Dave Platt wrote:

I've
heard several stories about how a few "bad apples" in the ham
community, showing up at disasters and getting in the way, were enough
of a problem to cause the city to kick *all* the hams out of the area
and the process, and (in effect) declare hams to be "persona non
grata". This sort of damage can take years, or even decades to
repair.

Indeed, this is exactly the situation we're in right now. Once someone
in charge gets it in their head that hams are a problem, it is almost
impossible to change their mind. In fact, the only reason we're now
beginning to mend fences is that the personalities involved have changed.

Bill Horne, W1AC wrote:

On my first deployment, I brought a massive backpack, which included
almost nothing I later needed and almost everything I didn't.

I went to the Katrina effort with another ham from the area. We drove
down in his Suburban, and the vehicles was completely full. We used
almost nothing that we brought.

On the other hand, one of the other hams drove down in a similarly-sized
vehicle that he had equipped after years of experience with disaster
operations. It was almost uncanny how he had exactly what he, and the
rest of us, needed. If we came up short, the answer was "Ask Al." and
he invariably had what we needed and the knowledge to use it.

That's the difference that training and experience makes.

Newby wrote:
"Bill Horne, W1AC" wrote:

P.P.S. I'd bet there isn't a single question on any ham exam in the
world that asks how much toilet paper to bring to a deployment; Q.E.D.

Most hams won't even think to put it in there go kit.

I wonder how many hams even _have_ a go-kit. Or even a list to create
one when needed.

I forgot a particularly important item during a training exercise and
realized that I needed to make an actual checklist for my go-kit. I was
astounded to discover that it contained over 100 items. No, that's not
a Suburban-full; it's one carry-on bag and a small rolling suitcase.