A few thought on Zello and other internet based communication apps.
1. First of all, Zello and similar apps are VOIP teleconferencing apps. They are great tools, but only when Cellular data and internet remain functional. That functionality isn’t assured in many emergencies.
2. Zello itself even publicly warned folks in Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane Maria a month later that their app wouldn’t work there unless they had functioning Wi-Fi or level 2 Cellular Data. Because that actual hurricane did destroy the internet and cellular systems, the Red Cross went to the extraordinary step to fly in Amateur Radio operators from the mainland to get the rudiments of communications reestablished.
3. Houston wasn’t actually hit by a hurricane; it was hit by flooding from tropical storm remnants, hence no real wind damage or comm outages. Winds were typically below 50 miles an hour up there as measured by the NWS at Bush International Airport.
4. Mere flooding rarely disrupts commercial comms, so Zello was a great solution for ad hoc rescuers in Houston like the Cajun Navy. But look again at that outage map to see how badly cellular services failed down near Rockport where the storm actually did strike with Hurricane force winds. Zello wouldn’t have worked down there.
5. Network Radios aren't really true radios but essentially iglorified cell phone and VOIP devices. Without cellular data or the internet, they won’t get very far.
6. Such products (nor cell phones) wouldn’t have worked in Puerto Rico nor near Tyndall Air Force Base this year where catastrophic wind damage occurred.
7. Thus, Amateur Radio EmComm efforts using point to point radios will still be needed whenever commercial communications networks are destroyed or overloaded. While we’re always the last resort, we’ve been called upon in this role numerous times and even this year.
8. Finally, up here in New Jersey, we have an excellent internet based eTeam communications system that links all of our 21 county EOC’s to the NSJP OEM EOC. But despite having this, our professional emergency managers know not to put all of their eggs in one basket.
9. As a result, NJSP OEM REQUIRES and has funded fully functional Amateur Radio stations in every County EOC. The State Police run a test monthly to prove that all 21 County EOC’s and the State EOC can still successfully communicate via 75 Meters, 2 Meters, 220 MHz and via APRS on pure point to point RF.
10. Of course, if normal comms remain intact, then we Amateur Radio operators are quite happy to stay at home and watch it on CNN like everyone else. But when they fail, like they did up here in Hurricane Floyd, the WTC Attacks, the NE Blackout, and Super Storm Sandy, then we’re ready to respond to requests from help from government and served agencies because we’ve practiced with them monthly.
11. Certainly, the services we Emergency Communicators provide need to evolve as communications methods and needs change, but the total demise of Amateur Radio EmComm is greatly overrated. I say this as someone who has actually participated on the ground in over ten actual disasters.