wa5dxp wrote in
:

I just left my home in NOLA area, and spent two days setting up
emergency stations, rigging antennas, etc, \grueling work. Then,
there was nothing, 2m repeaters were down, phone lines were dead,
HF propagation was almost non-existenet except on 20 Meters, but 160,
80 and 40 was horrible. I tried and tried but no one seemed
interested. In all fairness, when cellphone/landline communications
stops ham radio grinds to a halt. I don't know if people were in
shock or what, but no one wanted to handle any traffic.

When troops moved in, I packed up my stuff and am now on road heading
North to Oklahoma. In my opinion ham radio dropped the ball
completely, but conditions were HORRIBLE that first week, I never want
to have to go through that again. However, as a ham since 1948 I was
really disappointed in ham radios non-response.


Non-response ????? Ur gear needs a tumeup M8. Even here in Canada I can
here them hour after hour on 20 passing traffic on SATERN. The papers and
CNN have all carried stories of ham radio in action in the aftermath of
Katrina. WHen the cellphones and landlines are out is exactly whne ham
radio gets its second wind. Sure propagation has been lousy, but it has
certainly not detered the folks on 14.265. It may take several relays and
extra work but they are there and they are making a difference.

--
Panzer