Sec. 97.401  Operation during a disaster.

    (a) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or 
disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an 
area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur 
station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication 
needs and facilitate relief actions.
    (b) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or 
disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is likely to 
occur, in an area where the amateur service is not regulated by the FCC, 
a station assisting in meeting essential communication needs and 
facilitating relief actions may do so only in accord with ITU Resolution 
No. 640 (Geneva, 1979). The 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 
m, and 2 m bands may be used for these purposes.
    (c) When a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in a 
particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of communication 
emergency. The declaration will set forth any special conditions and 
special rules to be observed by stations during the communication 
emergency. A request for a declaration of a temporary state of emergency 
should be directed to the EIC in the area concerned.
    (d) A station in, or within 92.6 km of, Alaska may transmit 
emissions J3E and R3E on the channel at 5.1675 Mhz for emergency 
communications. The channel must be shared with stations licensed in the 
Alaska-private fixed service. The transmitter power must not exceed 150 
W.