Texas Ham Radio Volunteers Keep Communities Connected

When hurricanes tear through East Texas and knock out cell towers, Michael Miles and his team have a backup plan that never fails: old-school ham radios.

The Deep East Texas Amateur Radio Club has spent nearly 50 years perfecting the art of disaster communication. About a dozen volunteers work with Angelina County's Emergency Operations Center, ready to jump into action when modern technology fails.

Their secret weapon is beautifully simple. No cell towers, no internet cables, no infrastructure at all. Just radio signals bouncing from one operator to another, keeping hospitals, emergency responders, and officials connected when it matters most.

During major storms, volunteers work in pairs around the clock. One person operates the radio while their partner takes notes and relays messages to officials. They bring portable "go-bag" equipment to shelters and anywhere communication is needed.

The club even uses software called Winlink that lets them send and receive emails over radio waves with zero internet connection. Miles describes it as sending messages to the governor through thin air.

Every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., the team tests their equipment through practice drills. Monthly regional check-ins help catch and fix problems before disaster strikes. The volunteers have responded to everything from hurricane recovery to the Space Shuttle Columbia search effort.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a hobby has become a safety net for 11 counties across Deep East Texas. Emergency radio equipment now sits ready at multiple hospitals and health departments, expanding the network of volunteer communicators who can spring into action.

The club welcomes new volunteers year-round, and getting licensed is surprisingly easy. The entry-level exam is just 25 questions with no Morse code required. The youngest licensed ham radio operator in America earned their credentials at age five.

Monthly license testing happens at a local church, with free online study materials available to anyone interested. Annual membership costs just $25 for individuals, making this life-saving volunteer work accessible to nearly everyone.

These everyday Texans prove that sometimes the most reliable technology is also the simplest, and the strongest signal comes from neighbors helping neighbors.