[Ares-races] Portable Station help wanted

Wed, 14 Apr 2004 11:23:51 -0500

Lurk mode=off

	-----Original Message-----
	From: [email protected]
	[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of NA4FM (Buck)
	Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:57 PM
	To: [email protected]
	Subject: RE: [Ares-races] Portable Station help wanted

	I have often wondered how to choose between my kids and my EMA in the
	event of an area-wide emergency.  That is an answer I will only know
	when the time comes.

I have chosen my family more than once in tornados and power outages. You
have to put yourself and your family first. After they are taken care of,
if the emergency is still ongoing, then you can can help other people.

	While we are all communicators, communications is not our only need.

After the OKC Murrah Building Bombing, I spent a fair amount of time
unboxing hard hats and inserting the netting inside them, putting donated
batteries into donated flashlights, keeping generators fueled, and other
miscellaneous chores. Somebody had to do it and it beat twiddling my thumbs
waiting for something to call in or answer on the radio. Eating leftover
Salvation Army food so it doesn't have to be thrown out is a worthy task
too!

	One other thing I learned while I was there, was the value of
	familiarity with other hams.

I've been trying to devote more time to face-to-face meetings for this
purpose. Yes, it does make a difference when other people know you and what
you are like.

	I am not "trained" in EmComm now.  I haven't taken the League's course
	yet and I haven't met with the local emergency training clubs.  In an
	emergency, though, if I were in the spot again, it would still work out
	as we would all adapt.

If you are a good radio operator and have a good dose of common sense, you
can handle it. On the other hand, there is no such thing as too much
training.

	I guess I get a little long-winded sometimes.

	Open for comments!

	Buck

I love reading long-winded comments. Don't worry about it.

-------------------
Chuck Boyle KB5RVV

ARES
SKYWARN
SATERN
-------------------
Radio Shack HTX-420
Radio Shack HTX-252
Sony ICF-SW1S
National NC-2-40D
-------------------