The 12 C's of Survival Series: Communication

When most people think of survival, their minds jump to fire, water, shelter, and food. Communication often gets overlooked—until it becomes the one thing you desperately need. Whether you're lost in the backcountry, coordinating with a partner during an emergency, or trying to get help after a disaster, communication is what connects you to information, resources, and rescue.

Preparedness is not simply having the right gear; it’s understanding how to send, receive, and interpret information under stress. In this installment, we’ll break down why communication is a core survival skill, what gear you should consider, and how mindset and training play just as important a role as equipment.

Why Communication Matters in Survival

In a crisis, communication can:

• Reduce uncertainty by giving you access to real-time information

• Coordinate movement and tasks within your group or family

• Enable rescue by signaling distress or providing your location

• Maintain morale by keeping people connected and calm

• Prevent small problems from becoming life-threatening

A failure in communication often results in duplication of effort, dangerous assumptions, and preventable injuries. You can have perfect gear, but without effective communication, your plan is only half-functional.

Mindset Over Gadgetry

Just like the other C's, communication is not solved by buying a shiny device and throwing it into a pack. Radios without programming are dead weight. Phones without service are expensive flashlights. Signal mirrors buried at the bottom of a bag help no one.

Your survival communication plan must answer three questions:

1. Who am I communicating with?

2. How will I reach them?

3. What do we do if the first plan fails?

If you can’t answer those questions, you don’t have a plan—just equipment.

Primary Means of Communication

Cell Phones (Your Most Likely Tool)

Modern phones provide multiple layers of communication:

• Calls & text messaging

• GPS & location sharing

• Offline maps

• Emergency SOS modes

Pros: Simple, familiar, and widely supported.

Cons: Batteries die, towers fail, and rural areas often lack service.

Preparedness Tips:

• Keep your battery above 50% anytime you’re going into the field.

• Carry an external battery pack.

• Download offline maps before heading out.

• Learn your phone’s emergency SOS features.

Secondary Means: Radios

FRS/GMRS Radios

Great for short-range communication with family, partners, or team members.

• FRS: License-free, plug-and-play.

• GMRS: More power, extended range, and repeaters—requires a simple FCC license.

These radios shine for:

• Group hikes

• Neighborhood emergencies

• Coordinating during search efforts

• Communicating when phones fail

Amateur (HAM) Radio

This is the gold standard for long-range emergency communication. With a technician license, you get:

• Access to local repeaters

• Longer range

• Emergency communication nets

• Community support from other operators

HAM radios can talk when the grid cannot.

Passive and Visual Signaling

Communication doesn’t always require electronics. Some of the most reliable survival tools are old-school methods.

Whistles

A whistle blast carries farther than a shout and conserves energy. Survival standard:

• 3 blasts = distress

• 1 blast = location/attention

  
  

Signal Mirrors

These devices can project a bright flash miles away, especially in bright sun. They remain one of the best tools for backcountry rescue.

Fire & Light

Fire, flashlights, chemlights, and strobes can all send signals:

• Three fires in a triangle = emergency

• Repeated flashes = distress

Panels, Flags, & Markers

Bright colors or reflective materials help identify location from air or distance. Great for search and rescue visibility.

Redundancy: The Backbone of Communication

Planning

A robust plan follows the rule of PACE:

• Primary

• Alternate

• Contingency

• Emergency

  
  

Example for a backcountry trip:

• Primary: Cell phone & GPS messenger

• Alternate: GMRS/FRS radio

• Contingency: Whistle + signal mirror

• Emergency: Fire, brightly colored tarp, ground-to-air signals

  
  

This layered approach ensures you’re never left without options. For my kit, my alternate selection is an Iridium Satellite Phone.

Training and Practical Use

Communication is a skill that requires practice. You should:

• Program your radios ahead of time

• Know local repeater frequencies

• Teach your group basic hand and whistle signals

• Rehearse check-in procedures

• Practice making fires and using mirrors for signaling

Gear doesn’t build capability—training does.

Recommended Gear for Your Kit

• Cell Phone

• GMRS or HAM handheld radio

• Satellite Phone

• Extra batteries / battery bank

• Whistle

• Signal mirror

• Compact flashlight or headlamp

• Chem lights or strobes

• Preprinted emergency contact & medical info card to include radio frequencies

• Waterproof notebook & pencil

• GPS/messenger device (Garmin InReach, etc.)

• Fire Starting Kit (Covered in Combustion).

You don’t need everything—but you should have multiple, reliable ways to communicate when things go wrong.

Final Thoughts

Communication is more than radios and cell phones—it's the glue that holds a survival plan together. The ability to send and receive information, to coordinate your efforts, and to call for help when necessary can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a life-threatening emergency.

Preparedness is not dependence; it's capability. And capability in communication is what allows you to maintain control in uncertainty.

The next time you head into the field, ask yourself: If everything else fails… can I still call for help?

If the answer is no, it’s time to improve your communication plan.

Stay tuned for installment 11 - Cordage.

Missed the earlier installments? Click Here.