"Professional" radio is likely after the first 24-48 hours of a large scale disaster, but for large hurricanes and earthquakes, radio amateurs are almost always

"Professional" radio is likely after the first 24-48 hours of a large scale disaster, but for large hurricanes and earthquakes, radio amateurs are almost always the first dedicated communicators on site before local police and EMS networks come back online and external agencies arrive. This is simply because they're already present, and that emergency communication is a major facet of the radio service and why it continues to exist today. Even companies have one or more amateur radio stations on site and several licensed and experienced communicators, just in case. I've worked at 3 and I'm familiar with dozens.