[KYHAM] KEN TRAINING for July 7: Amateur Radio Preparedness, JUST DO IT!

[Ron Dodson]

As I write this the day before our nation's 227th birthday, let's
look back at the first half of 2003 and see what went on and how
we did.  Our year started out without too many major events only
to burst at the seams in February with a combination ice storm
and flood event.  While northern portions of Kentucky had icy
roads, downed lines and lost utilities the southern half had
heavy rains and rising waters.  Once again amateur radio took on
the elements and rose to the aid of response agencies and local
governments. Many Kentucky amateur radio groups proved their
worth to their local communities in those days of suffering.

Spring storms are always a problem as any native of the Ohio
Valley will tell you and this year was no real exception.  Though
starting out slow, this year gave us a May to remember as
tornadoes and severe storms brought many local response
organizations to the brink of their maximum capabilities and
more.  Again, in many cases amateur radio helped fill the gap.
Spotter nets gave additional information on approaching systems
and increased the warning to the public at large. 

Kentucky, to date, has received three Presidential Disaster
Declarations since January 1, 2003!  This does not include all
the smaller events which occurred not affecting a large enough
area or bringing up damage figures high enough to make the
federal declaration level. While this is not remarkable, it does
show that we have had an active year with regard to emergencies
and disasters in the state.  Recent minor earthquake activity
also reminds us that a major quake may be in the near future as
well.  The dangers are real!  We can see visible proof that the
need for preparedness on our part is no joke. 

If you were to ask any of the amateurs who have been out and in
service to their local governments and other agencies since
January 1, "How did you do it? How did you know what to do at the
time and how did you make such a good impression on the served
agencies?" I'll wager that they will tell you it was because they
had a relationship established at some level with the local EMA
and others and quite possibly had taken part in one or more
exercises well before the real event.  

Training and exercising, the keys to any effective response!  By
working with the local agencies you hope to serve, you build a
base for a real event and learn what they want from you and how
you can fit into their response plans.  Just yesterday I attended
my area EM meeting for this area.  Some counties had amateurs
there to sit in, observe and LEARN.  Many county EM Directors are
starting to take their local amateur radio leadership with them
to such meetings now.  The main thing is to make that initial
contact.  Get a relationship started and strive to maintain it by
training and exercising together so that you will have some idea
of what you need to be doing when the time for action comes.  

Field Day was a good chance to test your equipment for
portability and functionality.  The poor band conditions this
Field Day 2003 made the test even more difficult than usual.  Our
annual Simulated Emergency Test or SET is coming the first
Saturday of October.  While the scenario is not finished at this
time, it will make another great opportunity for amateurs to put
their equipment and skills to the test.  Many jurisdictions still
have exercises to do for their communities before September 30. 
If asked to take part in a community disaster exercise, do so.

The important thing is to get off your chair, prepare yourself,
your station and your family and become ready to meet whatever
challenge comes next. Some hams TALK about wishing they could do
something.  Others get up, get themselves organized, train,
exercise and just DO IT!  73