I think you've hit the nail on the head with the 'types of comms hams can provide' comment. UK perspective -- there isn't much hams can offer here either. An e

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the 'types of comms hams can provide' comment. UK perspective -- there isn't much hams can offer here either. An emergency response team wants a local repeater, you can't set it up on a ham ticket (at least not without an NOV and the cooperation of the RSGB ETCC). But the rescue squad can get their own equipment, a local radio supplier might subsidise the cost, and all they need to use it is an Ofcom Business Radio licence (£70 for - I can't remember if it's three years or five). Police, fire and rescue are largely kitted out with Airwave radios anyway these days. So why are the hams needed? Emergency response is a hollow-as-heck argument, the training and experiment side is a far better one. (ObFD: licensed UK ham, de M0OFX ex M6OFX/2E0OFX)