TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 18.13 DATE: April 1, 2018
SUBJECT: DON'T BE A FOOL
Even though it looks like alternate communications, such as Amateur Radio is coming to a useless end, look around the world and you'll find a lot of uses for it. Just because primary communications such as cellular telephones, the internet, and satellite communications are very popular, doesn't mean they will always be there when needed.
Those who provide, control, and maintain such communications do their best to keep these systems in good working order, but there are unforeseen events that can cause them to fail to provide the communications that you may need. Sometimes it doesn't take a major disaster to interrupt normal communications.
A few years ago a government official caused havoc with the landline telephone system. He had alerted the people in his state that a major snowstorm was coming, and everyone should leave their place of employment and go home. The snowstorm never did come. The telephone system became so overloaded that making a telephone call was almost impossible.
During earthquakes in the past few years, the telephone service in those areas was disrupted and making telephone calls was almost impossible. Cellular telephone calls and internet access relies on landline telephone facilities which can be disrupted during man-made and natural emergencies and disasters.
Power lines can also be disrupted during these same events. Keep your alternate communications in good working order by using them on a daily basis, and make sure your back-up batteries and generators are ready to be used. Don't be a fool by thinking all normal communications will be available when a disaster hits.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV