This should have been done from the start.
Of course here in the UK we can access any network for a 999 call.
America is much larger, but the idea is still logical.
Radio hams have a really decent disaster system and there are lots of them working for free with the support and either free or heavily discounted equipment from the major manufacturers.
This is not generally done here in the UK. The voluntary aid societies such as Red cross and St Johns had disaster planning with every local council and government, also Raynet was involved too. But over the last 20 years things have really gone downhill and if anyone thinks relying on the UK cellular network and airwave (which relys on the same equipment) they need to look again at the real world usage of such critical comms networks.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
