Carter-k8vt wrote:
Furthermore, there is a well documented record of hams giving
communications assistance going back to the big floods and snow storms
of the thirties, Katrina being the latest big example and I'm sure
plenty of documented cases between the 30s and Katrina.

Talk to the emergency responders and ask them
if they have any interest in or ability to communicate with hams.

Well, I have talked to them, thank you very much. I am a Commissioner on
the mayor's Emergency Preparedness Committee (for one of the five
largest cities in the state) which includes many professional emergency
responders. The city purchased and is in the process of installing ham
transceivers in the main fire station, Police Headquarters and the
city's Mobile Command Center. Furthermore, we have ham transceivers in
the Emergency Rooms of 14 or 15 of the major hospitals in the county and
have a very well equipped emergency command center in one of the county
buildings located in the county seat.

It's more a problem of "old timers" versus younger hams. The hams that help
out in emergencies are hams that are practiced in voice communications.

While digital communications are now becoming more and more involved, the
primary means of assistance by hams is VHF voice, to provide short range
communications and coordination.

Hams who can clearly communicate using their VOICE, are needed and well
appreicated. Hams who don't even own microphones, and have no practice
speaking clearly aren't needed anymore.

Health and welfare messages have been moved to the Internet. It's
faster, cheaper and easier to use non licensed volunteers to send
emails, make VoIP calls, etc. Hams still are needed to get the messages
out of the disaster area and to and from the communications centers with
working Internet access, but that is no longer done with morse code.

That's the real reson why the FCC and everyone else is dropping morse
code as a license requirment. The world has moved on, It's no longer
a skill that emergency services or the millitary need in an emergency.

As fas being visible, a ham with a VHF transciever provinding communications
does not look any different than any other emergency service person.
They may wear a vest that says RADIO or COMMUNICATIONS on it, and wear
a hat with some funny letters on it, or manybe not. They just fit in
and do their jobs, like any other professional.

Reporters simply don't notice that they are hams, or care. They write
what their handlers tell them. Their handlers tell them that everyone
works together and gets the job done. They don't single out hams.

Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
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