"SteveJ" wrote in message
...
Here we are in this fine HiTECK society, and with all this great New
Trucking radio systems are not worth a **** in a real emergency like in
the Big Easy, and the police can not talk anywhere. Car to Car does not
work either.
Hell CB would work better or something. All police should have a backup
simplex Radio to use if this happens again as at least they could talk if
the repeater went down. I bet right now in most areas we live if the main
base went out all communications would go to crap..
Sometimes keep it simple really works.
By the way where is all those Ham operators that should help out.

Let's see - those who weren't completely wiped out - are probably on the
outskirts of the city - in a "Staging" area - waiting to be allowed in. In a
disaster - Hams can't just go marching in carte blanche. They are usually
assigned to a Fire - Police - EMS unit and at a command post.
I am involved in EMA, so I know of what I speak. The "CBers" could be called
in to help as well - with patrols to help watch for crime - as a "Citizen's"
patrol - once things are to where that can be done. With little to no power,
not much room to set up shop and considering the whole city is being
evacuated, no one is setting up shop. Nothing can be done until they get the
levee(s) fixed. Problem is, not so much with the "hi tech" it is many
agencies "bank" on their comms systems and are closed doored to any outside
assistance - including Ham. Maybe after this, eyes will be opened. It
sometimes takes disasters to make things be seen for what they truly are. NO
radio system is without it's limits. I can tell you, during a local
disaster - our fire radio system was swamped. It was Ham (and yes I am one)
that got us through. I had placed operators strategically through out my
area to give me reports as needed. When an engine rolled, one of our
firefighters (a ham) had his 2 meter radio in his pocket. Again, the fire
radio was virtually useless with all the traffic. Ham AND CB can and do play
a role - if invited.
While I don't have many CBers in my area anymore as before, I do plan to use
them too - if ever needed. "I" will not rule out "any" options if it will
help get the job done.

jm