When all else fails……ham radio!
This page is dedicated to examples of ham radio being used to help complete strangers.
Hurricane Helene 2024
Amateur Radio Saves Family in Death Valley National Park
04/12/2024
Death Valley National Park is in a remote desert in southern California, where mobile phone networks are spotty at best. On Saturday, April 6, a radio amateur and his family were enjoying the park when their vehicle became stuck in mud in a dangerous area. Without access to a cell network, the ham called for help on the 10-meter band.
According to a news release from the Black Swamp Amateur Radio Club, Caleb Gustwiller, KD8TGB, jumped into action.
Gustwiller was monitoring from Ohio when he picked up the distress call. He was able to hear the call sign and the general location of the ham in distress. He lost the signal to the noise, so he wrote a post in the Parks on the Air® Facebook group asking for other hams to listen for the calls.
Several hams contacted emergency officials in southern California, which led to the ham and their family being rescued within a few hours by park rangers. The club stated in their Facebook post: “Without Caleb hearing this distress call, it could have quickly become a very deadly situation for the operator and his family.”
Source: https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-saves-family-in-death-valley-national-park
Radio enthusiasts to the rescue in emergency communications
For many participants in the world of amateur radio, the initial draw can be something like the ability to talk to people from around the world.
“It starts as a hobby. You want to talk to somebody because you hear somebody else talking,” said local amateur radio enthusiast Ralph Grover.
But for a lot of people involved in amateur radio, also known as ham radio, it’s not just for the fun of it. Amateur radio can play an important role in emergency communications, and many people involved with it are here to help……..read more
