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Amateur Radio, often called "ham radio," has consistently been the <br />most reliable means of communications in emergencies when other <br />systems failed or were overloaded. <br />Simply Put —Ham Radio Works! <br />Most of the time, things work fine. But despite <br />the development of very complex systems <br />—or maybe because they ARE so complex — <br />ham radio has been called into action again <br />and again to provide communications when <br />it really matters. <br />Why Ham Radio Works So Well. <br />Telephones, cell phones, Internet, trunk lines, <br />satellite phone —to get a message out they <br />all have to go through many vulnerable choke <br />points and need electric power. Even if the <br />system is functioning, these systems can be <br />overwhelmed by the number of cries for <br />help and families seeking information. <br />Ham Radio is Different. <br />While hams MAY use the Internet or a <br />repeater system, they do not HAVE to <br />do so! Hams can "go direct" and talk <br />straight through to each other because <br />each station is fully independent. Hams <br />can operate just fine without other <br />infrastructure. By selecting the right <br />frequencies, hams can talk across town <br />or around the world. <br />In an emergency, when your family's lives <br />may be at risk, which communications <br />system would YOU want to have? <br />Ham radio operators provided emergency communications during these recent events® <br />Earthquake in Hawaii -2006 <br />Flooding in Northeastern States -2006 <br />Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita -2005 <br />Wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico -2005 <br />Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne -2004 <br />Tsunami in Asia -2004 <br />Earthquake in Central California -2003 <br />Hurricane Isabel -2003 <br />Northeast Blackout -2003 <br />Shuttle Columbia Recovery Effort -2003 <br />Wildfires in Colorado -2002 <br />Flooding in Kentucky -2002 <br />Hams meet on the air and in person. <br />There are about 630,000 hams in the USA <br />with ham radio clubs and gatherings all <br />over the country. <br />L <br />l <br />You <br />Central <br />Facility <br />J <br />r <br />Tower or <br />Switchboard <br />E H Multiple <br />Relays <br />J <br />"Normal' communications have many <br />vulnerable choke points <br />1 Tower or <br />Switchboardl - <br />You <br />Repeater <br />J <br />J <br />J <br />> Recipient <br />Amateur Radio <br />Communications <br />Ham radio MAY use a repeater, but can talk directly too. <br />Hams communicate using microphones, <br />telegraph or Morse code keys, computers, <br />TV cameras and even their own satellites. <br />World Trade Center, Pentagon and Western <br />Pennsylvania Terrorist Attacks -2001 <br />Tropical Storm Allison -2001 <br />Fires in Los Alamos, New Mexico -2000 <br />Hurricane Floyd -1999 <br />Flooding in Texas -1998 <br />Hurricane Georges -1998 <br />"500 -Year Flood" in N.D. and Minn. -1997 <br />Western U.S. Floods -1997 <br />Hurricane Fran -1996 <br />TWA Plane Crash -1996 <br />Oklahoma City Bombing -1995 <br />