Disasters, Emergency Communication, and Ham Radio
When a major disaster occurs normal lines of communication are disrupted. Volunteer Ham Radio operators handle emergency communications, just as they did after the 9/11 disaster and they are now in South East Asia. Ham Radio is often the only remaining communication channel in a disaster’s aftermath.
The December 27 issue of Time Magazine refers to Ham Radio in derogatory terms in their article on blogs. While their comments on blogs are accurate: blogs until recently were a "curiosity" and "cult phenomenon," which they liken to a "faintly embarrassing hobby" like Ham radio, they are entirely clueless about Ham Radio and its value. Unlike blogs, Ham Radio has long been and still is extremely valuable, having provided successful emergency communications during many major crises since 1913.
After the 9/11 disaster, telephone service was overloaded, cell phones essentially worthless, and police and firefighter frequencies clogged. Ham radio operators handled a lot of the emergency communications. After the call of "No more volunteers please," ham radio operators were still being encouraged to volunteer because of their specialized skills.
The headlines today read "Tsunami Death Toll Tops 114,000." Who do you think is handling the emergency communications? Who is helping to direct and coordinate emergency supplies and help, as well as relaying messages about friends and family members in the region? As in essentially every emergency, volunteer Ham Radio operators have stepped up to fill the void created by damaged and destroyed communication infrastructure.
When a major disaster occurs, the Internet and telephone service are disrupted. Any pre-existing “official” emergency communication channels get overloaded or are destroyed. FedEx and DHL are not going to get a package into a disaster area overnight if at all! Amateur Radio operators, or “Hams” as they are typically called, are in the perfect position to help. Although their antennas may have been destroyed by the emergency, and they may have no commercial power, Hams are great at using their knowledge of technology and radio to improvise. A simple piece of wire strung from a tree makes an antenna that can provide effective communications. Generators or batteries, perhaps even yanked from the family car, can easily provide electricity. Hams are ready to go almost immediately, while reestablishing other forms of communications can take many valuable days and waiting can prolong human suffering and sometimes even increase the death toll.
Disasters can occur anywhere. Fortunately there are Ham Radio operators almost everywhere. Ham Radio operators are a time tested and organized international network of trained radio experts ready to aid in any disaster. The US Congress even officially recognizes Ham Radio’s value “with respect to providing emergency communications” (title 47, Code of Federal Regulations). In comparison, I don’t think Congress has anything to say officially about blogs . . .
The December 27 issue of Time Magazine refers to Ham Radio in derogatory terms in their article on blogs. While their comments on blogs are accurate: blogs until recently were a "curiosity" and "cult phenomenon," which they liken to a "faintly embarrassing hobby" like Ham radio, they are entirely clueless about Ham Radio and its value. Unlike blogs, Ham Radio has long been and still is extremely valuable, having provided successful emergency communications during many major crises since 1913.
After the 9/11 disaster, telephone service was overloaded, cell phones essentially worthless, and police and firefighter frequencies clogged. Ham radio operators handled a lot of the emergency communications. After the call of "No more volunteers please," ham radio operators were still being encouraged to volunteer because of their specialized skills.
The headlines today read "Tsunami Death Toll Tops 114,000." Who do you think is handling the emergency communications? Who is helping to direct and coordinate emergency supplies and help, as well as relaying messages about friends and family members in the region? As in essentially every emergency, volunteer Ham Radio operators have stepped up to fill the void created by damaged and destroyed communication infrastructure.
When a major disaster occurs, the Internet and telephone service are disrupted. Any pre-existing “official” emergency communication channels get overloaded or are destroyed. FedEx and DHL are not going to get a package into a disaster area overnight if at all! Amateur Radio operators, or “Hams” as they are typically called, are in the perfect position to help. Although their antennas may have been destroyed by the emergency, and they may have no commercial power, Hams are great at using their knowledge of technology and radio to improvise. A simple piece of wire strung from a tree makes an antenna that can provide effective communications. Generators or batteries, perhaps even yanked from the family car, can easily provide electricity. Hams are ready to go almost immediately, while reestablishing other forms of communications can take many valuable days and waiting can prolong human suffering and sometimes even increase the death toll.
Disasters can occur anywhere. Fortunately there are Ham Radio operators almost everywhere. Ham Radio operators are a time tested and organized international network of trained radio experts ready to aid in any disaster. The US Congress even officially recognizes Ham Radio’s value “with respect to providing emergency communications” (title 47, Code of Federal Regulations). In comparison, I don’t think Congress has anything to say officially about blogs . . .
posted by Ted Demopoulos at 2:59 PM
Comments on "Disasters, Emergency Communication, and Ham Radio"
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Anonymous said ... (Friday, December 31, 2004 8:59:00 AM) :
post a commentTed, your such a Ham :)
Seriously tho, I lived in Florida for about 21 years and the help from hams during natural disasters (i.e. in Florida, hurricanes) was superb. When the phone lines were out, most every major hurricane, we were able to get messages to loved ones that we were OK (although once our house was *totally* destroyed), and they helped coordinate emergency supplies and services with the authorities. Their public service was commendable, and they weren't all nerds either!! :)
TampaBaldPete