K4OJ is on the mark with his comments about emergency communication and the
role contesters sometimes play. Back in the early 70's or late 60's when the
dam went out in Rapid City, South Dakota one of the Rapid City DX/Contest types
had high power mobile DXing setup. He was drafted to serve as the primary
emergency communications point for Rapid City. At this time I no longer
remember his call.
The state of Iowa Emergency Management Division amateur radio station became a
primary funnel for traffic in and out of Rapid City due to 24 hour/day coverage
between 40/80 Meters. The local Des Moines club was struggling to staff the
Iowa Emergency Management Division Amateur Radio station and handle the message
traffic.
I remember getting a phone call asking if I could help them. I sat for 28
hours in front of a Collins-S Line and handled over 1200 health and welfare
enquiries. When ask how I was able to do this, I explained it was due to
contesting and Dxing experience.
Unfortunatley in the event of a major crisis there might be a problem as the
Iowa Emergency Management Division Amateur Radio station has come to rely
primarily on VHF and UFH communications.
W0ETC
73 W0ETC
------------------------------
5. QST for April Correspondence (Jim White, K4OJ)
From: "Jim White, K4OJ" <k4oj@tampabay.rr.com>
To: jpuett@yournet.com, cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] QST for April Correspondence
Message: 5
There is an excellent letter in the correspondence column of April QST.
N5QYC points out very well that contesting serves as a ruler for us to
measure our station and operating abilities... noting where else can you
score these attributes!
N5QYC is an ARES District Coordinator in Harrison, Arkansas - don't know
if he is a regular to CQ-Contest e-mail reflector but in case he is not
I have copied him on this e-mail.
Thanks, Joe for saying something good about us - unfortunately it
usually takes a disaster for others to realize how operating under less
than perfect situations takes someone who does this routinely and about
the only ones who do are the Contesters and DXers...
Usually our reward is bragging rights, occasionally though an
enlightened soul like yours does take notice!
Much obliged,
Jim, K4OJ
Near Tampa, FL
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