Cindy's Articles

Cindy's Monthly Article

Article by Cindy Ebner, K8CJE

The ARRL, Public Information Officer for DeSoto County and published in the Arcadian, from the DeSoto Sun

Are you prepared?

By CINDY EBNER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

    The articles I have written over the last several months have included steps you can take to prepare yourselves to respond in the event of an emergency. Take responsibility for yourself and your family.
    Please consider these suggestions and ask yourself these questions:

• How will you escape the danger area? Hurricane, tornado or flood?

• If you cannot escape, how can you survive until help arrives?

• How will you contact someone to get help? Cell towers may not be working!

• How will you find out if the people you care about are safe?

• What will you do if the power goes out?
Take these steps:

• Find out if there are amateur radio operators in your neighborhood, church, or place of employment.

• Make prior arrangements with those operators to pass communications to relatives.

• You can get an amateur radio license.

• You can get a set of two-way radios to use with family or neighbors (if you choose to do this, you need to get them and try them out to see how far the signals will travel BEFORE you actually need them).
    • Register on the NOKR.com Web site’s nextof-kin registry.

• Make a plan and practice with your family: hurricane, tornado, fire — what will you do?

• Prepare your emergency supplies. Keep them in a large cooler or totedry and safe.

• Have a 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day).

• Store food that will not spoil.

• Have one change of clothing and shoes per person.
    • Keep extra prescription medicines with the emergency supplies.

• Have one blanket or sleeping bag per person.

• Have a first-aid kit on hand.

• Have a battery-powered NOAA weather radio and portable radio (extra batteries).

• Keep emergency tools nearby.

• Stockpile flashlights with extra batteries.

• Have an extra set of car and house keys, cash, and credit cards.

• Include special items needed for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
Preparation is the key to survival
    You must depend on yourself first, then the members of the community. Hopefully, within 72 hours, FEMA and outside agencies will be on their way to help us. That is a good scenario.
    But what if 72 hours pass and there is no outside help? Are we ready to take care of each other?
    I cannot answer that question. But I do know that by each individual, and each family taking time to prepare, we will do a better job of taking care of each other until help arrives.
Please mark your calendar

• June 7: Hurricane conference at the Turner Agri-Civic Center starts at 5:30 p.m.

• June 19: DeSoto Amateur Radio Club meeting at 6:30 at Rancho Lindo’s restaurant. Membership is not required. You are welcome to join us for dinner at 6 p.m.

• June 23-24: Field Day at Little Willie’s RV Park and Resort pavilion.
    Written by Cindy Ebner — Public information officer for DeSoto County Amateur Radio Club. Her call number is K8CJE. She can be reached at 863-494-4094 or cjebner@embarqmail.com.

Cindy's Past Articles

Below are the archived articles in PDF format

Radio Club Prepares 72 hours, Amateur Radio Communication Network,

The Excitement is growing IRLP & EchoLink,

Life is an adventure in the DeSoto Amateur radio Club,

Local Hams test their skills, Amateur Radio Excitement, More than just radio,

No more Morse Code DARC teams up with RC