by Rick Fearns, K6VE
The heat of summer has almost passed and our population is about to double, so now is a good time to review preparations for a disaster or other emergency.
I’ve personally been involved in two major disasters, namely Hurricane Donna (1950’s on the East Coast; equivalent to Hurricane Sandy) and more recently, the Northridge Earthquake in Los Angeles. Despite prior training, preparation, drills and practice, a disaster always presents unique and terrifying surprises, and generally catches you less than fully prepared. Why?
First of all, let’s dismiss the notion that “it won’t happen here.” Have you even seen the San Andreas fault near Sun City in Indio? If not, please plan to do so. It’s a sobering sight. Enough said.
Now let’s talk about preparations. Are you really prepared to utilize your ham equipment for the common good, in the event it’s needed for disaster communications here in the Coachella Valley? Really? Try taking the following “test.”
1. Is your hand-held battery fully charged and ready to go right now? Do you have a spare battery, and if so, is it fully charged and ready to use?
2. Do you have an external power cord for your hand-held radio that will allow you to power and/or charge it from a 12 volt source, such as your car battery? What does the fuel level in your vehicle(s) look like RIGHT NOW? (It’s a good idea never to allow your vehicle’s fuel tank to fall below 1/2 tank.) Don’t plan on being able to refuel if disaster strikes. Gas stations generally rely on commercial power to activate their pumps.
3. Are your radios programmed for all our local repeaters? (If not, they should be). Do you have the most commonly used simplex frequencies programmed as well? The ARRL band plan is a great resource to learn what channels are generally used for what. Besides programming all of the local repeaters into your radio, set up your radio to allow you to talk on the OUTPUT frequency of every repeater in our area. That’s referred to as “talk around.” You’ll find it useful to be able to talk on the output frequency of a repeater in the event it’s not working.
4. At a club meeting last season, our Vice-President demonstrated how difficult it is for many of us to program our radios manually, especially on short notice. We all forget complex programming steps, so program your radio for every frequency you even think you may need in the event of an emergency, right now! Most radios have more memory slots than you will ever use, so start programming before the ground starts shaking!
5. Do you have emergency power available at your home? There are many options available including but not limited to battery, solar and generator power. Choose the option that’s best, safest and most practical for you. Having an emergency power source can literally be a life saver.
6. Participate in one or more local nets and join in drills that help improve your ability to communicate in a fast, orderly and efficient manner. Describing a disaster scene in great detail is just as bad as giving too little information about what’s needed where and why. Learn to communicate efficiently and effectively.
7. If you operate a fixed station, check your antenna system periodically. Is it sturdy enough to sustain severe weather? Will your antenna survive a serious earthquake or windstorm? Do you own a portable antenna that can be attached to your hand-held in order to extend its range? Do you have a source of backup power and if so is it readily available where it is needed? Do you have one or more flashlights at the ready, along with spare batteries for them? What about food and water? While I have focused on the technical aspect of disaster preparation, there’s a human element to consider as well.
Your ham license carries with it both a privilege as well as a responsibility. You should be able to serve our community as best you’re able to do so, by providing emergency communications if, when and where you’re needed.
