Texas Radio Volunteers Build Emergency Network for Disasters

When the power goes out for days and cell phones stop working, Brandon Kimbrell wants his Texas neighbors ready to talk to the world.

The amateur radio operator has spent five years mastering the frequencies that let him communicate across Lubbock County or across continents. His living room features a wall-sized world map covered with pins marking more than 100 places he's reached by radio, from South America to Australia.

Now he's sharing that skill with anyone willing to learn. Kimbrell leads the West Texas Pathfinders, a volunteer group training community members to support emergency responders when traditional communication fails.

"Our main purpose is to basically allow the community to take care of themselves," Kimbrell said. The group can deploy portable radios during storms, wildfires, or other natural disasters to supplement communication networks.

The Lubbock County Office of Emergency Management has partnered with the Pathfinders to build a backup communication system. When cell towers topple and internet cables snap, the county will turn to these volunteers.

Their capabilities go beyond voice calls. The network can send emails, attachments, and files over radio waves without internet connection. During extended outages, this becomes a lifeline for coordinating relief efforts and checking on isolated neighbors.

Kimbrell got into amateur radio to protect his own family but quickly realized the power of community preparedness. If everyone learns the basics, entire neighborhoods can stay connected during emergencies.

The Ripple Effect

The Pathfinders are making preparedness accessible to everyone. This weekend, they're hosting Field Day, a 30-hour event at the Lubbock County Emergency Operations Center where curious community members can try amateur radio themselves.

No experience needed. No equipment required. Just show up anytime between Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. for presentations, giveaways, free food, and hands-on practice talking around the world.

The event turns emergency preparedness into an adventure, letting people discover they can be part of their community's safety network.

Similar volunteer networks exist nationwide, but the Pathfinders show how local action builds resilience. Each trained operator becomes another connection point when disaster isolates communities.

By teaching neighbors to communicate without cell towers or internet, these volunteers are building something stronger than any single technology: a web of people ready to help each other when it matters most.