Recently, a civil defense director appointed the county's first RACES Radio Officer. Addressing a local group of hams, he told of his great comfort in having a Radio Officer to whom he could turn to for communications in time of need.
Previously, he'd thought a communications reserve, such as RACES and a Radio Officer, were not necessary or important. After a couple of "it can't happen here" experiences that presented the possibility that he might lose all local government communications with no backup, he changed his perspective to one of being highly supportive of a RACES program. His overall summary was: "I don't know WHO I need or WHAT I need to accomplish a solution in such events. With the Radio Officer I have the one person to go to in order to solve that situation."
Previously, he'd thought a communications reserve, such as RACES and a Radio Officer, were not necessary or important. After a couple of "it can't happen here" experiences that presented the possibility that he might lose all local government communications with no backup, he changed his perspective to one of being highly supportive of a RACES program. His overall summary was: "I don't know WHO I need or WHAT I need to accomplish a solution in such events. With the Radio Officer I have the one person to go to in order to solve that situation."
To this we add that the Radio Officer is also the sparkplug that keeps the interest going in the area; not necessarily by his or her own actions, but through the people selected for key positions on the Radio Officer's staff.
In recent California statewide exercises, participation and mutual aid interest increased where Region Radio Officers made personal contacts with the county RACES Radio Officers, the county Emergency Coordinators, and the Department of Forestry Volunteers-in-Prevention ham radio coordinators in their State OES Region. A similar increase in interest most likely can apply on a local level as well. Your sincere interest and providing something important to do invites increased participation. This, in turn, tests hands-on-operations abilities and improves readiness for unexpected stress-creating emergencies.
---Cary Mangum, Chief State Radio Officer, W6WWW
In recent California statewide exercises, participation and mutual aid interest increased where Region Radio Officers made personal contacts with the county RACES Radio Officers, the county Emergency Coordinators, and the Department of Forestry Volunteers-in-Prevention ham radio coordinators in their State OES Region. A similar increase in interest most likely can apply on a local level as well. Your sincere interest and providing something important to do invites increased participation. This, in turn, tests hands-on-operations abilities and improves readiness for unexpected stress-creating emergencies.
---Cary Mangum, Chief State Radio Officer, W6WWW
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