[KYHAM] Making Sure Enough is Enough

[Ron Dodson]

ARES members may be called upon to assist with the Ky
flooding situations in the days ahead.  Here are a few
points to ponder beforehand. Let's be sure that when asked
for help, that Enough is really Enough.  Not to much or to
little.

Whenever anyone gets a request for assistance most of the
time they will get some straight answers or requests up
front from the served agency making the call for aid.  

Sometimes this is not always the case.  Whether it is a
request to an individual ham, a local EC or DEC or even a
message to me, the Section Emergency Coordinator, we want to
do our best and provide the service required in a
professional manner. To do this, we need certain info.  
Here is a summary of some things to ask for if you did not
get the full "scoop" straight out from the requesting party.

1.  Agency requesting assistance??? (EM, ARC, Salvation Army
Bapt. Brotherhood etc.) 

2. A Point of Contact or "POC". Name, title, phone and radio
frequency(s) if appropriate.

3. What type of aid is requested? (Manpower only, what type
of equipment, HF/VHF/UHF, MCP capability?  The mission to be
undertaken? Is Special Training required of volunteers?
There is a huge difference from one situation to another and
all hams are not created equal with regard to training,
licensing and physical ability.)

4. How much?  (Saying 'Some' or 'a few' can be 2-25 or more)
Get real numbers.  Many times hams will take off from work
to assist in a disaster situation.  We don't need to send 30
if 10 will do. In this case, the other 20 could have gone
about their affairs and waited until tomorrow if they were
needed as relief op's. Likewise, we sure don't want only 4
sent if 20 are needed to do the job right.

5. Where do they report to and at what time. Don't forget,
Ky has two time zones! Again, that POC info in # 2 is handy.

6. Any directions to the area or hazards/detours to be
observant of in responding.

Any other info you feel appropriate.