Ham Radio
I am an amateur radio operator. I originally became interested in Ham Radio as a back up to my families communication plan. In the event of an emergency I wanted to be able to call home or communicate with family outside the rogue Valley. Over the past several years I have been working with the Jackson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. (JCARES) www.jcares.net They provide Backup communications to various agencies in Southern Oregon.
I would recommend Amateur Radio to any one wanting to be better prepared and able to communicate with loved ones in the event of a disaster. There are many other reasons to become a ham radio operator as well. I like to experiment and learn new things. I have a love of electronics and enjoy making things work or work differently than they may have been intended.
A great resource for those interested in learning more and becoming licensed as a radio operator is the following site. It contains many great PowerPoint presentations.
The cost to get your license is usually about $15. There is really no excuse not to do it if you are so inclined.