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Hams - The Forgotten Heroes
by Marti Talbott
(c) 2001
On Good Friday, March 27, l964 approximately 12,000 square miles of the
Alaskan seafloor shifted, causing one of the worst earthquakes in US history.
When the shock waves subsided and the massive tsunami receded, loss of life
and injuries were compounded by yet another tragedy -- a total communications
blackout.
Then at last, a lone Ham Radio Operator managed to send a message -- a cry
for help that would be repeated by other Hams and sent all over the world.
6 November 1996 - A fierce lightning storm strikes a rural area on the
Oregon/California border, miles from backup support, and rural residents use
ham radio to alert each other...
27 August 1998 - Flooding in Texas and Hurricane Bonnie on the eastern
seaboard of the US has created communications emergencies...
27 January 1998 - Canadian Ham Radio Operators Respond to Ice Storm... Over
700 hams were operating at one time or another...
24 December 1999 - US Coast Guard Requests Amateur Radio Assistance...
21 September 1999 - Hurricane Floyd; Quake in Taiwan Disrupt
Communications...
So what happened to Ham (Amateur) Radio Operators and why don't we hear about
them anymore? Believe it or not, they still live among us and they're still
responding to cries for help, up to and including the Washington State Fires
of 2001.
The world wrongly assumes that with the Internet and cell phones, we no
longer need Hams, but disasters cut electricity and cell phones need working
towers every three miles. Yet Internet search engines list Amateur Radio
sites under "hobbies," a classification totally unwarranted and highly
resented.
Hams are a lot more than high school kids fiddling with radios, they're a
network of highly trained people, men and woman of all ages who are willing
to drop whatever they're doing to look for a lost child or aid overworked
emergency personnel. Like an old-fashioned fire brigade, they pass the
information bucket from one to another warning of severe weather conditions,
hazardous spills, railroad disasters and much, much more.
Ham Radio Operators are indeed forgotten heroes, but they shouldn't be. And
God help us if they ever cease to exist.
About the author
Marti Talbott is the author of
"A Shattered City - Earthquake in Seattle"
For more information visit http://www.carsonbooks.com
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
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Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing