“EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF”

There is no hard and fast definition of what constitutes a disaster. Sometimes a disaster develops quickly hitting you full force with little or no warning. Other times, a disaster looms on the horizon for days until it becomes large enough to be a threat.

When most of us think disaster, we think flood, hurricane, fire, earthquake or some other cataclysmic event. We visualize anxious people scurrying around to save lives and protect property.

We prepare for emergencies and disasters every year. Our techniques, plans, exercises and skills have improved over the years, and we support the idea of preparing for the unexpected, and that is the greatest reason that each of us is participating in this net the evening.

The following article is an excellent example of why training is important and how it pays off. When disasters, incidents or other crises occur, emergency preparedness and training will significantly affect the outcome.

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HAM RADIO......OUR NATION'S BACKUP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM!


 

World Trade Center… SPACE SHUTTLE DISASTER… STORMS… FIRES… FLOODS… RESCUE and MORE!!!

Ham Radio is there to provide primary emergency communications when all else fails!

 

During most major disasters, local police, fire, rescue, public, and other local radio and telephone systems usually are overloaded, down, or do not have the capabilities to provide the emergency communications needed to save lives and property. Cell phones become un-usable due to severe congestion or damage, electricity and emergency generators for local authorities can be out of service for days or their systems are not designed to communicate over wide areas or with different departments, phone lines are destroyed and in short, most emergency communications can come to a halt!

 

Ham radio operators are called in to re-establish vital communication links using their own equipment, knowledge, skills and training to provide these most valuable services to the public and our government!

 

Hams can put together a complete radio station out in the middle of no where far from the nearest power pole and are capable of transmitting around the world with very modest equipment!

 

During the shuttle disaster in Texas, only ham radio operators were able to get communications too and from the remote debris search areas and they gave their time and skills in this massive undertaking.

 

During most situations, hams are always some of the first PEOPLE to respond in emergencies!

 

Hams work closely with the National Weather Service as "Spotters" for severe storms from their cars transmitting vital weather information back to hams at the Weather Service.

 

There's nothing in weather technology like many pairs of eyes!

When those of us who experiment and "tinker" with new ideas for communication are not "tinkering", or providing public service, we usually can be found on the air talking to our ham radio friends around the world or around the block about most any subject you can imagine and just plain having fun using radio to talk to other PEOPLE just like you and me!

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The mandate to serve the public has been at the core of Amateur Radio since its earliest days. And in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2004, the need has been more keenly felt by our served agencies.