When the Ham Meets the Frying Panhttp://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-new ... iew-finds/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Washington state’s plan for megaquake ‘grossly inadequate,’ review finds
Originally published October 22, 2016 at 1:46 pm Updated October 23, 2016 at 2:03 am
Mike Maloy, a volunteer with Seattle Auxiliary Services, at a Monday night radio check-in with other ham radio operators around the region.
KUOW PHOTO/JAMALA HENDERSON
If I'm not mistaken, Seattle Times writer Sandy Doughton (God bless her heart) recently did a write up regarding the first large scale mock earthquake drill in the region this month.
Apparently satellite communications, including the governor's cell phone, were not reliable during the drill.
Ironically it was ham radio operators who most consistently relayed vital information during the real life simulation.
Volunteer Carl Leon shows off some ham radio equipment.
CREDIT KUOW PHOTO/JAMALA HENDERSON
Because of this, and because I am sort of a long distance but long term fan of Sandy Doughton, I encourage our readers and contributors to collect any radio equipment and related supplies and literature before the "Big Rip" arrives.
Ham radio operators won't necessarily be able to save everybody or make up for the woefully shortsighted local government, but they can help in a crucial manner by connecting responding agencies and groups with the people who need them most. Ham radio operators can provide news, help reunite families, and relay for help.
wikipedia image of amateur radio operator
The article was pretty serious in stating, many areas have at best one individual tasked with disaster response, working with tiny and or nonexistent funds.
Although ham radio itself is not for profit, those who know the game and how to fix things and make them work will soon become the most valued citizens in the response effort.
The article said within 10 days of a PNW megaquake we would see a humanitarian disaster of unprecedented scale, if something does not change.
If you have a mind for electronics, be part of that change, not a helpless bystander.
Resources:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.dmoz.org/Recreation/Radio/Amateur/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
-Your local thrift store or library
-Wikipedia and other sites host manuals
References:
http://kuow.org/post/ham-radio-operator ... quake-hits" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The drill:
https://seattledrt.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
