The “pink card” :

or, always be prepared for emergency communication.

Reading a post by K4SWL about his experiences during (and after) Hurricane Helene got me thinking about ham radio’s more serious side: being the when-all-else-fails backup mode for communications when the infrastructure goes away. I could go on at some length about all the different ways that we can do that, but the oldest and most resilient of them is within everyone’s grasp; sending and relaying messages by voice or Morse code, whether through the ARRL’s National Traffic System or impromptu.

FSD-218; the basics of traffic net procedures. I think it’s out of print now, but still available as a .pdf file at the link.

The flip side of the card. It really is pink, this is just a terrible photograph.

A radiogram form; the standard format for a message of 25 words or less.

And, quite important, the schedule of Wisconsin Section traffic nets. I think in an emergency almost any ham would accept and pass along a message. Many ragchew nets do a call for traffic at the start of the net. Lots of options!

I have these three items in with the other papers (license, band plan, radio manual, a few QSL cards … ) in every radio pack, just in case there is ever the need.

Thanks for visiting driftlessqrp today

or, always be prepared for emergency communication.

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