Do not rely on fixed infrastructure based telecom services.
Quote from an ARRL report on the California fire
.""...Kruckewitt said Winlink continues to be the go-to mode, as fire has damaged several repeaters and no repeater path exists to the Gold County Region of the Red Cross in Sacramento...."
View full article at
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/amateur-radio-emergency-service-volunteers-assist-in-california-fire-response