‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM SEPTEMBER 2012 QST  PAGE 41‰

RADIO IN A BAG PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS BECAME PERSONAL TO ME AFTER
THE TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI.  TIM FACTOR, KT7F I USED TO READ ABOUT
GO KITS IN AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINES MORE WITH CURIOSITY THAN INTEREST.  IT
SEEMED THAT THE GO KIT CONCEPT HAD AS ITS MAJOR THEME THE ABILITY TO SET UP
AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS STATION TO ASSIST AUTHORITIES IN AN EMERGENCY.
I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR THOSE HAMS WHO PROVIDE THE VERY IMPORTANT
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRED DURING LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS.  I NEVER SAW MYSELF SUITED FOR THAT LEVEL OF EMERGENCY
RESPONSE, SO I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.
THAT IS UNTIL MARCH 11, 2011.  THE NEWS HITS HOME THAT WAS THE DAY TOHOKU
EARTHQUAKE AND THE RESULTANT TSUNAMI HAPPENED IN JAPAN.  WHEN I LOOKED AT
THOSE TSUNAMI FILMS, I REALIZED THAT MY LOCATION IN COASTAL CALIFORNIA IS
STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO SENDAI, JAPAN AND THATS HOW DISASTER RECOVERY
COMMUNICATIONS BECAME PERSONAL.  DURING THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE TRIED TO
DETERMINE WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATION MEANT TO ME.  SINCE I AM NOT
INTERESTED IN BEING A FIRST RESPONDER, THEN WHAT WOULD BE MY PERSONAL NEEDS
FOR POST DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS?  WHAT IS IT THAT I WOULD NEED TO
COMMUNICATE AND TO WHOM?  THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS I WOULD NEED TO
COMMUNICATE WITH MY WIFE, AND SHE WITH ME, TO LET HER KNOW THAT I AM OKAY
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