> http://www.kptv.com/weatheralert/14776224/detail.html
>
> Officials: Ham Radio Operators Are Storm's 'Unsung Heroes'
>
> POSTED: 6:08 pm PST December 4, 2007
> UPDATED: 11:45 am PST December 5, 2007
> PORTLAND, Ore. -- When parts of Oregon were overwhelmed by wind and water 
> during the recent storm, vital communication often was lacking, with trees 
> down and across phone lines and cell coverage limited.
>
> Even the state police had difficulty in reaching some of their own troops.
>
> But ham radio worked.
>
> In fact, amateur radio operators were heralded by state emergency 
> officials as heroes. Ham radio is more than just a hobby to some. It can 
> set up networks for government and emergency officials to communicate when 
> other communication services fail.
>
> "One of the problems in this is always communication," Gov. Ted Kulongoski 
> said after a visit Tuesday to Vernonia and a fly-over there and other 
> affected areas. "I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very 
> beginning of this...the ham radio operators. These people just came in and 
> actually provided a tremendous communication link to us."
>
> A network of at least 60 volunteer amateur radio operators working along 
> the coast and inland helped from keep crucial systems such as 911 calls, 
> American Red Cross and hospital services connected. They relayed 
> information about patient care and relayed lists of supplies needed in 
> areas cut off by water.
>
> In addition to getting an FCC license to operate, certain groups of 
> operators are cleared by the federal government to work as emergency 
> responders.
>
> "You are amateur in name only," said Steve Sanders, a spokesman for 
> District One of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which helped in 
> several key counties hit by the storm.
>
> The Oregon Office of Emergency Management said the radio operators were 
> tireless in their efforts to keep the systems connected.
>
> It was ham radio that kept New York City agencies in touch with each other 
> after their command center was destroyed on 9-11, according to the 
> National Association for Amateur Radio. When hurricanes like Katrina hit, 
> amateur radio helped provide life-and-death communication services when 
> everything else failed.
>
> Amateur radio works on a set of radio frequencies known as "amateur bands" 
> just above the AM broadcast band all the way up to high microwave 
> frequencies. Operators use their own equipment to communicate with other 
> operators, using different equipment and frequencies than emergency 
> responders.
>
> So when some services won't work, they can relay messages.
>
> Sometimes it takes creativity and a lot of leg work, such as setting up a 
> new link on the top of a mountain when no other options are available.
>
> The only major limitation, Sanders said, is the number of volunteers.
>
> "This was just the poster child storm for what we do," Sander said.
>
> Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
> This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 
> 269.16.12/1163 - Release Date: 12/1/2007 12:05 PM
>
>