Are programs to organize volunteers to help with radio communications a bad idea? We have AROs and ARES and it seemed reasonable.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/article/563294

https://www.multnomahares.org/

I think the idea is supporting the community in the event of a large scale disaster (specifically the big cascadia subduction zone earthquake).

>Are programs to organize volunteers to help with radio communications a bad idea?

Of course not, but those volunteers have a very limited role to play in disaster response.

I think a lot of these guys fantasize about being the sole link in and out of a stricken community, coordinating helicopter airlifts and stuff. The reality is much more mundane.

I always assumed that my role as a ham in an disaster would moslty be doing welfare reports (i.e. "tell my mom in Idaho that I'm ok"), and maybe guiding people to local resources like shelters, medical aid, etc. It might be mundane, but that's the kind of things the real first responders aren't going to have time for.

Agreed. Not the stuff of action movies, but welfare checks, coordinating with the community what resources are available, where they are, and what times they are available. Think food, water, etc. But if the rescue workers can accommodate helping a smaller percentage of the population hams can help identify folks in dire need.

Digital modes, winmail and similar have been heavily used for getting medication to those in need, mostly because some meds need refrigeration and the power grid doesn't have to be down for long for everything refrigerated to go bad.