"Al Klein" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 22:33:31 -0500, "SteveJ" said in
rec.radio.scanner:

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

That's implementation-dependent. The systems can be set up with TACs,
so they can talk without repeaters.


Please forgive my rant.... but it is worth thinking about - even if you find
yourself disagreeing.

Question is - is were they set up as such? One would like to think so, but
........ And the next question is - if they were - then what could be the
reason for "not" using them? A likely reason is all battery power is
exhausted - and that could be the case if the only radios left were the ones
being carried by the officers at the time. All the rest "may" have been
destroyed. With no power, they couldn't recharge any if they had a charger
left to do so - at all. The only building(s) that I'm aware of which had
anything left to it with a generator - was "a" hospital or so and the arena.
They could probably have "tried" to recharge the radios there - IF they had
a charger - which again - was probably gone. There ARE reasons why no radios
were left behind or now usable. Lets face it, this hurricane put them back a
few hundred if not a thousand years.

Instead of blaming people, we ALL need to sit down and re-evaluate the
situation before the next one comes - just what "would" we do - for
ourselves, our family. In any event like this - you LEARN. Just like 911 -
the city of New York's Public Service radios were swamped beyond use. The
system failed. They know that now and are "hopefully" rectifying the
situation. Yes, it is easy as hell to point fingers, fact is - it does no
good - it only hampers efforts. Maybe there are some to be held accountable,
but now is not the time. This was one hell of a wake up call for the U.S. As
a reporter said on TV, recently we've been hearing preparedness for
Terrorists attacks. This could be likened to a small to medium scale nuclear
attack. Sad to say, but for a catastrophic disaster like this, it will
ALWAYS catch people off guard and unprepared. The system is just
overwhelmed. There are only so many hospital beds, medical equipment,
medicines, doctors, nurses, medics, etc. Also, people - individuals need to
start keeping some sort of supplies together to rely on to get by. The
American Red Cross offers a check list of those items. They suggest like a
week's worth. Were this done, much of this current situation could be
eased - at least for those stranded - still waiting to be rescued. Second,
many folks just plain do not listen to EMA guides. When told to evacuate,
many choose not to. You can't blame the EMA officials for that. Folks take
their lives in their own hands when they refuse to leave an area. IF they
couldn't, that is one thing, but if they had a choice and didn't, then they
held their lives in their own hands - to an extent. Another thing, MORE
people need to get involved in community service - such as Red Cross
workers, Salvation Army, Ham and yes, CB for Comms (recreate SEAT REACT - if
not active), whatever. In some areas - as Volunteer EMS or Fire. Many areas
are hurting for volunteers in these fields and lets face it, in a disaster,
they are going to be hard pressed to do any good. There was a program
started here and I believe it was a "national" program - designed to train
common folks in basic techniques to assist the Fire/EMS folks. I can't speak
for other areas, but here - no one applied for this "free" training. It was
not "fire fighting or saving lives" but just basic stuff that a fire
department or EMS would be called to - that folks could do in a disaster to
help alleviate the situation until help can arrive. This is sad... this is a
good reason the system is overwhelmed. If one person in every family learned
some basic techniques, or went so far as to be more thoroughly trained in
some sort of rescue or relief effort training, just think of the many more
people we'd have available to help.

Lawlessness is foolishness. Taking food, water/drinks, medicines, diapers -
though I don't condone stealing/looting, those are "survival" items. IF that
store was to be re-opened, the majority of that stuff left - would be thrown
away anyway and written off as a tax loss. But to steal TVs - Stereos which
operated off of AC (only) when there is none - makes no sense, most probably
is ruined anyway. They sure can't haul it on a bus with them. To take
"small" radios or battery operated items to listen to news - that too "is"
understandable. Again, I'm not condoning theft, just the "legitimate" use of
the items. To shoot at the very people coming to rescue you.... that can not
and should not be tolerated. We who are working to rescue others who
"desire" help - shouldn't have to be put into that situation. Those who do
such things have no place in our society. "I" would issue "martial law"
immediately to deal with it. That is my only suggestion - not blame. It is
understandable they are upset, but those actions do no one any good. I say
"we" who are working only because I've been in this sort of operation and
involved in EMA locally - but do not take any credit whatsoever for "this"
event. I'm in an area far removed from the current event.

Yes, there are a HUGE amount of problems here. With cooperation, help,
money, it will start to take shape. It won't be easy, and it sure won't be
as quickly as it happened. The whole country is going to wear this badge.
ALL of those people have to be fed, clothed, etc. They no longer have pay
checks or jobs to return to for a pay check. Someone has to keep them! The
tax payer is going to foot the bill.

We can all argue about the hows and whys until we die, it won't undo what
Mother Nature's fury has done. We can blame anyone and everyone and as some
have done - use a race card. WE ARE ALL INVOLVED - whether we like it or
not. WE are ALL going to pay for it somehow. Just pull up the boots, and get
to work. The sooner people quit spouting off and start doing - the sooner
things will start to improve. It is so easy to sit back and criticize and
not do anything to help. HELP make a difference. CONTRIBUTE. Everyone has
"something" they can contribute. You are entitled to your opinion - everyone
is, but in a case as this, use it to make "constructive" criticizm. Maybe
you have a solution no one else has thought of which could alleviate a
problem in the future. IF you can't do it nationally - do so - locally in
your area.

Being we're still in the midst of what was called a prolonged and more
dangerous Hurricane season - even before Katrina hit, we need to start
looking ahead for the next one - should it happen - OR - ANY disaster. Use
this as a learning example. Don't sit around and do nothing. BE PREPARED. IT
could be YOUR life or those of your loved ones that you're saving. Many have
the "it won't happen to us" attitude. People, we're not covered under an
umbrella of protection. Disaster can and will strike anywhere, anytime and
to anyone. NO ONE is safe.

Just think for a moment.... given what we're seeing now - what will we do
when the situations as supposed - "may" happen

1. The devastating earthquake in the West Coast - strikes.
2. Other hurricanes
3. Nuclear or Biological attack.
4. "Any" war on our homeland
5. "Any" other threat not mentioned - perhaps an Asteroid! (Assuming anyone
is left to deal with it!)

This my friends IS a wake up call and could only be the beginning - being
the season for hurricanes isn't over. Any future calamities could be far
worse - not trying to trivialize or minimize this event. IF they are - then
what? We need to pay attention and get to work to be even more prepared -
individually and as a country.

I apologize for my preaching, but being involved in both EMA and
Communications - though I don't have all the answers, I put some ideas out
to the masses for food for thought - to hopefully help in any future event.

May God be with those victims, their families and the rescue workers who are
there.

jm (used only to thwart an onslaught of spam)