[ScanIndiana] HAM communications question

[gjanek at comcast.net]

What are some of the sourses you speak of ?
Thanks Gil
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Bob Burns W9RXR <k4rxr_ at rlburns.net> 

> At 09:21 PM 1/4/2008, Justin Knox wrote: 
> >I am with Boone County Civil Defense and I am on the skywarn or 
> >"storm response team". Last year during some severe weather I 
> >overheard via one of my personal scanners in my vehicle a mobile HAM 
> >radio operator stating he had a visual on a funnel cloud & I did not 
> >have any communications with this person (nor did any other Civil 
> >Defense unit on duty). 
> 
> Justin, I agree with the other posters' opinions that such 
> communications would not be legal under FCC rules. The rules with 
> regard to emergency communications are sometimes given strained 
> interpretations, but I think the consensus is that communications 
> without the appropriate license on a radio band where a license is 
> required is only permitted in the event of immediate threat to life 
> or property _and_ if no other means of communications is possible. 
> 
> I am RACES Radio Officer and Skywarn Coordinator for Hendricks 
> County. In our county, RACES and Skywarn work very closely with 
> county emergency management. Our EMA Director is a strong proponent 
> of amateur radio as a back-up to the county communications system. We 
> provide him with a pool of trained volunteers skilled in both 
> emergency communications and storm spotting. I'm sure your EMA budget 
> is as tight as ours, so without our volunteers, some tasks just 
> wouldn't get done. 
> 
> When severe weather threatens Hendricks County, I can count on my 
> cell phone ringing with a call from the EMA Director. He immediately 
> looks to us amateur radio operators as a source of information about 
> the impending weather. We routinely provide the EMA Director with 
> information about storm tracks in the county and damage information 
> after the storm has passed. 
> 
> The county has provided me with a handheld radio programmed for the 
> Project SAFE-T radio system. I occasionally use that radio to 
> communicate with the EMA Director and the Sheriff's Department. I 
> also have a VHF radio programmed for the old VHF police and fire 
> frequencies in the county. But most of my communications is via 
> amateur radio so that I can funnel information between the hams and 
> EMA. We have ham radio equipment installed at the county EMA office 
> and we are working on plans to put ham radio equipment in the 
> county's mobile command center and the new county dispatch center. 
> 
> I strongly urge your department to develop a relationship with the 
> hams in your county. I think you will find them to be a willing and 
> capable resource that can provide a great benefit to your county. 
> 
> Alternatively, you could get an amateur radio license yourself. To 
> get the entry-level license, Technician, you would need to pass a 
> 35-question test about procedures, rules, and basic radio theory. The 
> question pool, with answers, is available from many sources and there 
> are study guides available in book form or on-line. 
> 
> Bob Burns 
> Hendricks County RACES 
> 
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