TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.02 DATE: January 14, 2007
SUBJECT: THE IMPORTANCE OF HANDHELDS
Handheld radios are the one most important tool to the amateur radio operators who actually perform emergency communications in the field. If we could sit at home and talk in person to the incident commander or drive the car, truck, or van right to the incident command post, we could eliminate handheld use for this function. If we could just take our vehicles thru police lines at a disaster site, we might be able to eliminate handheld use in this situation also.
Handhelds may have difficulty hitting a repeater from time to time, this is understandable. This is why Wood County ARES/RACES is concerned with remote receivers and links. As a member of ARES we should carry our handheld with us, at least in our vehicles, at all times. Even if you have a mobile rig in your vehicle, which is great, you still should have the handheld close at hand. You never know when you may come upon an accident that requires you to walk a distance from your vehicle. Or respond to an incident, and not be allowed to take your vehicle to the incident command post. So carry that HT or stuff it in the trunk. It's the most important tool an emergency communicator can have. It could help save a life some day, maybe your own.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV District 3