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ARRL praises radio amateurs for hurricane
work
The President of the American Radio Relay League has heaped praise on
the hams who volunteered in the wake of three killer hurricanes that recently
hit US shores.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has the rest of the story:
Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says those who gave up days and weeks of time, shared
their skills and talents, and lent their equipment to serve their neighbors
in dire need in the South deserve recognition for their outstanding contribution.
Haynie says the hams who went in as part of the front-line corps of volunteers
to help those who lost virtually everything, gave unselfishly to help
in the recovery effort. And, many still continue to do so.
But Haynie says he understands some at the very highest levels were a
bit uncomfortable about what hams were able to accomplish.
"Showing the FCC that the amateur radio community can provide communications
- which we did very, very well during Hurricane Katrina and all the other
hurricanes now that we've had since then - is sort of an embarassing thing,
quite frankly, to the federal government," Haynie contends.
Haynie says the political fallout from the federal response to Katrina
and subsequent glitches that occurred in delivering aid to victims of
other storms, is an open wound right now. He says hams proved they don't
need the kind of infrastructure the government and major companies invested
so much in - infrastructure that didn't work at the time it was needed.
"We, as amateur radio operators, can provide basic communications,"
Haynie says. " We do not need the billions of dollars. What we need
is a little bit of recognition of the fact that we can do this.
"And, it's important that FEMA and the federal government realize
that ham radio is such an integral part of our fabric of the nation for
communications. Not only just for hurricanes, but earthquakes out in California,
mudslides, you name the disaster."
Haynie says hams have been an underutilized,
misunderstood and under appreciated resource.
"Hams are always there, we're always available," Haynie says.
"And, it's very difficult for the federal government to understand
that something like this with volunteers is something that will work.
"And I understand what their problem is in this respect because they
spend hundreds of millions of dollars and all of a sudden hams come through
and do their job and they do it very well."
Haynie says while amateur radio had numerous opportunities to tell its
story in the media because of its disaster response, many media outlets
couldn't quite get it. Many portrayed amateur radio as a hobby or service
populated by old timers and basement, wanna-be scientists using antiquated
vacuum tube equipment.
"If you see what we as amateur radio operators have in the way of
communications equipment, it's cutting-edge technology and we use that
and we use it very well," Haynie says.
In fairness, Haynie says, some media stories did get it right and showcased
the value of amateur radio as more reliable than the powerful, billion-dollar
communication networks that failed.
He's hoping - with time and a little more education - others, especially
those at the highest levels of decision-making in government, will get
it, too.
Mark Abramowicz, NT3V
Amateur Radio Newsline
Many outside the hobby may wonder why hams carry transceivers on their
belts and have automobiles bristling with antennas. It's when disaster
strikes that they find out.
Source: ARNewsline
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