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I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

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Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#121

Post by sjmulder »

forkandwait wrote: post #64

I wish there were a disaster militia, with something like quarterly weekend trainings, with some FEMA sponsorship but still independent. It would be fun to practice ham communications and boat rescue anyway, and a little bit of practice could have a huge impact when the shit is truly hitting the fan.

The Dutch National Reserve is independent nor civilian but comes close. These units train every so often in first aid and military skills. They are tasked with:

1) Security of evacuated areas and vital objects

2) Assisting

- during calamities such as flooding and disease

- authorities in maintaining public order

- with large military transports or exercises ('Host Nation Support')

- civilian authorities other military units during large events

3) Ceremonial activities

Notably absent: fighting wars on foreign soil. And while training attendance is required, all work is voluntary.

The National Reserve is part of the regional emergency plans so there's a real opportunity there to be part of the organised relief efforts right from the start.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#122

Post by sverige »

jes5199 wrote: post #60
sverige wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One advantage of a trained ham radio operator is that false reports such as you've described are sifted much more thoroughly before being broadcast. Limiting access to the communication channels by requiring licensing is a great way to improve signal to noise ratio.

in theory, sure, but unlicensed Ham-capable radios are so cheap nowadays that public repeaters suffer from spam and harassment, just like every other medium.

I have not witnessed much of that, although the couple of cases that I know about were bad for a time.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#123

Post by sverige »

uabstraction wrote: post #63
sverige wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amateur radio is still alive, but there are not nearly as many active hams as there were 30 years ago when I first got my license. A much smaller percentage of hams know how to pass traffic in a systematic way these days, and not as many are proficient with Morse code, which is arguably the most efficient use of spectrum in disaster scenarios. Hams did help during Harvey and are helping during Irma, but it doesn't ge…

> My challenge to a community that includes "hacker" in its name is to consider picking up the radio hobby. You hit the nail on the head here. I've been fooling around with computer programming for over a decade now (since I was in Jr. High), and Arduinos and Raspberry Pis as long as they have been available, but I never put much thought into ham radio. Most of the makers I know go straight to pre-made WiFi or Blueto…

You are absolutely right about the generation gap between the two groups. I'm middle aged and one of the younger people at my ham radio club. I will say that some of us older folks have some computer skills, though. And many of them want to acquire maker skills but aren't sure where to start. Maybe that is my next local project.

I don't have any social media accounts, but I know some hams do engage there.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#124

Post by Andrenid »

mnw21cam wrote: post #118

Could I ask, what's so bad about going into the attic? Surely that's just one of the easier ways to get out onto the roof?

The end of the article said that family got stuck in the attic and the water rose higher than the roof, drowning them all. That's why.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#125

Post by mnw21cam »

michelb wrote: post #119
mnw21cam wrote: post #118

Could I ask, what's so bad about going into the attic? Surely that's just one of the easier ways to get out onto the roof?

If you have no roof access from the attic, and the water level rises, you are stuck.

Rip away the roofing felt, shove the tiles, then you have a hole. Climb out.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#126

Post by redog »

subway wrote: post #3

It'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…

LTE is radio. and WTF is decentralized radio? I don't think you can run a transmitter on the blockchain.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#127

Post by aplummer »

tlrobinson wrote: post #115

> The second he answered, he was screaming that his brother and cousin were laying in the backyard, unresponsive, possibly electrocuted. > I told him they needed to try to get to them > I went to the bathroom, refilled my tea, walked around a bit, thinking to myself, "What are you doing?? You're not qualified to do this!" I'm not trained to handle this sort of thing either, but I'm pretty sure if you suspect someone…

I was mortified reading this part. As well, telling people rescue is soon when you don't know (or know it isn't) can be disastrous.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#128

Post by nocha »

redog wrote: post #126
subway wrote: post #3

It'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…

LTE is radio. and WTF is decentralized radio? I don't think you can run a transmitter on the blockchain.

And what happens when a hurricane takes down the cell tower? Or the power is out for days and the cell tower's backup batteries run dry?

Decentralised radio is essentially ham radio. Individual units talking directly to each other, without relying on a single point of failure (the cell company). As others have said above, ham radio is a godsend in some situations. If you use the right bands, you can talk halfway around the world while running off batteries and using a wire thrown over a tree for an antenna.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#129

Post by mtreis86 »

lsiebert wrote: post #106

I notice people talking about untrained ad hoc groups VS professional and paraprofessionals. There is no competition here, there is only lives saved. Untrained ad hoc groups had smaller boats, had more boats, and were able to help people who would have died otherwise. I do think it is worthwhile to talk about problems that occurred. Get a list of them, prioritize them, find solutions. Though they have to be solutions…

One thing in training you are constantly reminded of, is not to become one of the victims.

Re: I downloaded an app and was part of the Cajun Navy

#130

Post by wiredfool »

mnw21cam wrote: post #125
michelb wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have no roof access from the attic, and the water level rises, you are stuck.

Rip away the roofing felt, shove the tiles, then you have a hole. Climb out.

After you've gone through the 3/8"-3/4" plywood/osb that's nailed on well enough to not come of in a hurricane?
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