I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
houstonchronicle.com
I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
1–10 of 147 posts
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#2I heard about Zello through this article a couple days ago. I installed it and to be honest it's been kind of interesting to listen to, reminded me of the old days when I wold listen in on my CB radio to the random chatter. I'm not sure how useful it is for actual communication though, it seems like SMS or similar apps are more efficient and let me know I didn't miss anything if I'm away from my phone for a while.
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#3It's really depressing that we've largely abandoned the art of decentralized radio communication. I think Amateur radio has seen a minor resurgence in recent years, but it seems like more and more traffic that traditionally would have been passed by decentralized amateur operators now relies on centralized networks.
Obviously Zello and its ilk bring significant benefits with them, but I worry about the impact they have on proliferation of radio skills.
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#4Why don't we have people doing this dispatch professionally? What are FEMA and the Red Cross doing if not helping coordinate emergency response when the normal channels are overwhelmed?
Don't get me wrong, this person, and all those who aid the rescue efforts, is a hero. Don't the people who do this deserve to get paid and have resources for dealing with PTSD? And don't the victims deserve organized, professional response?
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#5[deleted]
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#6It's really depressing that we've largely abandoned the art of decentralized radio communication. I think Amateur radio has seen a minor resurgence in recent years, but it seems like more and more traffic that traditionally would have been passed by decentralized amateur operators now relies on centralized networks. Obviously Zello and its ilk bring significant benefits with them, but I worry about the impact they ha…
This seems like an opportunity for the amateur radio community to remind the world of its existence and to do some outreach that could eventually save lives. I have an emergency radio (1 way) that I've never used but if all other lines of communication were to go down I would pull it out and crank it up (literally, its a crank radio).
It seems uncertain whether these kinds of weather events are going to become more common but in general it does seem that climate change is likely to cause more extreme weather conditions worldwide (some of the wildfires we've seen could have a similar isolating need-rescue situations), disaster preparedness might become much more of a way of life than it has been for us in a while.
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#7The part of this story I don't understand myself, is how so many people had bandwidth to download and use an app, in an environment in which I would have assumed both power and the cell network–especially data–were limping or just down.
The implicit question is, what percentage of people in the disaster zone did, and did not, have a channel out through this app? Does this story represent the 10% case or the 50% case or...?
Not sure where to find the answer...
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#8Why don't we have people doing this dispatch professionally? What are FEMA and the Red Cross doing if not helping coordinate emergency response when the normal channels are overwhelmed? Don't get me wrong, this person, and all those who aid the rescue efforts, is a hero. Don't the people who do this deserve to get paid and have resources for dealing with PTSD? And don't the victims deserve organized, professional res…
I'm not sure why you got downvoted, perhaps downvoters would chime in?
I get that local organizations deal with some situations better than some large, clumsy bureaucracy but I tend to agree with wnissen, if this continues as trend relying on a patchwork of individuals (heroic as they may be).
I wish there was a non-military or less-military domestic version of this, I've considered joining the national guard for this reason but I'm don't trust that I wouldn't end up fighting and dying in a pointless war. If there was another volunteer force that was devoted to humanitarian issues and search and rescue I would be all for it.
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#9Why don't we have people doing this dispatch professionally? What are FEMA and the Red Cross doing if not helping coordinate emergency response when the normal channels are overwhelmed? Don't get me wrong, this person, and all those who aid the rescue efforts, is a hero. Don't the people who do this deserve to get paid and have resources for dealing with PTSD? And don't the victims deserve organized, professional res…
I'm not sure why you got downvoted, perhaps downvoters would chime in? I get that local organizations deal with some situations better than some large, clumsy bureaucracy but I tend to agree with wnissen, if this continues as trend relying on a patchwork of individuals (heroic as they may be). I wish there was a non-military or less-military domestic version of this, I've considered joining the national guard for thi…
Isn't that about the Red Cross? (which has its own issues around funding efficiency)
Or the Civil Air Patrol? Or (less military, not non-military) US Coast Guard?
Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy
#10Why don't we have people doing this dispatch professionally? What are FEMA and the Red Cross doing if not helping coordinate emergency response when the normal channels are overwhelmed? Don't get me wrong, this person, and all those who aid the rescue efforts, is a hero. Don't the people who do this deserve to get paid and have resources for dealing with PTSD? And don't the victims deserve organized, professional res…
I wonder to what extent the right question is how you stop people from jumping on Zello and trying to help.