Why Cell Phones Went Dead After Hurricane Sandy

[phantom power]

After Hurricane Sandy, survivors needed, in addition to safety and power, the ability to communicate. Yet in parts of New York City, mobile communications services were knocked out for days.

The problem? The companies that provide them had successfully resisted Federal Communications Commission calls to make emergency preparations, leaving New Yorkers to rely on the carriers’ voluntary efforts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-15/why-cell-phones-went-dead-after-hurricane-sandy.html

[AndyTiedye]

1. Amateur Radio Operators Understand the Need to be Able to Communicate in an Emergency

If the cellular carriers are going to take such a cavalier attitude towards keeping their networks up
then we need to take matters into our own hands.

Amateur radio is radio for the people.

http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

[thatgemguy]

4. Hams provide an essential source of communication

I'm a Ham myself and experienced Hurricane Ivan in 2004. My rural neighborhood was cut off and without electricity for days. I was able to keep track of the storm locally with my 2 meter rig.

I've also worked around the scene of an major airliner crash, where excessive demand knocked out the cellular service, until the phone company brought in portable cell sites on trailers.

Don't trust local media to have complete information as most small radio stations are not attended much of the day.

I've learned to having an alternative means of communication around is part of my emergency preperations.

KC8BRI

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Another great decision by the Corpocracy.

Invest in making a business work better
or
just keep all the money in profits.

[mzteaze]

3. Disgrace

So, who in NYC is following up on the millions of dollars spent after 9/11 to ensure the emergency communication system had some back up contingencies? It's not like they haven't known since then how weak the communications system was.

SMH