[GA ARES] Digital and "thinking outside the box"

[Robert Copelan]

Here are some observations that I have developed while
reading various ARES/Disaster Response lists (amateur
radio and professional ones) over the last several
weeks. 

I have noticed, not only in some circles in Ga. but
also across the country... People zero in on one
technology and become tunnel visioned on that.  We
should keep in mind that the reason  Amateur Radio has
been so successful in the past is that we do not
depend on a technological infrastructure. It is nice
to have one but we shouldn't need it.  No one thought
that the World Trade Center would be knocked down...
no one thought that all the 800 Mhz, Satellite
stations, phone/power infrastructure would be wiped
out along the Gulf Coast of 2 states, no one thought
that there would be multiple category 5 storms back to
back.  AND no one can even anticipate what the future
holds.  For sure, there will come the day when an
incident that has not been anticipated WILL happen. 
Then all the great plans of DHS, FEMA, DOD and most
other 3-5 lettered organizations WILL fail because
they are rigid and depend on infrastructure.  ALready
there is talk of common frequencies and
interoperability. How long have we heard that? How
many times has it failed in the past?  

Only by keeping our capability to "improvise, adapt,
overcome"  can we be ready to respond to what we don't
yet know will happen.  Only by training and
prepardness can we be sure that our "tool box" will
have enough tools to accomplish the mission. 

As Stan has pointed out, there are many different
aspects of digital communications available to us.  It
is to our benefit for each of us to become operational
with more than one so that we don't depend on any
particular aspect being functional.   Will our 4-5
letter organizations (ARES, ARRL, RACES) be ready to
meet the challenge? 


Robert
WB4DHC




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