The problem in the affected areas was the flooding of power sources or total destruction of antennas, and structures.
Hams need strike teams with HF NVIS and VHF portable capability to work inside the affected areas. Well planned Disaster Plans include this. LA. was woefully negligent, at least on the state and City officials' part in New Orleans. They had a plan, (its on the NET), but they did not follow the plan. The plan said use their school and city buses and evacuate people. A lot of people who were supposed to implement the plan bailed out of town or did not know the plan. They also had all the other elements required for Federal aid, such as emergency communications mentioned in plan. BUT, They would not allow Red Cross to enter although we prepositioned units in N. La./ Ms. border. They would not allow radio units in; and would not allow Feds to take the National Guard over, and put them into New Orleans until several days passed. The break down of Police order, and the bad guys who did not evacuate, in order to take advantage of property while everyone was gone, was the major factor cited to us. The wage of the entering officer in PD New Orleans is so low, that it is surprising the force did not resign en mass. Hams do need to make NVIS dipoles and reflectors and keep them rolled up in their ARES GO KIT. They need HF skill to use 40 by day and 80 by night to handle messaging. They need charged batteries, and you can always find some low tree or fence left to tie an NVIS dipole to. If some had had NVIS dipoles up even during the main winds, they would have been able to stay on the air at say 50 watts and still cover a couple of states or more on 40m. We use NVIS dipoles plus reflector 3 feet high for the dipole, and one foot high for reflector. Use insulated wire, some strong kevlar rope or line, and you are on the air in minutes. Made of ladder line or twin lead as a folded dipole, the NVIS one will match directly to 50 ohm coax. The normal 300 ohm folded dipole center feed becomes 1/4 less when low, or about 60 ohms. Stuart K5KVH ARES AEC Red Cross Comms. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
