--
Now this is an interesting thing! Are we to *have* to buy this
equipment? And what of the poor ham that didn't have the resources and
is caught in the middle of a disaster?


Some ARES groups have incorporated as not for profits. This allows them to
get corporate sponsorship for emergency gear.

A contractor for a local nuke plant hired to make sure the evac drills go
smooth told me last year there was no need for amateur radio. They could
depend on cell phones for all their field communications during evacuation
of the NYC metro area.

No **** !