[LeArc] Hancock County Drill

[Jesse Risley]

This message has been forwarded at the request of the Hancock County ESDA:


The Hancock County Health Department will be 
staging a county wide disaster exercise on Saturday, September 19, 2009. The 
main scenario of the exercise will be an earthquake.  In the building of 
this exercise, all groups and cities are being asked to join in whichever 
capacity they feel comfortable - whether its EMS, fire depts, nursing homes, 
schools, city and county police departments, city governments, etc. In the event 
of an earthquake, all of these systems would be greatly pushed to the limits in 
their capapcity to provide services that would be needed.  
 
In the discussions of this exercise, we have talked 
about the need for communications. We can pretty much assume that should an 
earthquake occur, phone land lines, cell towers, fiber optic lines all may be 
severed thus shutting down all the normal means of communications. That's where 
amateur radio comes in. Just like the ARRL says, " When all else fails..." 
SO....I have been asked by Hancock County 911 Coordinator Maria Hopp to secure a 
possible listing of area hams that would be able to assist in the event of a 
disaster.  The more we talked about the ability of hams to get the word out 
with radio equipment, the more she realized that we can be an important resource 
for her. I cannot agree more.
 
I am sending this email to members of Big Bend 
Amateur Radio Club, but I'm hoping to hear from more than just our group. We 
will need the help from hams that have the equipment that can go farther out 
than just 2 meter.  SO, please pass the word around to the wonderful 
network we have as amateur radio people - please get involved.  
 
One of the most important aspects of disaster 
training is just that...training....as it's not a question of "IF", it's a 
question of "WHEN." An earthquake is not out of the realm of possibly 
happening in this area with our close proximity to the New Madrid fault. But 
keep in mind that its training that can also be utilized in the event of 
tornados, ice storms, blizzards, etc. - any event that can bring down 
communication lines and electricity that powers most of the vital daily 
functions, ie, computers, early warning systems, telephones, heat, etc. 
 
Please contact me if you need more information 
and/or would like to be counted in when we have this exercise on Sept. 19 - or 
whenever the need may arise. Please feel free to pass this email to any other 
clubs or hams that you think may be interested.
 
The next meeting for the county wide exercise is 
Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 PM, Hancock County Health Dept, 671 Wabash Street, Carthage 
if you would like to attend.
 
Thanks so much in advance - 73s
 
Kathy Dougherty, KB9WBD
309-333-8200
 
Public Information Officer
Hancock County Emergency Services and Disaster 
Agency
 
CIty of Carthage ESDA 
Liason