tools & Vehicle
Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com
Lowe’s http://www.lowes.com
Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com
Northern Tool + Equipment http://www.northerntool.com
Ready Kit Sources – Personal Supplies
Academy Sports http://www.academy.com
REI http://www.rei.com
Sports Authority http://www.sportsauthority.com
Sportsman’s Warehouse http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com
Bass Pro Shops http://www.basspro.com
Cabela’s http://www.cabelas.com
Tactical Gear Now http://www.texasarmynavy.com
Minimus.biz http://www.minimus.biz
Countycomm http://www.countycomm.com
MRE Info http://www.mreinfo.com
Adventure Medical Kits http://www.amkdealer.com/
Moore Medical http://www.mooremedical.com
Ready Kit Sources – Radio & Electronic Gear
Fry’s Electronics http://www.frys.com
iPortableUS.com http://www.iportableus.com
food_water_emerg.pdf