The idea of RAYNET came into being in the aftermath of the North Sea flood of 1953 , a natural disaster that damaged the communication cables along the east coast of England on the night of 31 January 1953 . With communication lines crippled , the police authorities , in desperation , sought help from the few amateur radio operators then licensed , and , although illegal at that time , the Home Office permitted the use of amateur radios to direct and co-ordinate the rescue teams . The following year , an infant network first known as '' ' RAEN ' '' was formed . The Home Office conceded the desirability of an organisation which , in times of emergency , could effect the passing of messages facilitating the rescue operations of the professional services , who themselves lacked the ' instant communications ' of radio at the time . While RAEN began on a minor scale with only a few operators involved , the network has grown into a nationwide movement now known as " RAYNET "
North Sea flood of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
Radio Amateurs Emergency Network