Mobile Amatuer

Did you know that… that the Communications confusion which followed Hurricane Katrina was avoidable? It wasn’t a matter of FEMA or drowned buses.

The facts may surprise you. Available Technology was unused and virtually un-mentioned by ‘The Mainstream Press’. You didn’t hear a word about a simple solution available from the beginning.

An assumption was made as Katrina ground into the Gulf Coast like a chain saw, that ‘it wouldn’t be that bad’.

Without the devastation soon to follow at New Orleans, the situation in Mississippi and Alabama deteriorated to a disaster of Biblical proportions swiftly. This debacle was not even reported to much of the outside world; outside local zones of devastation, because of the wind. Few if any realized that Cell phone and Radio towers, including many Amatuer (Ham) sites were unable to function.

The ‘usual’ method of communication after a devastating storm like Katrina, as illustrated after Hurricane Andrew, is Police and Fire mobile units, Amatuer Radio, and news crews as they make their way into the Disaster Areas.

After Andrew the South Florida Counties were so thoroughly pulverised that most assumed that their local few blocks had been the worst hit and help was on the way from areas of lesser damage. It was well after dawn on that Monday morning that it became obvious through helicopter reports, that an unprecedented disaster had occurred.

Some reports did get out over the airwaves. A few Amatuer Radio Operators and Police and Fire did report local damage. Again, none of these people had any idea how bad things really were. Many of the People and organizations these reports would normally have been aimed at were themselves in dire straits. Even Homestead Air Force Base was paralysed, later to be assesed unrecoverable as an Air Force Base.

Now let’s return to the Gulf Coast on another Monday Morning thirteen years later. The storm surge pushed inland with the help of hurricane force winds, over 20 miles inland in some areas. While early evacuations saved countless lives along the gulf coast, nothing could protect the infrastructure of the towns, counties and states. Much of the highway systems were junked to the point that even the National Guard could not get all their Heavy equipment into the hardest hit areas to dig for Survivors. The Interstates were unusable for miles.

Satellite Phone GSM: Consider a scenario where at least the Civil Defense organizations, National Guard, FEMA, Police, Sherrifs and Fire Departments, especially ‘First Responders’, had at the ready Satelitte Phones. Consider this scenario further in that Disaster planning and training had gone before using a combination of Satellite phones and Mobile radios that could work without a repeater on a general shared frequency.

The stumbling blocks inherent in an massive emergency situation could have been recognised and surmounted much earlier after the worst of Katrina had passed. With Cell Phones down (what’s new), and radio frequency sharing a virtual tower of babel there was minimal co-ordinated communications between those on the scene and those coming from the outside.

Something as simple as telling a National Guard Convoy that they ‘couldn’t get here from there’, would have helped so much. Satellite Phone GSM

It helps no one to look back and find fault beyond learning from our mistakes. One conclusion on the Communications situation is that at a minimum Satellite Phones be standard equipment for Civil Defense Organizations . Cell Phones are fine for normal use, but they depend on intense local infrastructure including local power. There are batteries of course, depending on re-charge of course. Satellite Phones are now ‘in the range of private use’ and have the same features available in ‘Cell Phones’ of everyday use.

Satellite Phones have been around for a few years now. They are used in the Persian Gulf to great effect. It would be criminal after ‘The Year of the Hurricane’ Not to press for Satellite Phone Technology inclusion in ALL Disaster Planning. This is true from City level To State and Federal.

C. R. Ellsworth © copyright 2006 All Rights reserved World Wide

About the Author:

C. R. Ellsworth is retired and living in the ‘Great North Woods’.

He’s been involved in On-Line & Network Marketing since 2000.

Satellite Phone GSM

I Work 4 U

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Post Katrina Communications

Did you know … that the Communications confusion which followed Hurricane Katrina was avoidable? It was not a question of FEMA or drowned buses.

The facts may surprise you. The technology available and virtually untapped United Nations refers to "the mainstream media." I have not heard a word about a simple solution available from the beginning.

An assumption was made as a land of Katrina on the Gulf Coast as a chainsaw, which "would not be so bad."

But before following the devastation in New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama situation deteriorated to a disaster of biblical proportions quickly. This disaster has not been reported, including much of the outside world, outside the local area of devastation, with the wind. Few or none realized that the cell phone and radio towers, including many amateur (HAM) were unable to function.

The method "usual" communication after a devastating storm like Katrina, as shown after Hurricane Andrew, is police and fire mobile units, radio amateurs, and equipment news as their way into the disaster areas.

After Andrew in South Florida counties were so pulverized that most people assume that their a few local blocks were the most affected and the help was coming from areas of lesser damage. It was well after that early Monday morning that became evident through reports of helicopters, an unprecedented disaster that had happened.

Some reports were obtained along waves. A few Amateur Radio Operators and the Police and Fire did a local report damage. Again, none of these people had any idea how bad they were. Many of individuals and organizations typically these reports have addressed themselves were in dire straits. Even Homestead Air Force Base was paralyzed, which unrecoverable later assessed as Air Force base.

Now let's return to the Gulf Coast in thirteen years later Monday Morning. The storm pushed inland with the help of hurricane winds over 20 miles inland in some areas. While early evacuation saved countless lives along the Gulf Coast, nothing could protect the infrastructure of cities, counties and states. Much of the highway systems were discarded at the point that even National Guard could not get all their heavy equipment into the hardest hit areas to dig for survivors. Interstate highways were unusable for miles.

Satellite Phone GSM: Consider a scenario where the organizations within the Civil Defense, National Guard, FEMA, Police, Sheriffs and fire departments, especially "first responders" had been prepared to satellite phones. Consider this scenario where the disaster planning and training had gone before using a combination of satellite telephones and mobile radios that could work without a repeater in a common frequency in general.

The obstacles inherent in a mass emergency situation could be recognized and overcome long before then Katrina's worst had passed. With Cell Phones below (which is new), and radio frequency sharing a virtual tower of babel was minimal co-coordinated communication between the scene and from outside.

Something as simple as telling a National Guard convoy that "could not get from there, it would helped a lot. Satellite Phone GSM

That helps no one to look back and find fault beyond learning from our mistakes. One of the conclusions on the communication situation is that at a minimum satellite phone standard equipment for civil defense organizations. Cellphones are fine for normal use, but that depends on strong local infrastructure such as local power. There are piles of course, depending on recharge, of course. Satellite phones are in the range of private use and have the same features available in "Cell Phones" in everyday use.

Satellite phones have been around for a few years ago. They are used in the Persian Gulf to large effect. It would be criminal, after "The Year of the hurricane" not to press Satellite Phone for including technology in all disaster planning. This is the case of cities at the state and federal.

CR Ellsworth Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved World Wide

About the Author:

C. R. Ellsworth is retired and living in the ‘Great North Woods’.

He’s been involved in On-Line & Network Marketing since 2000.

Satellite Phone GSM

I Work 4 U

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Post Katrina Communications