I have recently become more aware of and generally interested in electronics and amateur radio, and it got me thinking. What advantage, if any, would there be to having amateur radio experience, over a simple disaster crank radio/flashlight, in the event of a major natural disaster or some other emergency that leads to a longer delay in power being restored? For the sake of argument, let’s assume you have a generator or battery bank to supply your own electricity.
No, it would depend on someone else locally having a similar rig and there are far more people with CB radios than HAM radios.
https://rrra.org/post/2024/01/19/zero-retries-on-saving-amateur-radio/
The numbers of Amateur Radio Operators (not just in the US) are declining.
The influence of the ARRL will inevitably decline as a result of disgust at the Board of Directors infighting and dues (subscription) price increases.
The use of voice VHF / UHF repeaters are significantly reduced, year to year.
Emergency Communications has subtly become less of a justification for Amateur Radio. Simultaneously …
In the 2020s and beyond, First Responders have more, and more reliable communications options than ever before.
Communications infrastructure available to most individuals has become more concentrated and fragile.
COVID-19 and other factors have impacted many Amateur Radio club meetings and other reasons for Amateur Radio in-person events.
The potential audience of younger folks to become new Amateur Radio Operators just don’t find “talking to strangers” or “operating on shortwave” to be compelling reasons to become Amateur Radio Operators.
That’s actually false. The supporting arguments you have provided are reasonable, but they ignore the fact that CBs have declined far faster than amateur radio.