Where are all the HAMs?

[Wilber_Stool]

I know the popularity of the hobby has wained over the years but these are the guys that are really needed during this kind of disaster.
They could really get the information out and help coordinate the efforts.

[SteppingRazor]

1. The what?

You're losin' those of us under 40. ;)

Kidding aside, I'd say of the few HAM radio operators there are out there, how mnay of them in the affected area lost their radios to flooding?

I doubt there's enough operators to create any sort of network in affected areas.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I'm only on 2 meters.. can't get out of the NE area :^(

[bluedog]

2. Cb'er here in Fl

kind of hard to run equiptment without power.....car battery runs dead after a while......hams need tall towers to get out and with the looks of NO there are no towers left standing............And lets say a cb'er or ham gets through to people trapped.just who will get them out .as there is no relief efforts in some ares........

[Enraged_Ape]

8. Hams can still provide valuable help in many different ways

See Spinzonner's link (post #4).

Basically, if you can get ANY information out of a disaster area, it can be delivered to hams and routed to the right place.

[Spinzonner]

4. See

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/08/30/1/?nc=1

[Enraged_Ape]

5. I've been thinking about getting into this hobby

Right now I am trying to teach myself basic electronics, at least enough to get started in amateur radio and pass the technician exam. I have a nagging feeling that there will be a time fairly soon when the Internet will no longer be an option for instant communication, and I'll have to fall back on this older, but far more time-tested, means.

You're right: It's situations like this that point out the absolute necessity of amateur radio. Hams throughout history have provided extremely valuable help in locating lost family members, coordinating rescue missions, etc. Our Office of Homeland Security and FEMA should have created some sort of program to get people into this hobby and train them--even subsidize people for equipment. But we all know how effective those departments have been.

[BrotherBuzz]

6. I've heard requests on radio and TV more than once on the west coast

I can only assume the radios are being mobilized as we speak.

[DBoon]

7. See this link - they have been very active since the start

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/08/30/1/?nc=1

quote:

"If everyone who has volunteered came, we could fill the state," Stratton told ARRL. "But, please hold on. It's going to be a very long time from this."

The West Gulf Emergency Net remains active (7.285 MHz days/3.873 MHz nights). A high volume of health-and-welfare requests initially slowed passage of critical tactical and emergency traffic, so health-and-welfare traffic is being moved to 7.290 MHz days/3.935 MHz nights.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) on 14.265 MHz has been accepting and handling health-and-welfare inquiries on the air and via its Web site. SATERN reports it received more than 700 health-and-welfare requests in the first 12 hours after Katrina hit. The Salvation Army also is using Amateur Radio for its tactical communications. SATERN says the health-and-welfare demand is so heavy that it's threatening to overwhelm the Internet server.

The Hurricane Watch Network (http://www.hwn.org) was active over the weekend during the duration of the storm. Their 20 meter frequency made interesting listening.