From: alan@km4ba.uucp (Alan Barrow)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Uselessness of ARES/RACES
Date: 2 Sep 92 07:09:12 GMT
Organization: km4ba's packet radio gateway

In <9wjn+2_.stevew@netcom.com> stevew@netcom.com (Steven Wilson) writes:

>Considering the above plus the on going efforts down in Florida/Louisianna
>right now I'd say your posting is not only in error, but pretty poorly
>timed.  Try again when you can support your claims.

I don't know guys.... Myself and 4 other hams drove from Atlanta to 
Charlston in a very well equipped RV to assist. We went at the request of
the State Orgs.

What we found when we arrived was a zillion media, Law enforcement, and
volunteer folks wandering around drinking and eating Salvation Army
food. (The only people we saw doing anything productive.)

There were emergency shelters that were out of communication. Local
two meter freqs were saturated.

We came with equipment enough to set up two shelters with yagi links
on 220 back to the headquarters. 

HQ declined. They were going to do it on "their" rptr, saturated as it 
was. We were offering to install, test, then leave the equipment.

They sent us off to rcv incoming HF H&W traffic. They were going to provide
the phone. The phone never came. We had 3 cell portables. As we had
a stack (hundreds) of inqueries, but no way to check them, we set off
to the local cell office to get our phones turned on. The cell co found
out what we were doing, turned ours on, and handed us 3 more!
Noone from the local ARES clan had attempted to contact the Cell folks, 
even though the cell system was 100% operational.

We offered one to the shelter that was still out of communication. 

Next thing we know, we have very angry ARES folks yelling at us because
we gave a cell phone to a site they were going to outfit via radio.
(which they had not done for 2 1/2 days since we offered our 220 equipment)

They were very irate that we deviated from our assigned task, though we
kept rcving that end as well. (Despite the 14.313 clowns that deviated
from their normal BARF routine to disrupt these efforts as well.)

Meanwhile the ARES crowd is still drinking coffee, hot showers, etc.
The shelters still have poor communication. packet was totally useless,
with out of state "rubber neckers" testing the paths. 

It turned out that Charleston was not the worst hit,and that a small 
community north of there needed help very bad. The local ARES HQ would 
not talk to us, so we checked out, and moved to help the folks who needed
us.

When the QST article showed up describing the valiant ARES efforts, we 
nearly puked. Were we not as disgusted, we would have made people 
aware how bad it really was.

I understand the need for central control and planning, but I feel they
made some major mistakes:

    1) Poor planning- One rptr does not a communication system make.

    2) Not enough equipment for dealing with the shelters. You will
       need 20-30 plus. They had about 5.

    3) Big time NIH syndrome- refusal to accept freely offered equipment
       to help on item 2. (no strings attached. Use it as you wish.)

    4) Denial- rather then accept that they had some problems, they
       were in the "everything is under control here" mode. great for 
       the media. Meanwhile, shelters have no fresh water, while another
       has 3 tanks sitting unused.

    5) refusal to accept technology other than Ham radio, even when freely
       offered. Cellphones worked! Their system did not! They would rather
       do without communication than use non-amateur methods.

    6) No plan for dealing with volunteers not in their group. We were 
       entirely self sufficient. (Food water for 2 wks.) Three 4wd vehicle
       with HF, 2m, 220, and 440. Plus an RV with that plus two computers,
       two packet stations, and additional HF rigs, 220 point to point
       links, etc. Plus all HF stations had base antennas to be used
       once assigned. With our own power sources.

       Of all this, only one HF station was assigned by ARES, mostly
       to get us out of their hair.

       While we were rcving the H&W reports we could not answer, the rest
       of us helped a local church check on their "shut-ins" and handicapped
       folks that needed transportation. Much better use of our time.

I was ashamed of how amateur radio (local and HF) performed during Hugo.
it was not the antiquated technology that failed. It was people and egos.

I grew up in Cutler Ridge, where Andrew passed through. Many friends live
in Kendall, Perrine, Homestead, etc. It was tough for me not to go help. 
(I was down there fishing 1 wk before the hurricane came through.)

I decided not to, as I did not see how amateur would help. If you can't help,
you are hurting... (In an emergency like this)

I hope some of the locals in Miami/keys are doing a better job than
Charleston did. I have faith in some of them. 

Bottom line... Glowing QST articles are suspect in my eyes, as I know what
I saw/heard during hugo. I know what I hear on 75m, and 14.313. These guys
were worse during the emergency (some geezer on 75m running 5kw droning on
about Reagan being the Anti-Christ) BARF at it slimy worst!

The next emergency I help out on will be with food, water, tools, and muscles.
(Maybe spotlights and firearms if it is like Homestead )

Sincerely,

Alan Barrow  km4ba

..!gatech!kd4nc!km4ba!alan    (HP 9000 unix box/56k packet gateway)

jab@hpuerca.atl.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc