[Elecraft] Eclipse logistics and em-comm nets?

[Bob Nielsen]

Suppose they gave an eclipse and nobody came.

It would take an upgrade to make Godzilla a B-movie.

73, Bob N7XY


On 8/18/17 5:12 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> Jeez Ron, it sounds like the intro to one of those B-grade disaster 
> movies from my childhood.  No one knows if Godzilla will show up. The 
> eclipse likely won't extend past the normal attention span of a 
> teenager ... then everyone needs to leave and return home.  I do hope 
> the hams are ready if needed.
>
> OH, forgot ... there are those who take offense at calling Godzilla a 
> B-movie.  I am truly sorry and I apologize.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> On 8/18/2017 11:57 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>> Other than I-5, Oregon's highways are one lane each way with few 
>> exceptions in more built up areas. As Eclipse viewers arrive, the 
>> roads fill up fast. Local news reported that one town in the eastern 
>> Willamette Valley had a 30 mile long bumper-to-bumper back up 
>> yesterday. I-5 should be moving at least.
>>
>> Here in Newport on the central Oregon coast (within the band of 
>> "totality"), traffic is heavy and growing worse by the day. People 
>> are being reminded that they may NOT camp on the beaches. Besides, we 
>> should have record high tides caused by the sun and moon tides 
>> converging on eclipse day. Many beaches will be under water. Lodging 
>> and camps are at full capacity. In spite of visitors being warned 
>> they will be fined, we expect to find roadsides that have any space 
>> and parking lots everywhere filled with campers and trailers. During 
>> the eclipse we expect to find vehicles just stopping in the road to 
>> watch, oblivious to the fact it stops traffic for as long as they sit 
>> there (that already happens from time to time every summer when 
>> people stop in the middle of the highway, get out of their vehicles, 
>> and take pictures (sigh...).
>>
>> The local telephone services are installing many hundreds of portable 
>> "towers" to augment the regular cell towers. Even so, I won't be 
>> surprised if Wayne is correct: Amateur Radio may be the most reliable 
>> communications system.
>>
>> Also, hundreds of additional ambulances are on scene to handle more 
>> emergencies, although whether they will be able to get where they 
>> need to go is in doubt. Many roads have NO shoulders where people can 
>> pull over. A deep drainage ditch runs down each side of most rural 
>> roads just off the edge of the pavement.
>>
>> A number of helicopter ambulances are arriving to help where 
>> emergency vehicles cannot reach.
>>
>> National Guard personnel are being dispatched to help with traffic in 
>> various locations and they have better off-road vehicles for places 
>> where the highways are jammed.
>>
>> One major concern locally is on the morning of the 21st when people 
>> here discover the sky is overcast (as it usually is on the coast this 
>> time of year- at least until noon) they will try to head east along 
>> US20, one lane each way through the 3,000 foot coastal mountains, to 
>> reach cloudless skies.
>>
>> Gas prices up over a dollar ($3.25 yesterday) and are sure to 
>> continue to rise as long as the pumps don't run dry. Gas is delivered 
>> from over the coastal mountains and it's likely that no new 
>> deliveries are being made before the crowds dissipate.
>>
>> Similarly, grocery store shelves are emptying out and may not be 
>> restocked before the eclipse.
>>
>> Our local water company is concerned about handling the load imposed 
>> by having 5 or 10 times the normal number of people using it. They 
>> recommend storing extra water now.
>>
>> Overall the emergency services point out that this is a great test of 
>> our readiness for the anticipated "Cascadia event" that we train for 
>> regularly including strong earthquakes, tsunami and no passable 
>> highways for several days at least.
>>
>> That may be, but August 22nd will be a great relief!
>>
>> 73, Ron AC7AC
>>
>
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