Emergency Communication
One of the requirements of our hobby is you are ready to provide emergency communications (EmComs) when regular links fail. For some of us this is the keystone and for others it is just something they hope never happens. Every time you participate in a net you are getting ready for an emergency operation. You should be prepared to send simple messages in a designated format in a short period of time. Participating in contests will help you do this in an organized fashion.
The fourth weekend in June is the annual preparedness weekend for hams. Field day is a 24 hour operation, preferably using emergency power, to see how many contacts you can make. There are different classes of operation determined by what power source you use, number of transmitters used and power level transmitted. No you don’t have to do all 24 hours but that is the fun of it. When you have multiple operators it is easier to do shifts so there is always someone on the radio.
The most rewarding thing anyone can do is to help out another human. If you get a call to help and you connect to an emergency service to relay the message you can save a life! Floods, fires, car accidents and weather related issues all are part of what hams have been helping report for years! There are many ways to relay information on an emergency. If normal communications still exist you may take a message from someone who does not have access to them. You will become the relay and repeat the information received in the exact words (or as close as possible).
When other communications fail hams are called upon to fill in the gap. You might be assigned to work alongside an emergency service person. You will be their connection to their dispatch point. The idle chatter ceases, comments are kept in check and documentation becomes the norm. Every message should be logged in some format so it can be referred back to in the future. The simplest form of this is plain paper and writing down the gist of the conversation along with time and the station to whom delivered.
If you use tactical call signs they should be recorded along with the FCC issued call.
Always be ready because you never know when an emergency will happen!
73 WA2NTW
I have a supplement on grounding. who should I send it to for inclusion?
yes, i’ll update when we get it and thanks