http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/ham-radio-disaster-preparedness/473598/
In natural or man-made disasters, ham-radio enthusiasts put their hobby to work.
Scanner hobbyist Rick Hansen holds his scanner/Ham radio device at his home Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in Silver Spring, Md. In an effort to restrict access to their internal communications police departments around the nation are moving to encrypt them. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)