"The President can make you a General, but only Communications can make you a Commander ."
-General Curtis LeMay
"No matter how big and powerful government gets, and the many services it provides, it can never take the place of volunteers."
-Ronald Reagan
Aside from being a great hobby, Amateur Radio is a valuable communication resource in emergency situations. Hams also provide communications during many major community events.
While there are other radio communications services available to the general public (CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS), none are nearly as powerful and versatile as ham radio.
Cell phones, while handy, have many limitations and don't always work in an emergency. Cell phones rely on cell towers and other communications infrastructure. Operational range of a phone is limited to within a few miles of a tower. Damage to any component of the cell network can render your phone useless. Because Amateur Radio is independent of infrastructure such as phone lines, Internet connections, cell towers, microwave links, or fiber optic cables, hams can continue to effectively communicate in an emergency or disaster situation even if all other commercial and government systems fail. With a little preparation, you really will be able to communicate "when all else fails."
If you are completely unfamiliar with Amateur Radio, here is a great introduction.
We encourage you to get your Amateur Radio license and become involved with emergency communications preparedness. Ham radio is a lot of fun and it could save your life in an emergency. Please contact County Emergency Coordinator John Knoebel, KC2RMD with any questions on Emergency Communications topics.
New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps Training is available online. This is not a radio communications course but it provides some guidelines for emergency preparedness, including developing your own Family Emergency Communications Plan. But the plan relies solely on the telephone and Internet for communications. What happens when the phones and Internet don't work? If your family was prepared with radio communications that didn't depend on phone lines, Internet connections, or cell towers, you could still communicate.
Amateur Radio is the most powerful personal radio communications service available, but you can start with simple, inexpensive FRS (Family Radio service), GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service), or even CB. You and your community should develop a Family and Community Emergency Radio Communications Plan utilizing these services.
Amateur Radio is recognized by the Federal Government as a valuable emergency preparedness resource. This is emphasized by the Basis and Purpose statement in FCC Regulations Part 97, which establishes and governs the Amateur Radio Service.
FEMA has specifically included Amateur Radio in the latest National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Functional Guidance. The guidance, which provides a framework for communications resources within incident management, officially includes support from amateur radio operators as a component.
In May 2023, The ARRL announced an updated Memorandum of Agreement between ARRL and DHS/FEMA to enhance cooperation for emergency preparedness. ARRL has also been elected to serve on SAFECOM, a group of national thought leaders and officials within the emergency communications and response space that works to set standards used at every level. The program is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security.
The Incident Command System Communications Unit (COMU) structure now includes the Auxiliary Communications function and Auxiliary Communicator (AUXC) position, created specifically to specifically to incorporate trained and qualified amateur radio operators in emergency preparedness and response.
For more information on the "branches" of emergency communications and items that the Schoharie County Amateur Radio Association participates in, please use the menu to make your selection.