When disaster strikes, the ECCs are staffed and Amateur Radio Operators are assigned to various agencies to assist with communications between the centers and the area of the emergency. One of the rewarding aspects of Ham Radio is providing emergency communications during times of local, state and national distress or disasters. Amateurs play important roles during emergencies because of their ability to quickly set up communications with portable, mobile and fixed stations. The radio systems used by Fire, Police and other public safety agencies can rapidly become overloaded with message traffic. Some systems, such as cellular phones and landline telephones, become so crowded with traffic that they become useless, even to the point of total breakdown.
Telephones can fail due to power outages and downed or damaged cables.
Disaster areas can quickly become isolated from the outside world, with little or no communications. Amateur Radio and emergency communications go together like pie and ice cream. For example, during the Loma Prieta earthquake that severly damaged sections of San Francisco, the only communications into and out of the area were via Amateur Radio. The rewards the Amateurs receive come in knowing that they have contributed to the recovery and played a role in mitigating some major problems. In today's world, Hams are even joining with Citizens' Assistance Teams and volunteering their services to their local Police Departments.