Resource library

Matching resources

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  FEMA Flood Map Service Center (opens in a new tab)

  FEMA

  Look up whether your address sits in a mapped flood zone. Worth ten minutes even if you are certain you are not, because flood insurance and mortgage requirements both key off this map.

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  InciWeb incident information (opens in a new tab)

  NWCG

  Per-incident wildfire updates, perimeter maps and evacuation notices, straight from the incident management teams. Slower than social media and far more accurate.

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  AirNow (opens in a new tab)

  EPA

  Official air quality index with wildfire smoke overlays. Pair it with a plan for indoor air, because during a smoke event the indoor number is the one you can actually change.

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  FCC licence search (opens in a new tab)

  FCC

  Look up any United States callsign or check that your own licence records are current. Also the fastest way to confirm someone is who they say they are on air.

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  USGS water data (opens in a new tab)

  USGS

  Live stream gauges and groundwater levels. Useful for flood watching and for understanding whether the creek you were counting on runs year round.

• Government or standards bodyDataFree

  US Drought Monitor (opens in a new tab)

  NDMC, USDA and NOAA

  Weekly drought classification by county. It drives water restrictions and fire restrictions in most of the West, so it tells you what rules are coming before they arrive.

• Established nonprofitDataFree

  OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  OpenStreetMap Foundation

  The map data behind most offline mapping apps. Free to download by region, and in rural areas it often has trails and tracks that commercial maps leave out.

• Practitioner or communityDataFree

  RepeaterBook (opens in a new tab)

  RepeaterBook

  Directory of amateur and GMRS repeaters by location, with tones and offsets. Print the page for your county and put it in the radio bag, because you will not have internet when you need it.

• Practitioner or communityDataFree tier

  RadioReference (opens in a new tab)

  RadioReference

  Frequency database for public safety, aviation, rail and business bands. The scanner community's reference, and the fastest way to find out what your local agencies actually use.

• Practitioner or communityDataFree tier

  myGMRS (opens in a new tab)

  myGMRS

  GMRS repeater directory with access requests, plus an active forum. Many GMRS repeaters need permission before use, and this is where you ask.