TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 14.36 DATE: September 7, 2014
SUBJECT: CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT OFTEN
If you don't check your emergency equipment often, don't be surprised if it doesn't work when you need it most. Sometimes things just happen that you don't know about until it's too late. The more often you check your equipment, the better off you may be.
When you are getting ready for some kind of event such as a disaster drill, exercise, or other non-emergency event, be sure to check that the equipment is working, don't just assume that it's okay. There's a chance that something may go wrong with it, just before you use it, but the chances are slim. The chances of it breaking down, or quit working days, or weeks, in advance of an event are more likely than when you start to use.
You may not be able to use the equipment for the event, and have to come up with a back-up plan. Coming up with a back-up plan for a non-emergency event isn't all bad. That's why we have drills and exercises. If you have to use a back-up plan, then you will learn two things, one is how to come up with a back-up plan, and the other is to learn to check your equipment often. If you don't check your equipment often, and it doesn't work when you need it, and you have to use a back-up plan, you'll find you will have a subject title for new ARES Bulletin.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV