Two other Hams updated their equipment on the day of the quake. Many of those who operated mobile wished for more installed equipment. Things that worked Some cell phones have a digital port on them for Internet access. Even though the voice side of the instrument would not work due to system overloading, the digital port worked without a problem. DSL remained operational even in areas where landlines were inaccessible for several hours.
Pay phones work.
Lessons learned We need to reinforce, with verbal and written documentation, the protocols for activation and response. Know your Net Control frequencies, how to program your radio, and check in to the Net to see if and where you are needed. Post earthquake vehicular traffic moves at a snail s pace or slower. After the Northridge Earthquake, Cell phones were the only commercial system that stayed up. Ours did not.