Everyone is given instructions on how to be ready for emergencies from childhood. Situations that have immediate and urgent effect to the environment, life, health, and property, are considered emergencies. An emergency may require assistance after the fact or intervention by government bodies to minimize negative effects. Emergency communication equipment is a common sight in these cases.

Emergencies can either be man-made or natural. Natural emergencies include calamities like earthquakes, tornadoes, and typhoons. Man-made disasters include fires, bombs, terrorist attacks, and riots. There are government agencies who define how to communicate, manage, and mitigate loss of life during disasters through the use of different equipment.

However, these items aren't exclusively used by disaster responders and government agencies. Even businesses, civilians, and families may find it helpful to have a way of sending and receiving information during difficult times. Getting a hold of what's happening reduce people's fears and helps them find ways to cope.

There are different types of emergency communication equipment. Among these types are 2-way radios, short-wave radios, weather radios, repeaters, ham radios, radio dispatch and signaling equipment, and cross link systems. Equipment like these is built to survive cases where power and phone lines are down.

To coordinate and be able to respond in the correct place at the right time, medical, police, and fire departments use radio communication. There are instances when the difference between life and death could be decided upon by proper communication. If a time critical situation occurs and there are no operable phone lines, agencies make use of repeaters. These can sometimes be used to record relevant information, can be operated using electricity or batteries, portable, accessible using VHF or UHF channels, and can withstand water downpour.

Mobile phones are definitely handy and most people own one, but it depends highly on the capacity of the network. Shut down broadcast stations and towers, and there's a high likelihood that signal won't be available. In situations where lives are in the balance, people will always contact loved ones, causing congestion in the networks, removing people's means to communicate with their families. In these cases, two-wave, short-wave, and weather radios can be very helpful.

Short-wave radios or amateur radios facilitate communication through radio waves. It runs on solar energy, battery, and electricity. Using the correct frequency, its easy to communication situation changes, updates, and list safe zones. Two-way radios are almost the same as short-wave radios since they both make use of radio waves. Often battery operated, these doesn't require extensive training, and can be used by anyone. However, it is virtually useless when used outside of range.

Over the years, other emergency communication equipment have been invented and made public. These include public address or PA systems that are strategically placed in public areas, streets, and buildings. This allows information to be disseminated over a large area. To accommodate situations where hearing may be impaired, like in places where bombing occurs, LED signs are posted in public places. Other forms of communication include digital signage that appear in huge televisions and voice systems like those in military facilities and manufacturing plants.