INFO:  ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CA (ALLCA: OFFICIAL)
       ALL AMATEURS U.S.         (@ USA: INFORMATION)
FROM:  AUXILIARY RADIO SERVICE
       CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (W6HIR @ WA6NWE.CA)        2800
Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95832   (916)262-1603
       Landline BBS (FIDO) open to all: (916) 262-1657
RACESBUL.265                                DATE: March 15, 1993
SUBJECT: MGT - What officials need to know
     Here  are  some  observations made by Ron  Hashiro,  a  data
processing  officer  for  the First Hawaiian  Bank  in  Honolulu,
following Hurricane Iniki:
     In  as  instant,  the  media  and  the  public  became  very
interested in Amateur Radio. But the Amateurs were so  completely
involved  in their relief work that, consequently, they were  not
totally prepared during media interviews to present Amateur Radio
in a concise but meaningful fashion.
     The  key to a successful recovery operation is  establishing
relationships with officials in local government, hospitals,  and
similar  public  service  agencies  *before*  disaster   strikes.
Amateurs  need to educate these officials on how   Amateur  Radio
operators  can  and  will participate by  being  integrated  into
existing disaster preparation and relief efforts.
     And  officials  need to understand that  Amateurs  in  their
communities  have  already  invested  thousands  of  dollars   in
equipment  to  engage in daily radio communications and  that  by
establishing  working  relationships  they  can  tap  that  ready
resource with little or no outlay on their part.
     Amateur Radio is reliable in emergencies because the hams in
the affected areas can establish themselves quickly, knowing that
others are waiting to pitch in and help out.
     Faced  with tight budgets, officials welcome the comfort  of
additional means of disaster communications.
[From the February 1993 issue of "QST" magazine]
EOF
"Voice  communication  was the most flexible means of  sharing  a
radio channel between several agencies, but the hard-copy  packet
messages proved most effective in directing operations."
---Ron Hashiro, KH6JCA, following Hurricane Iniki
EOF