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 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.

   (c) 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.

   [ 54 FR 25857 , June 20, 1989, as amended at  68 FR 25542 , May 13, 2003]