Ward ERC Rep Responsibilities

Ward Emergency Response Communications Representative Responsibilities for the Ontario Stake

• 1) Pray to gain a testimony of your calling.  You were called by inspiration, the Lord has a work for you to do, Emergency Response Communications is a program of the Lord’s church for the last days.  Personal, family, ward, stake and church preparation are a part of the Lord’s commandments to help his saints prepare for the Last Days.

• 2)     Be actively participating in the weekly stake nets as much as possible, recommended no fewer than 75% on average. 
  

• 3)     Learn how to, and serve as net control for stake nets. 

• 4)     Upgrade your license – Licenses are the hardest part to get compared to purchasing and installing equipment, and they allow you to do the next most needed part: practice and improve your proficiency and skillset. 

• Your upgrading your license helps inspire others that they can also “do hard things.” 

• 5)     Work towards having: portable, bug out capabilities; mobile capabilities; hf capabilities. 

• 6)     Become competent at working with uhf, vhf simplex, repeaters, hf simplex, WINLINK, FLDIGI MFSK32, JS8 Call, digital, participating in the bishop’s storehouse nets.

•  7)     Work with elder’s quorum, High Council (Bro. Turner) on getting the call tree rolled out to your ward for emergency communications.   

• 8)     Invite members to net activities. 

• 9)     Encourage members to get equipped and licensed. 

• 10)  As inspired, put on training activities for your wards, or invite members to activities, such as a field activation, learning POTA (Parks On The Air), antenna building classes, learning how to use a multi-meter, soldering, etc.  

Ontario Stake ERC - JULY 2025

 Key

• (+/-): shift frequency up or down as needed 
  
• QRM: man-made interference  
• MHz: Megahertz
• (+/-) QRM: shift up or down on frequency if there is man-made interference 
• Simplex: radio-to-radio 
• Repeater: using a repeater to re-transmit signals
• +0.6: offset to access the repeater
• PL: tone to unlock the repeater given in hertz

We are no longer involved in the Ontario Region nets as a stake for exercises or training, officially, though members may participate if they wish to do so on an individual basis.  The Lord is directing us for now to operate as a Stake.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

All times given in Mountain Time 

7/6/2025 - Sunday -  NO NET- Holiday Weekend

7/13/2025 - Sunday - NO NET - Stake Priesthood Meeting

7:00pm - Bishop's Storehouse Net - 3.810MHz (+/-) QRM

7/20/2025 - Sunday -  5:30pm - Stake Net - 144.990MHz

  7:00pm - Bishop's Storehouse Net - 3.810MHz (+/-) QRM

7/27/2025 - Sunday - 5:30pm - Stake Net - 144.990MHz

    7:00pm - Bishop's Storehouse Net - 3.810MHz (+/-) QRM 

Fun Facts - Lightning Safety

Weather is important to radio operators, because it can affect their equipment or safety in general (e.g. lightning strikes), or they may use their equipment to warn of weather conditions. 

Here's a fun lightning safety video produced by the Church.

Overview of Emergency Response Communications - The Church Welfare Services

The following is taken from the Idaho ERC website regarding an overview of ERC.  Emergency Response Communications falls under the Church Welfare Services, and under the Church Welfare Committee, which is presided over by the Presiding Bishopric.  The first form of emergency communications is by phone.  Amateur Radio (ham) is the last and final form of communication - barring that, we're on foot and in person.  Amateur Radio allows us to cover distances and reach large numbers of people very quickly and to receive information as well.

This is an overview of emergency communications within the church in a Power Point format with the slides presented here for a reference. 

 

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Emergency Response Communications - for Priesthood Leaders

 

This is taken from the Idaho ERC webpage.  Once you get your call-sign in amateur radio (ham), you can be added to the website with your own credentials as the website is a tool for Emergency Communications Specialists or Operators within the church for those who work through any of the storehouses in Idaho. This is posted for informational purposes only.  The Ontario Stake Emergency Communications Rep is not responsible for the IDAHO Erc Webpage content, neither does this supersede any authority that is held by those responsible for ward and stake operations.

Emergency Response Communications
Program Overview for Priesthood Leaders

The Emergency Response Communications program (ERC) is part of the Welfare Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All Church welfare activities are directed by the General Welfare Committee. ERC is a backup communications system serving Church leaders during emergencies when local telephone and cellular phone service is not available.

When an emergency strikes, communication services are often the first to go down. Communication within wards and stakes and between Church units and the bishops storehouse can be extremely important in a serious event. Experience has taught us that traditional communication methods including the public switched telephone system and cellular telephones will likely not be available in a serious emergency or disaster. Most local cellular telephone towers have only a few hours at best of backup power and should not be relied upon.

The ERC program has been established to provide a means for priesthood leaders to report on the status of members and property in a disaster-affected area, and to request relief supplies and assistance as needed. Emergency communication services are provided using various methods, including satellite telephones and amateur (ham) radio.

First-Level Bishops' Storehouses in the United States and Canada act as hub communication facilities which serve second-level bishops' storehouses in their areas. Idaho Falls is the First-Level Storehouse which serves the following Second-Level Storehouses: Blackfoot, Boise, Burley, Missoula and Pocatello. 

Emergency Communications Guidelines

 The following was taken from the Idaho ERC website and provides an overview of emergency communications guidelines and considerations during a disaster. 

Church Emergency Communication Guidelines

Local emergency response efforts, including emergency communications, are conducted under the direction of local priesthood leaders. Some emergency situations result in the normal means of communications (telephones and cell phones) being unavailable.   During such emergencies local Church leaders need communications to determine the status of members and missionaries and to report to regional and area Church leaders concerning the welfare of members and to request assistance as needed.  Local Church leaders should know how and whom to contact during an emergency and what information to give and receive.  They should ensure the availability of reliable methods of backup communication.

How these matters are handled may vary in different countries and locations within countries, and are usually determined by local welfare committees.  Contact your Church leader or regional welfare specialist if you are uncertain about these matters.

Local Church leaders may call emergency communications welfare specialists to serve in stakes, wards, and branches to assist as needed.

Frequently asked questions:

Q: Why does our stake (ward) need emergency communications?

A: During a disaster local Church leaders have the responsibility to account for the welfare of their members and to report this information to their file leaders.  Local leaders also direct emergency response activities aimed at helping members recover while preventing further damage and suffering.  When disasters occur there is an immediate demand for telephone and cell phone service that generally overloads and shuts down these services.  Also, the disaster may cause physical damage to the telephone and cell phone infrastructure that will prolong service outage.  This failure of normal means of communication (wired and cellular telephones) is defined as a communications emergency.  Emergency planning should include a means of reliable backup communication.

Q: Will cell phones work in emergencies?

 

Tactical Delta Loop - HF - Directional Antenna (Intermediate to Advanced Operators, General, Amateur Extra)

By the time you're building this you probably (should) have some of your basic skills down, and be a General or Amateur Extra licensee, have an HF rig and be about ready to run in the field.   

I give it five stars for cost, simplicity, ease of use, portability, robustness in wind, time to set up and take down, as well as capability - it transmits and receives very well.  I love that you don't have to lay out radials, doesn't need supports to keep it vertical, don't have to put a counterpoise on it, and it's also directional.

I can have this up in about 10 minutes - compared to 20-45 with some other antennas, which, when it's freezing cold or in an emergency is a significant consideration.

This cost me about $110 to build mostly using things I had already laying around - if you don't have any of the supplies it could run around $150 though the commercial/store-bought models start around $500, but this is significantly more robust and can endure a lot more than the pre-made antennas, in my experience.  For ERC you're going to want simplicity, durability and robustness.

 This is just an example of how I built one of these, there may be better ways, cheaper ways, faster ways, easier ways but this works really well for ERC activities and I'm very pleased with it.   I have and have used a DX Commander, a Wolf River Coil telescoping vertical antenna, and also an end-fed random wire antenna run up into the trees, a half-sloper end-fed wire antenna, and this is my pick hands-down for field HF operations.

Here's one of our regional ham's video of his set up in his front yard.

Supplies for building:

1 ~3' rebar stake or copper rod to drive into the ground to hold up your antenna (Home Depot/Lowes). + Hammer/camp hatchet for driving it. 

 This is said-stake in the ground, you can see I painted my gear a high visibility pink so I don't lose it in the grass or in the field, and so people are less likely to trip over it, but also, it's obviously mine so nobody in the field can confuse my equipment with theirs.

2 - 20' fishing poles with guides (eyelets) meant for deep sea fishing or surf fishing (available on E-Bay for about $30 ea).  If you get longer ones you're back into susceptibility to wind and the tips becoming more fragile like the telescoping whips mentioned earlier, and regular fishing poles aren't robust enough - flexible and durable, though flexible isn't the goal in this case - but unlike the vertical antennas, these are going up at an angle and will be connected to each other by the wire loop. 

1 - 5:1 balun/unun - 500-2500Ω - available on ebay for about $30 if you build it yourself which just requires a bit of soldering. 

Conduit pipe - so that your fishing pole handles can fit over it securely - mine was 1" diameter and the total length was about 30", so if you got a 3' section of conduit and did some cutting you should be fine.  Mine also had a 1"x6" strip of steel for hanging the balun/unun off of.  A friend of mine did the welding for me.

2 -  2"x3/8 sheet metal screws with lock washers, flat washers, and wing nuts.

75' (minimum) antenna wire - here's some from DX Engineering that's high visibility - which would be nice - and here's another larger spool from DX engineering - you're going to be using the wire if you're doing this at all for any length of time, so it won't be a waste and it's always a great idea to have more.

 2 alligator clips for your wire - they will need to fit through the eyelets on your fishing pole (which is now an antenna mast), and you'll solder them to the end of your antenna wire.

2 3/8" 1/2" diameter wood screw eyelets - you're going to break off the last section of your pole off the very tip (it's too fragile at that point to be a part of the antenna) and then clip the last guide (eyelet) off and insert the wood-screw eyelet in - make sure your alligator clips will fit through the eyelet before you assemble everything. 

Thread your wire though the guides and set your poles into the "Y" connecting them, connect the wires to the balun.  I broke off the guides on my fishing pole, I don't remember a specific reason why I did it, you can try it with or without the guides.

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You'll also want coax with PL259's on the ends of them, you can buy 25' sections with barrel connectors if you need it - here's a bit of info on purchasing coax.  I had to get a BNC/SO239 connector for my Xiegu X6110. 

Here's my coax connected to the X6100.

 This is my balun hanging off the mount with the coax running in, an alligator clip on top and one running in the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what it looks like from a side-angle , ultimately you'll have a giant, inverted-triangle of an antenna.  

 

 This is a loop and therefore a directional antenna so typically, you'll have to line it up so that it's "in line" with the direction you want to transmit, and you may notice that you receive better depending on which way it's oriented. Here's a diagram from around the web on the radiation pattern for a loop antenna.

I've played around with the connections of my alligator clips and run both a Rig Expert Smith Chart and SWR Chart, as well as my Xiegu X6100's SWR chart on this, and have been reading about 1.1-1.2SWR on 3.810MHz. Most radios you would hook to this in the field are going to have an internal tuner, so you should have no issues with resonance and a low SWR.  As with everything in amateur radio, play around, and have fun. 

 

Why Ham? Why not just use....?

Realizing amateur radio is preparation for when everything* goes down (cell phones, internet, landlines, etc.) you want to be the best equipped you can be.  Amateur radio operators (aka "ham radio") typically are preparing for a prolonged and sustained communications and power outage lasting longer than 10 days; often prepping to be able to operate "indefinitely" with a complete and total loss of infrastructure.

Two GMRS Radios (too small, weak)

In such a scenario/crisis, we want to prepare by choosing something that is going to work across the worst situations we could have the most reliably for the longest term. 

Granted, the "likelihood" of us having a catastrophic failure/crisis is pretty slim - but the Lord did not counsel us to prepare based on man's statistical probability estimates.  Neither did he counsel or give authority to leaders or members to ignore his counsel based on their feelings and assumptions.  The Lord gave the Parable of the Ten Virgins which noted five were foolish (50%) because they weren't prepared and they were not allowed into the wedding feast.  Also, the Lord has warned us that these things will come "in such an hour as ye think not." 

Briefly, in amateur radio there are a few different wavelengths that are commonly used.  Radio bands are typically measured in "wavelengths" - or the height of the waves using the metric system (centimeters or meters) - and cycles per second called "hertz" (one cycle per second is 1 hertz, 100 cycles per second is 100 hertz, 1 million per second is 1 megahertz) and different wavelengths do different things in different areas. 

Some of the "bands" are the 2-meter, 70 centimeter, 10 meter, 20 meter, 80 meter bands (meaning the wavelengths are 2 meters from top to bottom, 70 centimeters, 10 meters, 20 meters, and 80 meters).

The other variable is power measured in watts.  

Amateur radios are designed to send a radio signal at a particular power level. 

"UHF" - Ultra High Frequency:

70centimeters - 400 megahertz (400 million cycles per second) - is typically short-range, works well in urban areas. 

"VHF" - Very High Frequency:

2meters - 144 megahertz (144 million cycles per second) - goes farther, works much better over rural areas. 

"HF" - High Frequency 

10 meters to 100 meters  - 1.8 megahertz to 28 megahertz (1.8-28 million cycles per second) - bounces off the ionosphere and the land to circle the globe.

And then different frequencies are restricted / operate best at different power levels. 

HF takes quite a bit of training, equipment and practice to become proficient at, and we need to get people operational quickly, so getting hundreds or thousands of families equipped and trained on HF is not practical or reliable. We do need more operators who can do this, it will be being used, but for regular use within the stake it will not be what we are going to be needing. 

Our stake covers ~1,200 square miles, and it is approximately 70 miles across at its widest point, and its longest ward is approximately 50 miles at its widest point.  We only have one ward that is approximately 1 mile square where the handy-talkies might work.  There is also the Singles Ward which covers the entire Stake - so if there's a ward that needs some range in emergency communications, it would be the singles ward. We also have the issues of terrain with a lot of hills to the north of us.  

VHF (or the 2 meter band) which is used by amateur (ham) radios has the best propagation over the distances and terrain that we have in our stake at the power levels most members would have available to them.  It is also the most commonly used by police, fire, sheriffs, and is one of the most widely used bands for emergency rescue services and ham radio services (who are going to be the ones skilled and trained and listening).

These handy-talkie radios will not cover those distances and that terrain reliably and do not have the power to make them do so.  While we might wish to relay using others' radios to make GMRS or FRS work (and relaying is a needed skill) but we don't want to create a network or patchwork where we have to rely on relaying to get a message out.  At this point we do not have enough people to rely on relaying to get a message to the entire stake.  Also, if a disaster causes a loss of life or loss of equipment through parts of the region (e.g., flooding), then the relaying won't work, and the radios won't be useful. Additionally, relaying takes time, the shorter range your equipment and the more you rely on relaying, the more potential breaks you have in your plan, the less likely it is to work. 

Now, there are no guarantees even using ham radio on VHF. There are areas of the stake where we could not reach except by relaying such as in the hills to the north headed towards Durkee and Dixie and running up through Hell's Canyon, or by hitting a repeater (a radio that takes a signal and rebroadcasts it with more power or more coverage).  But with VHF we would have to do it less, increasing the chances of success in a disaster which is what we are preparing for. 

CB or Citizen's Band (Trucker radios) is out because nobody listens to it, it isn't used widespread enough to be a real, viable, reliable option. 

And so cell-phones and satellite phones and all such other types of non-traditional communication have their limits and costs.

With a single amateur radio on VHF we can literally cover thousands of square miles and hit thousands of people...if they are prepared, practiced, and have the skills. Preparation takes time and practice.  Also, ham radio in general (HF) is what is used by the Church for it's disaster preparedness, it's what the Bishop's Storehouses are equipped with as well as Church Headquarters. 

Going back through history, when the early saints were threatened with military action in the Utah Territory, the Lord's apostles told the military leaders that the saints were prepared to leave their homes and live in the  forests, wilderness and woods for over three years because they were self-sufficient and had been preparing according to prophetic counsel.  Their preparation was a deterrent to that conflict and it saved many lives.  

Amateur radio does require some training and licensure and practice, which is what we want to be doing before we have to learn the hard way, or cannot. 

Radios require some training and practice to use across all sorts of conditions.  Being licensed (an FCC Requirement on the "ham bands") gives you a license to practice. Otherwise it would be like getting an airplane as part of emergency preparation, but never getting licensed or learning to fly, but expecting to use it in an emergency.

And just as the early saints were counseled to prepare, so are we, and just as they looked forward with faith, so should we. These messages are messages of hope and faith: 

9 ... I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn to you for your salvation.

10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise (D&C 82). 

Basic Ham Gear For Getting into HF

 Amateur radio is just that - amateur.  We make our own gear, make our own equipment, troubleshoot our own problems, and work with whatever we've got. 

As you press forward, over time you're going to acquire some gear and you're going to need some more.  I'm a fan of Amazon Prime for some things, and also Ebay.  I use Amazon for where price isn't an issue, and I need something quickly and want it to work for me reliably, I use Ebay where something might be very hard to find, discontinued, or extremely expensive where buying used isn't going to be an issue. 

It is the Lord's counsel that we should always be thrifty and practice provident living, so you may get some equipment and later upgrade to a better version - the goal is going to be to get what you need so you can do what you need to.  Personally I dislike borrowing any tools only because I never know if I'll finish a project anytime soon, so I slowly acquire gear over time.  However, if you have an issue such as weather, or something gets blown down by a storm, or your kids or neighbors trip over a line, you'll want the tools to repair your own gear on hand - mine were slowly acquired over several years.

So, aside from individual projects with tools needed for the prjects, here's just a list of equipment you may acquire over time: 

Multimeter - this is used for testing electrical circuits, continuity, battery charges, resistance - at some point you will be using this and need one.  These can be bought on Amazon (or Ebay) and start as low as $8.00.  You'll be using this if you do anything beyond buying a handheld from the factory.

 Wire stripping, cutting, and crimping tool - these become a real heaven-sent work-saver when you're working on any project where you're stripping, cutting or crimping.  You just put the wire across the top, and squeeze and voila - you have a perfectly stripped wire at exactly the right length with one swift move, no more twisting or trying to pull the insulation or outer sheath off or even accidentally cutting through the wire (this isn't what you use for coax).  These start around $22, not a high priority item, but when you start working on multiple projects, I don't want to be without mine.  You'll obviously want regular wire-cutters as well.

Coax crimping tool (big blue thing) - you're going to be using this to put connectors onto your coax, like a PL-259.   You'll have to see Youtube or get a ham to show you how to use it.

Coax cutting tool (small grey thing) - you'll be using this to strip your coax outer layer before you put your connectors on it.  You'll probably need someone to show you how to use it or you can go on Youtube and look up how to use it.

 These are often sold together in kits, sometimes with connectors like shown here, the kits run about $22 on Amazon.  The small blue pliers I use for trimming up cuts.

 EMF detector - these are useful when trying to pin down any interference within your home or on your vehicle or stray emissions, or even make sure your RFI exposure / emissions within your equipment is within limits.  These can run about $30 on Amazon.

Soldering iron - perhaps the most needed item, you'll need that and some solder.  Ultimately you'll be having to hold multiple pieces together, so if you can get a kit that comes with arms that will hold things together, definitely go for it.  Mine allows me to control the temperature of the iron as well.  Simple kits start around $10, and ones with a few accessories like this one shown can run around $40.

Heat gun - for a lot of your connectors, making them waterproof, you'll want shrink-wrap tubing or your connectors will come with it for outdoor applications.  These start around $16 on Amazon 

Network analyzer - these can get expensive, but you can't get into HF without them, but this is the entry-level-just-as-good basic version, the Nano VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) - you'll learn about these between your General and Amateur Extra Licenses, this one comes with an SMA connector, you'll need to purchase an SMA to SO239 connector (also available on Amazon or Ebay).  Make sure it tests the bands you're going to be woking with - 80M is going to be in the 3MHz range and if you use it up to the UHF spectrum, you'll need one that goes up to the 500's MHz - these start around $40 on Amazon and ebay, keep an eye out for deals.  This does not have a fancy protective case, it is a circuit-board, screen, and adapter ports - it was specifically designed to be inexpensive for hams and other hobbyists to get into because the item after this is spendy.

"Rigexpert" antenna analyzer - if you'll be doing this at all for any extended period of time, this is much nicer to have than the Nano VNA.  However, again, check the bands it works on, a lot of these only work on HF or a limited section of the bands.  I watched for months on eBay until I found one that was for $200.00 used that does all HF, VHF and UHF bands, they run $900+.  Again, you'll learn about these in your General and Amateur Extra but definitely worthwhile to have, a very good investment. 

BUTANE TORCH - if the electricity goes out, soldering with electricity isn't going to be much of an option.  These can be used for soldering in the field with a bit of practice and skill.  A pair of them can run about $15 on Amazon. 

Other items: 

Folding tables - if you're out making your own command station, or doing a field day, a folding table can be really nice that you can pack up and take with you, along with some folding chairs.  If you can get a canopy, I recommend it.  

Coax connectors - PL259, SO239, BNC, SMA - whatever you're using, pay attention, they are not all the same, some are meant for crimping, others are made for soldering only, some are made for thicker cables, others for thinner cables - if you're working on HF at all, having a bag of these is pretty nice, can be bought on Amazon.

Electrical connectors - multi-packs - available from Home Depot, for working on your car electrical system, making pig-tails, you name it. Make sure it's the right gauges and sizes. 

Electrical tape - you'll be using this, multi-colored tape is nice because it makes it easier to identify components in the dark or rain.

Spare fuses - you'll want spare fuses that go with any of your gear and match them and keep them with your gear. 

Zip ties - small and large - you'll be using these. 

Silicone tape - self-sealing, also can be used for weatherproofing connections between cables or out in the elements. 

Dielectric grease - can be used to improve connections where there's been moisture or light corrosion, if you have a rough connection, do not get it on the center of your coax, some hams report having had a ton of noise from their system with this, fine on the outer connections but keep it from the center. 

At any rate, these are just some of the tools you'll run into needing or using over time, keep an eye out, say a prayer, and the Lord will bless you.  

Getting Families Started in Emergency Response Communications (ERC)

Before you begin jumping into ham radio and emergency communications, we encourage you to ponder and pray about the counsel we have been given to prepare and to be prepared for the last days and for emergency preparation.  The Lord can help anyone understand the complexities of subjects they haven't tried before - even electricity and radio communications.  You are encouraged to seek the Lord's help in learning something new and to practice relying on Him as you do so and He will help you. In a disaster situation where these would be used, we are going to have to learn to adapt and improvise and learn new things that may be hard for us.  It is easier to do that now when we have time, than in the situations themselves.

The Lord has not counseled us to panic (panic is not preparation) or to be afraid (fear is not faith), but we have been counseled to have optimism and faith in the Lord's promises.  We would counsel members to pray about how to best prepare their families in all areas - spiritual and temporal - and pray for wisdom, guidance, inspiration and for ways to be opened up for you to be able to prepare.  We would also encourage members to remember that the Lord does not give a commandment except He provides a way for us to accomplish what He has directed us to do (1 Nephi 3:7), including learning something that may seem very challenging such as amateur radio. You are encouraged to know that this is important, to gain a testimony of it's importance, and for help in both preparing and knowing how to prepare.

We have been encouraged as individuals, and families well as stakes and wards to be prepared for emergencies and disasters, both at the family as well as the church level. Even if a family is prepared with supplies and food, without communications they are cut off from their most important resources: each other and the church.  (All of you who are hunters should be jumping in on this, also).

Baofeng UV5R radio

Internet, telephone, cell phones, and satellite communications can all be cut off or disrupted. Ham radio is the most widely used, most versatile, and most capable form of emergency communications.  Our stake goal is for every single family to obtain at least one ham radio that they know how to use so they can tune in and at least listen & receive emergency communications from the government and/or the church in a disaster or emergency when other communications are lost.

15" antenna

The saints have been admonished to be frugal in their preparations.  The goal is to get as many members involved as we possibly can for the lowest cost possible. Above all, you are encouraged to pray  for guidance and help in your preparation.

The recommended radio is the Baofeng UV5R handheld radio with a 15" antenna (~9-15 miles transmission range) or an Abbree "tactical" 42-48" antenna (20-30miles transmission range). The radio runs around $22, the antennas run around $10.

Our best range on the 15" antenna was 71 miles from Ontario to Silver City through the War Eagle repeater.  The 15" antenna is a bit easier to maneuver and use carrying around, the longer "tactical" antenna can get a lot longer range, but is a bit more difficult to use (keep it vertical while extended so it doesn't bend or damage the connector to the radio). 

Hold it vertically so you don't stress/break it.

While there are "better" (and more expensive) hand-held radios and antennas, this radio will be sufficient for localized ward and stake communications in an emergency.  While it would be really neat to have a $200 handheld radio with a ton of whistles and bells, or a $500 radio with an LCD touch-screen display,  for $200 you can outfit 9 people with UV5R handhelds, or even put in a inexpensive mobile radio in your vehicle. Most of those whistles and bells will not be used by us in an emergency. Also, most of the "higher end" handhelds actually have more limitations than the UV5R when you consider all the frequencies/bands they can be made to operate on.

There are different models of the UV5R that are advertised as being "high power" with "long-range" having 8 watts or so of power out of the box.  In the ham radio world, 8 watts is not a lot of power, especially when we consider that some ham radio operators use over a thousand watts in some systems. 

Power is only part of the equation, if you have a hill in your way or there is radio interference, spending more money for three more watts is not going to do you a whole lot of good. You can also have the most amazing radio in the world but if you have a lousy antenna it's not going to do you any good.
 

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