Actually, “relatively long wavelengths hams use” isn’t usually correct. While we DO use High Frequencies in some disaster scenarios for long distance communication across states or to other countries, normally we provide LOCAL UHF/VHF communications which are NOT dependent upon the power grid. We can and do bring our own generators and battery systems, set up local area repeater systems and when communications have failed on police/fire/ambulance systems we can and do relay message traffic for them. We also keep in practice during things like Walk-a-thons and other local events. Here in Colorado almost every communication on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb race is done by hams. I’ve personally participated in Skywarn for as long as I’ve been a ham radio operator. I’ve also done work with RACES and ARES (though I am no longer as active as I could be)...
basically though, vhf/uhf and packet radio systems are generally our backbone, with HF for long distance communication.
Thanks for the info!
I was in South America, on a train. We stopped at some village for some reason, and the train people rolled out a cart, with a radio, mike, and battery. Two people stretched out a wire dipole (maybe 5, 6 meters end to end) with wooden handles, and the guy with the headphones called out “a la derecha, a la izquierda”, and the Dipole Guys pointed the “antenna” until Headphone Guy was happy, then he chatted away for a couple minutes.
Someone I was with thought he was arranging for diesel oil for our next stop.