Now that we are organizing as radio operators to prepare and test our ability to communicate, can we imagine opportunities where activating a net would be of benefit to one or more of the communities represented in the group?
Some examples:
In the old days of the Clarkston Pony Express Race, when the course traversed the back country between Weston Canyon and Clarkston, amateur operators were positioned at hand-off locations to communicate the need for any assistance. It was a fun opportunity to practice radio communication while observing the logistics of the race away from the finish line.
Years ago, and even more recently, Newton has experienced flooding during the winter months as one of our most wide-spread emergencies. One particular event saw run off from rain on frozen ground backing up at almost every drain and culvert in its path, with flooding affecting the roads in town - as well as private property.
Amateur operators in any of our communities could activate a radio net in response to such an emergency. Most emergency response actions are rightly left to Fire, EMS and other agencies, but we can be a valuable asset. Helping to contact citizens and functioning as observers in the field, requests for assistance passed to net control at a unified command would then be forwarded to the resource in the community best able to help. Remember, coordination and communication can be handled over whatever means are available - not just a radio on a simplex frequency.
If the scope of the situation extends beyond the communities represented by our net, one or more of the emergency communication nets covering the greater Cache County area will likely be activated - the LDS Storehouse Net, with operators representing the wards and stakes throughout the region, or the Cache County ARES Net, helping city or town EOC’s coordinate a response at the County government level.
If you are not familiar with these local amateur radio emergency communication organizations, information about County ARES can be found at barconline.org/ares. On this page click on the Cache County EComm Plan link for a description of the communication plan, and for a list of frequencies access the ICS205 link on that site.
Visiting storehousenet.blogspot.com you will find information about the LDS emergency communication organization in our part of the state. If you are able to hold over and want to listen to the Storehouse bi-monthly net it begins at 8:30 p.m. tonight on 146.420 simplex.
If you are willing to help with communication and coordination in time of need, contacting your local government officials to let them know how you can help is a good way to start the process.