I was never very interested in emergency communications. Perhaps it’s because I live in Michigan, which according to World Atlas, is the second safest state as far as natural disasters go.
With what has gone on lately in North Carolina I’m re-thinking my position. I still don’t think that every ham has to go whole hog (pun intened) on emergency communications, but we should have the ability to communicate without grid power and some knowledge of emergency communications techniques and protocols.
This may or may not include amateur radio. Tom, K4SWL, has some interesting thoughts on this. He was right in the middle of the Hurricane Helene situation and speaks from experience. See his blog to read more about his experience and his thoughts on going forward. They’ve decided to go with GMRS where he lives.
Here are some other reports on how radio amateurs responded to the hurricane in North Carolina:
- Forget cell phones — amateur radio shines in the wake of Helene
- When cell towers and internet fail, ham radio operators can still talk. How to get involved
- Helene trapped Asheville broadcasters in their station. They’ve stayed on air ever since
Personally, I have the ability to put a low-power transceiver on the air, and I can power this setup with solar panel. I did this for a 24-hour period several years ago on Field Day during the Covid crisis. I could do a lot more, though. Now’s the time to start the conversation.
Perhaps Amateurs willing to help, could apply to be allowed to operate (only during emergencies, at the request of a served agency) a low power FM information station at the bottom of the FM broadcast band – on a standard frequency – 89.8 MHz or whatever and given the ability of a well prepared ham to have off-grid power and ability to put up the needed antenna after, others have been blown down. He/She could provide current official information announcements from the served agency to the local community. The station could also advertise its location as a hub to receive messages to be passed back to authorities or (as Tom apparently did) provide Internet connectivity for families to email relatives to say they are OK.
A local emergency coordination point that would utilise the skills that a good, well prepared ham, has.
In fact, following Hurricane Katrina a handful of hams did exactly this. It was through an existing low-power community FM station, WQRZ-LP. There’s a Wikipedia page on this scrappy little station, so I won’t belabor the details here, but I do suggest looking it up. Anyway, WQRZ was an absolute godsend for the neighboring area, broadcasting where to get food, water, medical aid, etc.
Unfortunately, the regulations around setting up an LP FM station are labyrinthine, and it is a labyrinth which is nigh unto impossible to navigate in normal times, let alone in the wake of a natural disaster. WQRZ-LP was only able to pull this off because they were pre-existing. Being in a pre-existing partnership with the local county EMA probably helped a lot too.
I’d really like to see some kind of LP emergency broadcasting class such as your propose arranged as well. The chances of getting it through the Congress and the FCC in the current political climate seems remote at best however.
My biggest takeaway from Tom’s excellent posts is that LOCAL help is much preferred over having well-meaning folks come in from far away. The ability of LOCAL folks to get into the area of need on a daily basis, and be able to return home each night, maximizes the help they can give and minimizes the load they might put on an already non-existent infrastructure.
Outside help from any significant distance, requires they bring their own infrastructure (water, food, shelter), and that is completely unhelpful in the affected area, period.
I am of the belief that all amateur radio operators should be exposed to ARES and other services that we can assist during the hurricane’s, tornado’s, earthquakes, etc. To be able to assist, your local community, gives many satisfaction and a feeling of belonging to your community.
My however portion, an ARES member should not be dispatched to a major event without advanced training. Our organization provides that training and slowly acclimates a member to working during these events. One event that every ARES member can begin are public service events, parades, marathons, and such.
My exposure to the ARES organization was working with a team providing SAG/Safety observer for a major bicycle run in the Pacific North-West. After working several public service events I was able to hone my skills and provide Net Control Operator for these events, which I later became a weekly Net Control Operator.
My point is, there is a need for these services during non-emergency situations, with many persons, as I did, begin with these events. My training included being urged to take several FEMA courses in emergency operations on the local level and later the national level.
ARES, in our organization, will not dispatch ARES members to an event outside of our county unless a MOU exist between the two counties, unless we are requested through the state EOC. We do not self-deploy which is the number one rule we have, we have had several persons, over my past 10+ years as an ARES member, dropped from their local ARES team due to this or other minor issues, that could have evolved to a more major issue. A properly trained Amateur Radio Operator can provide the services if they are trained.
JD Shaw, AA4ZY
ARES Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Services of Brevard, Inc.
http://www.n4tdx.com