[Swprograms] Katrina
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[Swprograms] Katrina



Bingo! Guys (and gal), this is exactly what I've been saying! Katrina had
nothing to do with evil Republicans like me trying to kill off the poor,
down-trodden Democratic voters. It was the text-book example of a complete
communications melt-down. Anyone with even modest equipment on HF (Kirsten,
that's the formal term for shortwave), VHF, and UHF could witness the total
failure to communicate effectively (hell, most of the chaos was even
available on the Web)! Politicians were using the media to talk AT each
other instead of communicating. The official Louisiana Office of Emergency
Preparedness evacuation plan for SE Louisiana is available online.
Considering that it was written by bureaucrats, it is an amazingly succinct
document that, among other things, states clearly that evacuation
coordination is a local job. FEMA is basically a huge fire hose of
resources; fire hoses flop around until someone down at the business end
stands up and starts directing the flow. 

Katrina is also a stark case of what I've been riding local Amateur Radio
Operators about lately. Their sacred cow, 100+-old Morse Code technology,
was rendered largely moot by solar conditions (and we're STILL enduring a
major flare). If "hams" want their hobby to retain its federally-protected
status, they urgently need to step up with robust modern communication
modes. A modern ham should be prepared to pass along terabytes of radio
traffic while dog-paddling through 20 feet of water and braving 200-mph
winds. Yes, I'm exaggerating, but just modestly. Most of the required
technology already exists, but our laws heavily restrict what the military
can do within local jurisdictions. Hams need to remember that Congress
specifically created their "service" to maintain a pool of skilled radio
operators ready to dive into disasters on their own and set up emergency
communications. This is something hams used to do reasonably well, 

(Kirsten, please show the web page below to Justin. Perhaps it will make him
rethink his rant. :) )

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Shortcut to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9286534/


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