I think it was the Baofeng UV-5r from this episode:
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/1322-harris-on-radio-preps

Jack,
First time FB poster so if I screw up any protocol I do apologize. Another great interview. So many people have no clue what real aftermath is like and having someone like Mike share his piece of it hopefully gives folks a lot more to think about. Much of it would be beyond the imagination of regular, decent folk.

He did back away from one of the big three (in my experience) and for good reason. One should be very aware of the continued affect of nature, ready to help themselves and what other they can, but they also need to really think about what people become when “all is lost”.

When Katrina hit I was in the LA Army Guard and we were there before the storm trying to bus folks out (if they would go….we never forced anyone to leave) and remained there for 6 months afterwards. We did everything from security to clearing houses to cleanup and aid distribution. I also spent much of my “off” time just talking to people and doing whatever I could above the standard for kids I came across. That was the hardest part. Something like Katrina and now Harvey breaks a person to one of three things in my opinion.

A sheep: Not in the typical sense but rather in the way that one has lost pretty much everything save (hopefully) their loved ones. They tend to not really help but also not hinder. They will shuffle from shelter to shelter following the instructions of authority. Their main focus seems to be collecting themselves, processing what is going on, and letting others provide the majority of their needs.

The honey badger: This group tends not to take any s*** as is said about the animal. They have been beaten just as much as the sheep, but they lace up their boots, grab whatever tools they can find, and start to help. They are typically more prepared but sometimes they need charity as well. I’d say, as did Mike, that the majority of your listeners fall in to this category which says a lot about you as a mentor.

The wolf/snake/pathetic pos that…….you get the idea:
These gems of society view catastrophe as an open invitation to do as they please. Some are content to float giant stolen tvs down a flooded street in an also stolen boat, but some take their sickness to other levels. Lots of times drugs and females are involved. Lots of elderly folk have some kind of prescriptions and I have seen too many times the aftermath of what the wolves do to them before they steal whatever drugs they can. I will not elaborate on the female (of all ages) part as I am sure it is understood. This is society at its worst.

I mention this only to suppliment the accounts already given and with the hope that should anyone encounter a situation like what is happening now, they might be able to view it with a little more clarity and caution. You know, that whole preparedness thing.

I also think that Mike’s idea of having a group of folks on standby to house volunteers is an excellent one. I would happily open my south Louisiana home to workers should that need arise. Sorry this is so long. Enjoy the hell out of your vacation Brother. Y’all have certainly earned it.

Those church groups which muck out homes do an awesome job. I love how the various groups work together. I helped one day with a north Louisiana group last year. The work has to be done quickly and you can’t hire enough people to save the homes in time. I picked up a few friends and drove down.

The group organizing the muck out was one of the baptist ministries which asked for help from other churches. They had a system in place, safety videos to watch. Meet at a local church, eat a breakfast if you haven’t, pack your own sack lunch from their supplies, come back, shower off and put one clean clothes before heading home. Maps with homes marked which needed help, groups organized. (I guess it would be different if showers not available. There were retired people who made a mission out of mucking out houses. They go from disaster to disaster, often with little time at their own homes. This wasn’t from a tornado nor hurricane, just rain, tons of rain, in an area which usually handles a great deal of rain.

I saw a guy in his 70’s swing a sledge hammer all day, breaking up tile out of bathrooms, etc. He never stopped, maybe a 5 minute lunch. His group said he continues like that every day. The more which gets done the more homes which can be saved. Keep in mind, it is hot, no AC, smelly.

The home we worked on next to a bayou was on higher ground, she had never been flooded before. In cities all the moldy sheet rock, cabinets etc are thrown to the curb. Rural areas you had needed to have a dumpster. This lady, as the water started to rise and she expected it to reach her house, got on the phone and reserved dumpsters, and got on the list for help. We filled up at least 2 semi sized dumpsters. She was so very very thankful. She had a dry room above her garage which several of her neighbors slept in for a couple days before anyone was able to get into the area by road.

I was amazed at the support which came out. How various government entities from neighboring areas helped each other out. We had the red cross and a couple other groups come by, bringing red beans and rice, other food, water, seeing which neighbors still needed help.

If anyone has a chance to help with such a effort, do so! It is an eye opener.