Amateur radio club collaborates to help during emergencies (Montana)

Each month a group of dedicated Ham radio operators with the Clark Fork Valley Amateur Radio Club meet at Church on the Move in Plains.

Ham radios, owned by thousands around the world, communicate on radio frequencies assigned by the FCC dedicated for the use by amateur radio enthusiasts. Radios range from small handheld units costing under 30 to elaborate base stations costing thousands of dollars, allowing the owners to communicate from mountain tops, in a car or in a home, all without relying on the internet or cellphone networks.

Ham operators have been a vital part of emergency response teams during natural and man-made disasters over the years. The Amateur Radio Service was instrumental in helping New York City during the 9/11 attacks. Ham radio also came to the rescue during Hurricane Katrina when all other communications failed.

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