I Have A Cellphone. Why Do I Need Radio?

In a recreational park, in a National Forest, in remote Arkansas

, in June of 2010, a devastating flash flood covered the site with 23 feet of fast flowing water in a space of little more than 3 hours. In the search for survivors, the rescuers erected temporary cell phone towers to stay in touch with search teams.

The coverage proved to be inadequate. Amateur radio operators joined the effort and helped coordinate the search and evacuate the victims when they were found. Still, the death toll rose to 19.

Also in June, a severe storm struck Ohio, knocking out power and telephone systems. Radio amateurs again provided communication assistance to emergency crews, some staying on the air for many hours.

The above examples are not exceptional. Operators of CB and ham radios have frequently supplied urgently needed assistance in emergency situations. They are most useful because they don't rely on towers, wires, and work from battery power.

The United States is able to call upon the services of a network of amateur radio operators with up to 650,000 members. Around the world there are another 2 million. Teams fighting fires in California, rescuing tornado victims in Oregon and assisting with the aftermath of storms in Michigan have relied heavily on the reliability of amateur radio and its operators, who offer their services free of charge.

In April, an rescue in the Pacific Ocean hit the news. A ham radio operator who lived in Flagler Beach, Florida,intercepted a distress call from a small sailing vessel 3,300 miles away in the Pacific Ocean. One of the crew members had received a head injury, was unconscious and bleeding badly. The operator on the boat was calling for emergency medical help.

Maintaining the contact with the boat, the operator in Florida phoned the Coast Guard Station in Alameda, California, and connected the radio through the phone. A Coast Guard flight surgeon spoke to the vessel, to advise on appropriate first aid.

Other hams were able to hear this and relayed news to the family of the injured sailor, and also assisted with the coordination of the rescue. Florida's Bill K14MMZ, was joined by hams in Texas, California, Minnesota, and Hawaii, and the radio operator of a container ship, MV Cap Palmerston.

A parachute drop near the vessel with an inflatable boat allowed the injured person to be transferred to the container ship, which diverted from its destination in Mexico to go towards San Diego. Nearer to land , rescue helicopters moved the victim from the ship to hospital. He recovered.

This rescue could not have taken place using cell phones. There is still an important place in our world for CB and ham radio.

by:Tom Thors

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