42 USC § 5185 - Emergency communications

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s5185"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 5185 - Emergency communications"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "5185"
section_name: "Emergency communications"
chapter_number: 68
chapter_name: "DISASTER RELIEF"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "MAJOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 93–288, title IV, § 418, formerly § 415, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 158; renumbered § 418, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 106(j), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4705.)"
---


# § 5185. Emergency communications

The President is authorized during, or in anticipation of, an emergency or major disaster to establish temporary communications systems and to make such communications available to State and local government officials and other persons as he deems appropriate.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 93–288, title IV, § 418, formerly § 415, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 158; renumbered § 418, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 106(j), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4705.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior  was renumbered section 421 by  and is classified to .