If you have any interest in radio, or being involved with emergency preparedness, I would highly encourage you to explore Amateur Radio.  The hobby encompasses many different methods of communication, including the more traditional methods such as CW (Morse code) and voice, but also offers many opportunities to explore new technology and new ways to connect with other people in your community, or around the world.

One example of digital technology, known as APRS, offers the ability to track a users' position using GPS, and transmit the position data out over the radio.  The locations can then be plotted on a map in real time.  Other information can be overlaid on the map such as weather radar images, and digital messaging is also supported.  This can be very helpful during emergencies, storm spotting, as well as during public service events.

Amateur radio signals can be retransmitted by systems known as "repeaters", which can greatly extend the range of communication between stations.  Using a repeater, a small handheld radio can communicate with other stations up to 50 miles away. In addition, many repeaters are linked together using the various methods, sometimes including the internet, which makes wide-area communication possible with only a handheld radio.

Please see the "getting started" section for more information about becoming an amateur radio operator, free study guides and practice exams.