John S. wrote:


Yes, I know that is one of the oft repeated dreams of the ham
community...to be able to save the village being flooded or rescue the
family in the earthquake by setting up that is instant link with the
outside world when nobody else can. Sad truth is that it hasn't nor
will it ever happen.

Au contraire, mon frere...it can and *has* happened!

And you're sort of half right. Emergency communications by Morse is
quite rare (but not unheard of).

On the other hand, voice and digital ham emergency communications are
quite common. The final edit of a short video that I wrote and produced
regarding ham radio emergency communications for the Farmington Hills
(MI) cable system was just completed and is now being broadcast. Once a
few minor legal hurdles are ironed out, it should be available through
the ARRL.

In the meanwhile, let me refer you to the generally complimentary
article about ham radio emergency comms during Hurricane Katrina that
appeared on the *front page* of the September 6, 2005 'Wall Street
Journal'. (Commercial cell towers out, Telephone Company Central Offices
out, minimal interoperability between public service radio systems;
i.e., virtually all of the commercial stuff fell flat on its face).

As the ARRL likes to say, "When all else fails, Ham Radio!"

Carter
K8VT