Steve Stone wrote:


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

When possible, it is a good idea for groups to have equipment at the
ready. Mother Nature has this nasty streak in her that seems to favor
the unprepared though! ;^)


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.

Can you imagine? And yet I hear that kind of thing all over. Presumably
intelligent people that don't realize that these highly centralized
systems are certain to fail when the same conditions that make emergency
comms necessary work their damage on those area systems.


The inherently independent, non networked nature of Amateur radio is
what gives it it's strength. And sometimes why when all else fails....
corny statement that just happens to be true.

- Mike KB3EIA -