[KYHAM] KEN Training Nov 2005 - The Evil Sisters

[Ron Dodson]

The Evil Sisters: Disaster Lessons the Hard Way


Katrina, Rita and Wilma; names that will strike fear and grief in hearts
for decades to come. The "Evil Sisters" of the 2005 hurricane season
will never be forgotten by many and have carved their own places in the
record books with blood and tears. While 2005 has proven to be a record
setter, it has also provided many insights to improve preparedness for
those of us who do not turn a deaf ear to their lessons.

After it all, a majority of people still turn to the, "Not me, Not
here!" attitude we discussed in an earlier KEN training article.  While
some residents could not flee Katrina, many others could, yet did not.
I sat in amazement as one lady declared she felt totally safe in her
gulf coast home (at three feet above sea level!) while storm surges were
forecast that would have covered her home with tons of water many feet
over her rooftop. 

Many ran from Rita as she approached, yet others again declared they
felt safe.  Some who remained are no longer able to be found and may
never be! 

Florida residents were told flat out to prepare for Wilma and to stock
at least three days of food and water.  Wilma even lingered over the
southern tip of Mexico giving them extra time.  Yet less than 24 hours
after the storm passed, many were calling for food and water as they had
wasted the time to prepare and avoid their own circumstance!  

Are we any different from these people?  How many of us have our homes
and families ready for a disaster right this minute? How many have that
3 day (OR MORE!) stockpile of nonperishable foods and water? How many of
us have a means of backup lighting, heat and power for our equipment as
well as a means to accommodate those things we consider "essential" to
our lives even in disaster?  

We live in a region in which most disasters will give seconds of notice.
if any notice at all.  Oh, sure, winter storms, severe storm systems and
heavy rain events MAY give a few hours to a day of warning, but how many
will pay enough attention to that warning to hear and heed it if it
came? Do you listen to weather forecasts more than once a day? Do you
listen to newscasts, read news web sites or some means of knowing
anything more than just last evening's ball scores and lottery numbers?
Some may choose to leave it, "In God's Hands" as I hear many say.  Not
me, I subscribe whole heartedly to the old adage that, "God helps those
who help themselves"!  Don't misunderstand what I mean. I am not kicking
anyone's beliefs, merely stating my opinion that a lot of what happens
to us, we LET, happen to us through apathy and inaction, carelessness,
stupidity or a mix of all these and more. 

If you want your family to have the ability to survive the next snow or
ice storm, tornado, earthquake or what have you - don't blame God or
anyone else, get up and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  As Blanche Bickerson (a
character on an old 30's and 40's radio show played by Francis Langford)
used to say, "Get up and do it! - DO IT NOW!"

'Tis the season to be prepared!  Already stores are having Christmas
sales and we will see more of these as we get closer to the holidays.
There are items which can make excellent gifts for family members as
well as ourselves which can be real blessings in disasters. Portable
power packs, jump starters, lighting, food, blankets etc.  All at sale
prices!  If you don't have something you need, GET IT!  If you don't
know what to buy Uncle Harry or Aunt Sal, do some checking and see if
one of these preparedness necessities would not be an appropriate gift
not only from a preparedness standpoint, but also a practical one.

Last year, I gave several relations those bigger sized jump starter
packs with the AGM batteries, air compressors, built in lights and
lighter plugs to run DC accessories or charge radios and phones.  These
also came with car charge cords!  Man, they loved them! No, I expect
your wife might not like one, but who says you can't buy one to have
around home anyway. Then again, maybe she would too, why not ask?  Are
they perfect, No.  Will they cure all ills, No!  What they are however,
is a great deal more than they would have had if I had not given it to
them.  Two commented they had thought about buying them but never did. 
   
On to a more radio oriented area. 

If you have not checked your antennas and station's condition, right now
is a lot better than letting something go until it is near zero.  Check
guy wires and tie offs for wear.  Check coax cables and connections.
You might even build an extra 75 or 40 meter dipole and have it along
with feedline and ropes to anchor them laid away some where handy. While
the ARES Boom Box http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wx2nj/aresbox.html may
seem, for some, more than you need, maybe some variant or at least a
better back up power system such as a deep cycle battery could be real
helpful in a winter blackout. Don't forget to also inspect and test your
mobile equipment and make any needed repairs while the temps are more
acceptable. Winterize your vehicles and make sure they too have a
disaster supplies kit on board.

Our training archive http://www.kyham.net/emcomm/training/ has a lot of
useful info on 
a 12 Volt Standby Power System, Auxiliary Power Systems and many other
topics. Don't wait for severe weather or an earthquake, "Get up and do
it NOW!"

Some other lessons learned from the Evil Sisters are as follows: 

1. Get and give good, sound info when dealing with taking or making
resource requests.  Many local and section-level resource requests were
accepted in the responses without recording the name or contact info of
the person making the request.  Sometimes it was just "state EOC."  This
is fundamental, yet it was often ignored.  These type requests require
incredible effort to validate and complete.  Some came from
out-of-state, and people were wasting time trying to track down the
person/agency that requested them for several days post-incident, very
likely long after the need had passed.  See
http://www.kyham.net/docs/train/planinfo.pdf

2. Many ECs and DECs did not provide regular daily status reports to
DEC's or SEC's of agencies served, resources committed and needed.  Such
reports may seem piddly to the EC or DEC who files them, but can be
important to help see that your operation does not encounter a break in
supplies or manpower for needed outside aid.

3. Out of area ARES volunteers were sent to assignments that the local
ARES leaders determined were too exposed for safety, and had declined to
meet the resource request on that basis. NUFF Said!   Know what you are
getting into and in a similar vein, don't make promises you can't keep.

4. In one case, an ARRL affiliated Amateur Radio club accepted a FEMA
support request without any involvement or even notification of ARES.
How the club president was notified or by whom is still trying to be
determined. Again, as in Item 1, we are called "communicators", yet we
often don't properly communicate among ourselves or when dealing with
others. If they don't tell you, ASK and write it down. Also, follow
chains of command.

5. Realize that disasters are just that, DISASTERS! When dealing with
disasters we may be exposed to scenes of destruction, deprivation and
horrific deaths.  If the New Madrid or another seismic zone ever lets
loose, you won't have to go to Louisiana to see things you don't want to
or should not see. If you get too much, there is no shame in asking for
help.  There are mental health responders who can help you; IF YOU ASK
FOR THEIR HELP!

6. Plan for your home being damaged to the point of no longer being a
shelter.  Tents, sleeping bags etc. can be important should this occur.
Know what your insurance does and DOES NOT cover!  Photograph valuables
and your home and place these with important papers in a location not
likely to be destroyed OR if you keep them at home, take them with you
to shelters or other places if you evacuate etc. AND CARRY ID WITH YOU!

7. If you plan to ever deploy to assist outside your own area, make sure
you are 100% self sufficient and have ALL the shelter and supplies you
will need for days to a week or more with you. Plan on getting NOTHING
at the scene. Plan for the worst and you will be neither disappointed
nor caught short!

8. In spite of all the "Nay-sayers" and the claims against it, WINLINK
2000 works and works darn well!  Two different hams took WINLINK 2000
and Pactor with them to areas that looked like they never saw a phone
line or any infrastructure and would not for a long time. Yet through HF
with their equipment, I had daily reports and their needs for contact
with the outside world were met with ease. Only on one occasion did a
solar flare even slow this activity. Yes, equipment is still "pricey"
for those on a tight budget, but I think it will get cheaper in time.
Consider WINLINK as having passed with flying colors the trial by fire.

9. Help is coming, but it may be a while getting here.  We MUST be able
to be self supporting and handle emergency communications for our
communities, our neighbors and ourselves if the worst happens. We are
adults and have no one but ourselves to blame if we are not ready. Our
families must also be ready if they are to survive. As adults and heads
of our families, it us our responsibility to see that they are. Help may
be coming, but we need to still be alive when they get here!

10. Ham or citizen; The bottom line is that we each have talents and
abilities and we must be willing and able to use all of them as great or
small as they may be to provide assistance in whatever manner possible
when a disaster strikes. Training and practice can increase our
efficiency. GET UP AND DO IT--- DO IT NOW! 


I am sure much more can and will be said on the subject in the months
and years ahead. For the time being, do the following, not for me, but
for yourselves:

Look, listen and learn.  The three "Evil Sisters" have given those of us
outside the affected areas a real life snapshot of what can actually
happen if the worst comes to a city or community.  Movies have been
around for years with all manner of speculation. We now have proof!

It has given us a chance to learn from the mistakes of others and
improve our own response readiness for the,"NEXT TIME". Don't waste it!

It has lastly given us a chance to see both the best and the worst in
human nature.  Let us all hope that there is a lot more of the former
rather than the latter in each of us.

73,
Ron Dodson, KA4MAP
SEC Ky