"Scott" wrote:

(snip) The Amateur Radio Service is
not an essential element in our society.
Even in times of emergency, there is
nothing you can do with a ham radio
that you can't do with an internet
connection, fax machine, land line
telephone, or cell phone in similar
circumstances. Ham Radio is a hobby,
and like golf, gardening, bird watching,
or any other hobby, it could cease to
exist tomorrow, and nothing would
really change. (snip)


I won't say Ham radio is essential, but you downplay it too much. Perhaps
you live in an area where major disasters are fairly uncommon, or your local
public service agencies are better prepared, but emergency communications
(supplemental communications) is fairly important in this part of the
country. During a major disaster, the normal communications systems
(internet, fax, phones, and cellular) fail very quickly. Dring a recent
hurricane, even the police, fire, and medical, communications system
suffered major damage. The role ham radio, and ham radio operators, played
during the storm was really amazing. A number were out in the middle of the
night during the storm trying to repair downed antennas for the police and
fire departments. Several manned local radio stations, feeding storm
information from other area hams to the broadcasters. Others manned
evacuation shelters. Following the storm, still others helped to repair
antennas at hospitals (or set up batteries to power their communications
systems). Others manned aid stations. Was any of this essential? Perhaps
not, but I do think it was helpful.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/