[K6BW] Re: [QRP-L] EmComm and CW/QRP

[Timothy J. Simpson]

Bill, I couldn't agree more.  This message offers a really good set of steps
to be taken now to help later on.  I know from personal, bitter experience.

When I first moved to south Florida over twenty years ago, I volunteered to
help look at restructuring the emergency communication system. I was a brand
new university professor, and they wanted someone with a communication
background and an ability to work at solutions, not just identifying
problems for others.  This is a place with flat terrain, and where you'd
think they'd know about power loss.

SURPRISE!!!!  Clueless doesn't even begin to describe what I found.
Complete lack of thought and preparedness would come VERY much closer.  The
"Safety" people (fire, police, medical) were interested in getting a working
program up and functioning, but they were completely unaware of what needed
to be done.  They tried, and the results were what you'd expect.  But the
worst of all the groups involved in the process were the radio amateurs!!!

Never have I seen a group more interested in drinking coffee and eating
donuts while Rome (Miami) burned.  They were of absolutely no help
whatsoever.  We came up with a plan, but when the first of many hurricanes I
experienced there hit the plan fell apart from lack of cooperation from the
radio amateurs who were supposedly involved in the process, who couldn't
lift a finger to help.  There were quite a few that DID help, but none of
them wanted anything to do with the clowns running the circus.  They weren't
hooked up to the system, however, so they really couldn't offer assistance
to the services who needed it.

Moral -- Disaster will strike.  Help will be needed.  Murphy will make an
appearance.  And from my own experience, his first corollary will be  proven
accurate.

Anyone want to join me in seeing about following the suggestions?

Tim
  KG6SPV