American Radio Relay League

Los Angeles Section LAX

Los Angeles ARRL Section News for QST

It should be well known that the Northridge earthquake taught us a few good lessons about emergency communications, that we should never forget. (1) Never depend upon the "cellular phone", system because it will be overloaded just as it was during the Northridge shaker. (2) Never depend upon the "land-line", it was and will be overloaded too.

These systems are not designed so that all of the customers can talk at once. In fact, if you knew the percentage of customers that could talk at the same time, you would soon realize that you could have a serious problem. The big emergency situation is even worse, when you realize that a high percentage of these panic calls are trying to call the same emergency number (fire/police/common relative). Good emergency back up systems like ARES and other radio systems do provide this back up capability.

What can you do to help? You can join ARES and/or other RADIO groups that can help. You may need a little practice but if you are a "real-DX'er", you are already trained and almost ready to roll. My definition of a "real-DX'er" is some one who has worked over 300 countries.

Hank, K6YMJ, SEC and his assistant Dennis, KA6GSE are ready to help you get into the ARES and ACS systems if you are so inclined. Our website contains all of the addresses and phone numbers: < http://www.qsl.net/arrlsw/lax/ > If you are wondering about ACS, This is Chief Bisson's (KF6XX) baby. The Chief is a great guy and runs a great "Auxiliary Communications System" for Los Angeles. Hank and Dennis will be glad to fill in the details of our Emergency Systems if you should want to help.

Vy 73 de Phineas, W6BF

Phineas J. Icenbice Jr, W6BF, Section Manager
19323 Halsted St Northridge, CA 91324	818-349-3186 e-mail: w6bf@arrl.org

14 September 2001 maintained by KK6WO kk6wo@arrl.net
http://www.qsl.net/arrlsw/lax/qst1200.html