[Elecraft] Eclipse logistics and em-comm nets?

[Wayne Burdick]

Many of us are headed into the solar eclipse zone in the next few days, my family included. We’re leaving today for Ashland, Oregon. Early on Saturday (possibly *very* early), we’ll be driving to a campground in Corvallis, right in the Path of Totality.

There are widespread predictions of epic gridlock for many of Oregon’s roadways. I’m guessing this will be true in other states as well. Authorities are suggesting that travelers have several days worth of food and water, as they could be stranded on freeways that become parking lots. Many gas stations in small towns like Bend are already out of fuel.

The cellphone network could be affected as well. Imaging 1 million people camping, in effect, on I-5, state route 97, etc., trying to call home or reach emergency services. Under the circumstances, amateur radio may very we called upon to provide emergency communications. Fortunately many of us will be using mobile or portable stations that are immune to loss of power or cell service.

If you know of any specific networks that are planning to activate for this event, please post that info here (and elsewhere).

Lacking any defined plan, I’ll be monitoring 7283.5 kHz, home of the daily west-coast “Noontime Net”. 40 meters is ideal for this sort of regional coordination and emergency traffic, especially in areas not well served by VHF/UHF repeaters. I’ll have a KX2, some wire, and a couple of Li-ion internal battery packs. 

73,
Wayne
N6KR