At an FCC conference in May 2011, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate mentioned that "When Everything Else Fails. Amateur Radio often times is our last line of defense."
He said that we often rely on cell phones and public safety communication for their resilience, but we must remember that they fail--"They do, they have, they will!" Mr. Fugate went on to recommend that "A strong amateur radio community," "be plugged into" emergency communications plans. He emphasized that amateur radio should be included in emergency planning, because "When you need amateur radio, you really need them." In closing he included amateur radio communications as part of a broad mission which has one objective--to meet the needs of survivors of a disaster.
This video was filmed by the FCC and is in the Public Domain.