Two-Way Radios for Emergencies: FRS, GMRS, CB and Ham Radio Explained for City Households

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Quick answer: for most city households, Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkies are the simplest option because they need no license; the FCC limits them to 2 watts on most channels and fixed antennas. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios allow more power and repeaters but require an FCC license, which costs $35, needs no exam and covers immediate family for 10 years. CB radio needs no license. Amateur (ham) radio offers the most capability but requires passing an exam. Range in a city is limited by buildings, so set realistic expectations, practice before an emergency and treat radios as a backup to, not a replacement for, phones and alerts.

When a hurricane, ice storm or major outage hits, cell networks can become overloaded or lose power. Texts may still get through when calls fail, but sometimes nothing works for a while. Two-way radios do not depend on cell towers or internet service, which makes them a useful backup for staying in touch with family members nearby or neighbors in your building.

This guide explains the main radio services available to the public, the FCC licensing rules and how to use radios well in a city. It is part of our severe weather preparedness guide.

Sources: Federal Communications Commission, Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Citizens Band (CB) and Amateur Radio Service information pages and 47 CFR Part 95 and Part 97; FCC application fee schedule; American Radio Relay League (ARRL), licensing and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) information; National Weather Service, SKYWARN storm spotter program; Ready.gov, “Make a Plan” and communications guidance. Checked October 2026.

Why a Radio Backup Helps

Ready.gov encourages every household to have a communication plan that does not rely on a single method. Phones are still your first tool: text messages often get through when voice calls cannot, and emergency alerts arrive on phones automatically. Our guide to making a family emergency communication plan covers contacts, meeting places and out-of-area check-ins.

Radios fill specific gaps:

Staying in touch nearby when cell service is down, such as between family members in different parts of a building or neighborhood.
Coordinating with neighbors during a building-wide outage.
Listening for information from local emergency or volunteer networks, depending on the radio service.

The Four Radio Services

The FCC regulates several personal radio services. Each has different rules.

Service	License needed?	Typical use	Notes
FRS (Family Radio Service)	No	Short-range family and group communication	Low power, fixed antenna
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)	Yes, no exam, $35 for 10 years	Family communication with more power and repeater access	License covers immediate family members
CB (Citizens Band)	No	Vehicles, travel, local chatter	Channel 9 traditionally used for emergencies
Amateur (ham) radio	Yes, exam required	Local to worldwide communication, emergency networks	Most capability and learning curve

FRS: The Simplest Option

FRS radios are the inexpensive walkie-talkies sold in pairs at many stores. According to the FCC:

No license is required.
FRS has 22 channels.
Power is limited to 2 watts on most channels and 0.5 watts on channels 8 through 14.
Antennas must be permanently attached, so you cannot add a larger external antenna.

FRS is a good fit for keeping family members in touch within a building or a few blocks, or for coordinating during an evacuation. Packaging often advertises long ranges measured in ideal open conditions. In a city, concrete, steel and distance between floors reduce range considerably, so test your radios at home.

GMRS: More Power, With a License

GMRS shares many frequencies with FRS but allows more power, detachable and external antennas on some radios and the use of repeaters, which can greatly extend range.

The FCC requires a license to operate GMRS. Key points:

No exam is required.
The license fee is $35 and the license is valid for 10 years.
Applicants must be at least 18 and cannot be a representative of a foreign government.
A license covers the licensee’s immediate family members, so one license can cover a household.
You apply online through the FCC’s License Manager system, and you will receive a call sign to use on the air.

Many GMRS communities run repeaters in metro areas. These are often privately owned, and many require permission to use. A local repeater can connect handheld radios across much of a city when the repeater has power.

CB Radio

Citizens Band radio has been around for decades and is still common in vehicles. The FCC does not require a license for CB. It has 40 channels, and channel 9 has traditionally been reserved for emergency communications and traveler assistance.

CB is less common in households today, and radios and antennas can be bulky. For drivers who commute long distances or travel often in winter, a CB in the car can be a reasonable backup.

Amateur (Ham) Radio

Amateur radio offers the widest range of options, from handheld radios that reach local repeaters to stations that communicate across the country or around the world. It also has the strongest tradition of emergency service.

Getting licensed

The FCC issues amateur licenses after you pass an exam given by volunteer examiners. There are three license classes: Technician, General and Amateur Extra. Most people start with the Technician exam, which covers basic rules, safety and operating practices. A Morse code test is no longer required.

The FCC charges a $35 application fee for new licenses, and licenses are valid for 10 years. Volunteer examiner teams may charge a small exam fee of their own. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) lists study materials, classes and exam sessions, many of which are offered online or locally.

Emergency networks

Licensed hams can volunteer with groups such as the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which supports public safety agencies and organizations during disasters. The National Weather Service’s SKYWARN program trains volunteer storm spotters, many of whom report using amateur radio.

What to Expect in a City

Radio range depends on power, antenna height and what stands between radios. Cities present special challenges.

Buildings block and reflect signals. Range between two handhelds at street level can be short, while radios on high floors with a clear view may reach much farther.
Repeaters change everything for GMRS and ham radio, but they need power and may go down in a widespread outage.
Interference is common on popular FRS channels in dense areas. Agree on a channel and a backup, and consider privacy codes, which filter other users but do not make conversations private.
Batteries are the weak point. Keep spare batteries or a way to recharge.

Test before you need it. Try your radios between your apartment and the lobby, the street, a family member’s workplace and your meeting spot.

Make Radios Part of Your Plan

A radio does not help if no one knows how to use it. Build a simple plan:

Choose a service that fits your needs. For most families, FRS or GMRS.
Pick a primary and backup channel, and write them on a card in each radio’s pouch.
Set check-in times, such as at the top of each hour, to save batteries.
Label radios with names and keep them charged.
Store them with your go-bags or near the door. Our urban go-bag checklist lists other essentials.
Practice a few times a year so everyone knows the controls.
Coordinate with neighbors who have radios. A building with a few radios on an agreed channel can share updates during an outage. Our guide to a building emergency plan with neighbors explains how to organize.

Do not forget to listen

A two-way radio is not a weather radio. For official warnings, keep a NOAA Weather Radio or a battery or hand-crank radio that receives local broadcasts. Our NOAA weather radio and hand-crank radio guide compares options.

Choosing a Radio: Features That Matter

Radio packaging is full of claims. These features matter most for emergency use in a city:

Weather alert channels. Many FRS and GMRS radios can receive NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, and some sound an alert automatically. This is a useful extra, though it is no substitute for a dedicated weather radio at home.
Battery flexibility. Radios that run on both a rechargeable pack and standard AA batteries are easier to keep going during a long outage.
Water resistance. A radio rated for splashes or rain holds up better during storm cleanup or an evacuation in bad weather.
Simple controls. Everyone in the household, including children and older relatives, should be able to change channels and talk without a manual.
Belt clips and lanyards. Hands-free carrying matters when you are carrying supplies or helping someone.
FCC certification for the service you plan to use. Buy radios clearly marketed and certified as FRS or GMRS, or amateur radios if you are licensed.

Avoid buying more radio than you will practice with. A simple set used regularly beats an advanced radio that stays in its box.

Keeping Radios Powered in a Long Outage

Communication tools are only as good as their power supply. Plan for several days without electricity:

Store spare batteries in the sizes your radios use, and check expiration dates during your twice-yearly kit review.
Keep a charged power bank that can recharge USB-powered radios.
Consider a small solar charger if you have a sunny window or balcony.
Turn radios off between check-ins rather than leaving them on scan all day.
Use the lowest power setting that works, where your radio allows it, to stretch battery life.
Keep radios warm in winter when possible; cold drains batteries faster.

If you also rely on a portable power station, decide in advance how much of its capacity goes to communications versus lights, medical devices and phones.

Radio Etiquette and Rules

FCC rules apply to every service, even unlicensed ones.

Identify yourself with your call sign on GMRS and amateur radio as the rules require.
Keep transmissions short and leave pauses so others can break in with emergencies.
Do not use profanity or interfere with other users.
Give priority to emergency traffic.
Do not transmit on frequencies you are not authorized to use. Some inexpensive imported radios can transmit on many frequencies, but using them outside their authorized service can violate FCC rules.

A Sample Household Radio Card

Writing your plan on a small card that stays with each radio removes guesswork when people are stressed. Laminate it or keep it in a zip-top bag. A useful card includes:

Primary channel and privacy code, plus a backup channel if the first is busy.
Check-in schedule, for example at the top of each hour for five minutes.
Names or nicknames each person will use on the air.
Meeting places, both near home and outside the neighborhood.
Out-of-area contact phone number, for when phones start working again.
A reminder to call 911 by phone for emergencies, since personal radio channels are not monitored by dispatchers.

Update the card whenever your plan changes, and review it during practice sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license for walkie-talkies?

Not for FRS radios, which have no license requirement. GMRS radios require an FCC license, and amateur radio requires an exam.

How much does a GMRS license cost?

The FCC fee is $35, the license is valid for 10 years and it covers immediate family members. No exam is required.

How far do walkie-talkies reach in a city?

Much less than packaging claims. Buildings block signals, so range between handhelds can be short. Test your radios in your own area.

Do I need to learn Morse code for ham radio?

No. The FCC dropped the Morse code requirement. You must pass a written exam, usually starting with the Technician license.

Which radio should I buy for emergencies?

For most families, a set of FRS or GMRS radios plus a NOAA Weather Radio covers local contact and official warnings.

The Bottom Line

Two-way radios give your household a way to talk when phones fail. FRS is the easiest start with no license, GMRS adds range for a $35 family license and ham radio opens the door to emergency networks after an exam. Expect shorter range in a city, keep batteries charged, agree on channels and check-in times and pair your radios with a weather radio for official alerts.