As incidents over the past several years have demonstrated, developing a robust and reliable system for communicating during a disaster continues to be a challenging task. Land-lines tend to be one of the first victims of natural and man-made disasters, with cell phone networks generally close behind. During times of disaster, many public health organizations are turning to amateur radio (ham radio) to maintain communications and ensure continuity of operations.
There are more than 720,000 licensed amateur radio operators throughout the United States and we have heard from many public health departments and medical reserve corps units that rely on amateur radio for communications support.
The formation of the Public Health Amateur Radio Club will allow for the exchange of information and resources, while providing a community where amateur radio enthusiasts within the public health profession can come together for camaraderie, learning and fellowship.
If you are interested in amateur radio and public health – this group is for you!