[FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES

[Sherri Brower]

HMMMM What WMD drill??

Sherri, W4STB
SM SFL

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 10:07:03 -0400, "Ron Wetjen" <wd4ahz@gte.net> said:
> Paul Womble wrote:
> 
> > It is becoming too easy, and relatively affordable, for served agencies
> > to get satellite access to high speed data and voice communications.
> > Service can be had for not much more than an average cell phone bill.
> > 
> > Yes...it takes a few days to deploy that type of infrastructure.  Those
> > first few days are really where amateur radio needs to focus.   
> 
> And in my opinion, deploying this type of infrastructure is what 
> Amateurs should be assisting with and what will keep Amateurs involved 
> in the future (I don't think that's the direction Paul was going).  I 
> believe our knowledge and technical skills are our most valuable asset - 
> and not our communications "tools" (in the past, yes ... not today). 
> Our knowledge and skills are largely going to waste when it comes time 
> to assist in a disaster.
> 
> As Dale wrote in his definition of luddite, "any opponent of 
> technological progress".  Too many Amateur groups are dead against 
> stepping outside of the box to perform more "non traditional" Amateur 
> activities.  Why?  I don't know.  Amateurs should be jumping at the 
> chance to learn how to deploy these communications systems and be ready 
> to deploy them when needed.  This is the kind of help your county wants 
> and needs.
> 
> The state has been conducting a "Weapons of Mass Destruction" drill in 
> each of the Florida Counties.  I haven't read one report on this 
> reflector, other than mine (see 
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/flares/2002-December/000102.html) of 
> any Amateur participation in these WMD drills.  As I wrote in that 
> report "As I helped Victor demobilize EDICS on Thursday, he mentioned he 
> wished more Amateur groups would get involved like we do!"  Have any 
> other Amateurs been involved in their county's WMD Drill?  I've seen 
> news reports of the drill being held in surrounding counties, but then 
> no details of any Amateur participation.  Why not?
> 
> Is anyone doing anything else, besides waiting for a storm to arrive 
> before getting active?  And once it does, then what do you do?  Go to a 
> shelter ... or deploy a backup 800 MHz system to keep Police and Fire 
> communications working?  Which do you think your county would appreciate 
> more?
> 
> 73, Ron  WD4AHZ
> 
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