Amateur Radio Operators for decades have been providing emergency HF communications during disasters and emergency. Why pay extra when public safety can get their HF communications for free through Amateur Radio Operators.
Simple answer:
In tactical real-time operations, we cannot have people needing to ID every 2 seconds, place things in certain ham formats to try to comply with FCC ham rules.
In short, I don't need - and sometimes in fast changing situations a 30 second transmission taking an hour.
I've seen this down in NOLA when hams were riding with fire - they were too worried about the long drawn out formats than "Go to 123 Main street for a fire".
It was: N0ABC calling net control W0XYZ for priority traffic
Go ahead
N0ABC this is W0XYZ we have a citizen report of a house on fire at 123 Main Street , again that’s 123 Main St for a report of a fire, can you confirm the receipt of this message, over?
W0XYZ this is NOABC, I understand that we have a (blah blah blah)....
...for 45 mins, when...
N0ABC inform Engine 42 that there is a house fire at 123 Main St, over
"Message received, enroute" will suffice.
NOW, this is not universal or everywhere, but based on ARES/RACES nets and training, its damn common. Just listen to some of the CAP nets these days when it takes 5min to transmit a five word sentence phonetically.
Public safety (in general) is a here and now type of thing, not super formal, conform to HAM rules and regulations. Yes there is a tactical type of clause in there, but it seems that many don't realize it or are practicing it.
In addition, no one want to see some of the stereotypical hams coming to the CP's and trying to run their operation (which I have personally witnessed a few times).
Thankfully, where I am, we have a good crew and they train with us regularly and efficiently (for the most part) and we CAN rely on them. Most other places, not so much.
No one wants to see someone show up with a 706 with a HF antenna on a hardly working 1989 Ford Tempo that has a range of 15 miles, wearing a green vest with 30 patches.
I am not anti-ham, I do have a license, but most groups cannot get their act together and have QUAILIFIED guys and girls to operate in the enviroment that required to properly support todays PS needs.
God forbid that a "club" should merge or join another one (when those rivals exist) to come together for the common good and train together and be held accountable.
/rant
+reality