Burlington Free Press - Top News

Burlington Free Press - Top News

"One of the biggest problems in New Orleans after Katrina, said Mitch Stern of Essex, is people couldn't talk to each other. 'Katrina is the big deal. It's a major infrastructure collapse. No power, no phones, no computers, no cell phones,' he said. Even the police radios often failed.

Ham radio operators could help during large disasters by relaying critical information between rescuers and relief workers when all other communication fails. In the wake of Katrina, Stern said he would like to increase the number of licensed Vermont ham radio operators. He's conducting a class Oct. 15 to lure more people into ham radios.

Enthusiasts who enjoy the hobby because it enables them to talk to people worldwide can shift into disaster mode if an emergency strikes, Stern said. 'We're foolhardy to think it won't happen to us,' he said.

Farr, the state's emergency manager, said ham radios are indeed an important part of disaster management. 'They are fantastic to work with when all the power is down. We do rely on those ham operators,' Farr said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the state has made other efforts to ensure various agencies can talk to each other during emergencies, Farr said. Police and fire departments still have varying radio systems, but the systems have been improved so agencies can more easily talk to each other out in the field, she said.

Vermont also has a new 1,000-page emergency operations plan. The plan is a guide for every hazard that could affect the state. Moreover, each Vermont community has a rapid-response plan, which provides basic information on phone numbers, evacuation routes, shelters and emergency personnel, Farr said. "

73 fer nw,
Bob N5IET

(old calls KE5CTY - WB5ZQU - WY5L)
10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
http://www.qsl.net/ke5cty/
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.