Why use Amateur Radio in Emergency Communication?

why Amateur Radio is so important during emergencies and disasters, The following should make you understand

Since Amateur Radio equipment does not rely on wires and communications facilities provided by common carriers and phone companies, it is immune to disruptions with the telephone system. Licensed Radio Amateurs use a wide range of radio bands, each one with its particular strength in overcoming the barriers to radio communications. VHF (Very High Frequency -- 144 MHz) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency -- 440 MHz) radios are small and portable with lots of channels to handle a multitude of short-range communications.

HF (High Frequency) can propagate over mountains and valleys and between islands to provide coverage beyond VHF and UHF. Hams can use a wide range of communications modes, whether TV, data, voice or Morse code to exchange messages. The very nature of the Amateur Radio service encourages amateurs to learn how to make contacts, regardless of the challenges that may abound.

Amateur Radio operators are distributed throughout the community and the nation, near schools,offices, buildings and park /open grounds facilities which are often used for evacuation shelters. Many companies have Amateur Radio operators within their employment. They may already be near the scene of the trouble area and can respond. Should for any reason, a section of the town or city be devastated, there are enough equipment and operators ready in other parts of the community to respond.

Regardless of the specific brand and model of radio equipment, amateurs using the same frequency band and mode can communicate with each other. Amateur Radio has more flexibility in the frequencies, range, modes, and kinds of persons with whom one many communicate -- which is the experiential advantage of Amateur Radio.

Hams are already licensed and pre-authorized to communicate internationally into and out of places hard hit during natural disasters.

Amateur Radio operators are allowed to run higher power than other licensed and unlicensed personal radio services such as Citizen Band (CB) and the Family Radio Service (FRS) and have more flexibility with the equipment. Therefore, hams can communicate over greater distances.

Amateur Radio operators use their equipment regularly, which verifies that it’s maintained and operational. Some of the equipment includes hand-held portables or mobiles installed in vehicles. The Amateur Radio operators are familiar with the operation and capabilities of their equipment, and how to overcome obstacles to radio communications that may exist within their neighborhood.