Cell Phone texting, also known as SMS, can provide 24/7 access for emergency/disaster relief purposes. It enables immediate alerting and messaging with personnel.
For more information that includes an example of how SMS via HF is being used for Emcomm, please see the presentation "ALE for Emergency / Disaster Relief Communications" on the web at: http://www.hflink.com/garec/ When cell sites are congested during disasters or communications emergencies, SMS texting may still function in some cases, even when voice service is down. This situation was experienced in some parts of the Katrina disaster zone. More and more, disaster response organisations are using SMS and short text email to meet their needs. Hams involved with Emcomm should work to support this also. Hams can send/receive SMS text messages on HF without a computer. For more information about how to do this, see the website: http://hflink.com/hfn 73 Bonnie VR2/KQ6XA
