Ham Radios: The Best Emergency Communications System

Have you ever thought of how you would get in touch with your loved ones after a disaster?

Too many people rely on their cell phones and the internet and take it for granted that these systems will be there for them.

This is exactly what happened in the aftermath of disasters like hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Communications systems were wiped out, and it was ham radio operators who came to the rescue.

Why Can’t You Rely on Your Phone?

In major disasters, cell phones have proven to be very unreliable as forms of communication. First off, there is the issue of the cell phone towers themselves. Earthquakes, high winds, and flooding can destroy cell phone towers so users lose their signals.

Even if the cell phone towers are still functional, they can get overwhelmed by all of the calls going through in the aftermath of a disaster.

This is what happened on 9/11 when New Yorkers grabbed their phones to call loved ones and see if they were safe. The cell phone system was so overloaded that calls didn’t go through.

This is known as a mass call event. Landlines were also affected and Verizon’s entire downtown wire phone service was interrupted for weeks.

The same thing happened during the Boston Marathon bombing.

A satellite phone is a better option for emergency communications, and I used them several years back while in Uganda… But satellite phones are really pricey to buy and use.

And, in a disaster like a solar flare, the satellites would be destroyed by EMP.

What About the Internet?

The internet is also highly unreliable as a form of emergency communication.

When the power goes down, so does the internet.

Depending on the scale of the disaster, you might be able to get an internet signal and send an email (assuming that your computer or phone battery hasn’t died).

Since the internet isn’t subject to the same overloads as cell phones, it should still work – but it still isn’t the most reliable form of communication for disasters.

Why Ham Radio?

Amateur Radio Service, also called Ham radio, is a 2-way radio system that allows you to send messages to other ham operators.

There are other types of 2-way radio systems but ham is considered the best for emergency communications because it has the longest range and many channels.

The only real downside to ham radios is that you must be licensed in order to operate one (note that it is the operator and not the equipment which gets licensed).

It isn’t as hard as you’d think to set up a ham radio system, though there is a long learning curve so you will constantly be learning new things along the way.

To understand how important ham radios are for emergency communications, consider these examples of ham radios in action.

Ham Radios During September 11^th

Within minutes of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, volunteer amateur radio operators responded. They helped agencies like the Red Cross and New York City OEM stay in touch with each other. Many amateurs also shadowed officials to help spread news through the ham channels.   They let people know where volunteers were needed.

Hurricane Katrina

During Katrina, 911 was overloaded with calls, which meant that a lot of people were unable to get through and left stranded and in need of help. There was one case where 15 people were stranded on the roof of a house. They couldn’t get through to 911, but they did manage to call a relative in Baton Rouge. That relative called the Red Cross, who used ham radio to dispatch rescue workers to the location and save the people from the floodwater. There are numerous other examples like this where ham radio comes to the rescue.

Nepal Earthquake

The earthquake in Nepal last April killed and injured more than 31, 000 people. Even more people were made homeless. Needless to say, Nepal’s grid was also destroyed. With frequent power outages and internet connections being flaky, it was ham radio operators who filled the communications gap. These heroic volunteers worked around the clock to pass messages between relatives.

Ham Radio for Disaster Information

Even if you aren’t in need of rescuing, and you are able to communicate with your family members, ham radio can still be useful in a disaster situation because of the information you can get through it.

By listening to communications on ham channels, you can get first-hand information about what is happening at ground zero of the disaster. This can help you decide whether to evacuate, the best escape route, and much more.

Many ham radio frequencies are specifically for emergencies. You won’t be able to call out on these, but you can get valuable disaster information. Here are some of the most important ones:

• 90: National Guard
• 46: Inter-department emergency communications between local and state police
• 42: Red Cross
• 225: Disaster relief operations by FEMA
• 28: Inter-department emergency communications between local fire departments
• 160: Inter-department emergency communications between local and state agencies for search and rescue
• 475: Inter-department emergency communications between local and state police departments
• 4875: National Guard
• 5125: Armed forces for national disasters
• 55: Civilians agencies of the government during disasters
• 674: Emergency communications and traveler assistance on the GMRS

NOAA Weather Broadcasts and Bulletins:

• 40
• 425
• 45
• 475
• 50
• 525
• 55
• 275

Should You Ham without a License?

A lot of preppers and survivalists don’t like the idea of having to get a license to use ham radio.

There is always the possibility of running a ham radio illegally and hoping that you don’t get caught. And, in a true SHTF situation, the FCC isn’t going to exist anymore to enforce licensing laws!

Here are some of the reasons why you might consider getting your ham license:

• There is a long learning curve with the ham radio. You can easily operate one to send emergency signals. But, if you want to do more with ham radio, you will need to practice – which means having to get a license.
• In a disaster situation such as 9/11, you could help your fellow citizens by being a volunteer ham operator. You can’t do this without a license.
• Getting arrested isn’t very conducive to privacy. I’d rather be on a list of ham radio operators than a list of criminals.

Do you have a ham radio license? Let us know your experiences in the comments below or join the discussion on Facebook.