--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Walt DuBose <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I dont think that anyone believes that you can completely kill off the Internet > in its entirity; however, certainly certain sections/rather large geographical > areas could loose connectivity for several hours even for perhaps a day. >
Most of the time I just sit and "read the mail". This time however I feel I should add some fuel to the digital fire. I refer specifically to a Pandemic Flu event. Do not make any assumptions that there will be electricity, fuel, or for that matter, food and water. At any time during an 18 month period, the CDC says that 30% of all people IN THE WORLD will be unable to work. In the US, schools will close, which means that those 2 job families, will lose income, single family homes will have to stay home to care for children. There may be gas, but will there be people to run the stations, deliver the gas..... How long can our infrastructure which is typically maintenance intensive, stay up. The World Radio magazine ran an article in the November edition,written by me, which gives more details. As a resident of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, and experienced Katrina, the generators for cell towers, and our local repeaters, had locks cut, and the fuel stolen, thus, the ones that did survive the were made inop. Some of the nationally recognized agencies "confiscated" frequencies involving health and welfare traffic and ops were "ordered" to cease transmitting. Enough history. We have to be able to transmit rapidly, efficiently, and with confidence that the messages will be received, and delivered. Without electricity, or fuel, we have to think non fosil means of battery recharging (solar/wind/hand or foot crank generators). We also have to figure out how the message traffic will be delivered (bicycle, walking) while limiting exposure to other people. Enough bandwidth. Just a reminder, don't limit your preparation, response and recovery to just physical catastrophies. Don Rand KA5DON
