Disaster and Emergency communications - Public Relations and Information
   
   
   No  two  emergency  communications  circumstances  are  alike.  Here are some 
   general  guidelines  of what YOU can do to help, from simply alerting someone 
   else to the situation to more active participation in Public Information.
   
   If  you  hear  emergency or disaster communications while "reading the mail", 
   let  someone  know.   If  it  is  newsworthy  and  Ham  related  then time is 
   important.   In  Eastern  Mass,  call  the Ham Hotline at (617) 437-0111.  Or 
   contact  your  local ARRL section PIC or PIO.   You will find names and phone 
   numbers listed in the ARRL Field Resources Directory, or listed in QST in the 
   section news.
   
   Important   information   includes  the  nature  of  the  situation  and  the 
   frequencies  used  for  the communications.  In recent years, the invasion of 
   Grenade   episode,   several  severe  earthquakes  and  hurricane  devastated 
   Jamaica,  have  brought Hams to the headlines in a positive manner.  So, just 
   alerting  someone  else  (PIC, PIO, club PR person,  other  active hams) to a 
   situation is an important part of the whole process. 
   
   If   you   are   actively   involved   with  some  aspect  of  the  emergency 
   communications  make  yourself  available  for  Press  and  Media  interviews 
   preferably  by  listing  yourself  with  your ARRL section PIC. The Press and 
   Media  may  just want a synopsis of the situation, actual "sound", details of 
   one  aspect  of  the  activities  or  one  important  message,  or some other 
   "sidebar".    The  local  and regional newspapers, for instance, would rather 
   do  a  feature  on  involvement  from the local and regional viewpoint.  They 
   want  to interview people in their "coverage area", who could be neighbors of 
   their  readers.    If  you aren't the Net Control Station that's OK.  Even if 
   you  are  just  monitoring  and are available to take inbound traffic "should 
   any come your way" is enough involvement in many cases.
   
   If  you  wish  to get further involved (and depending on the organization for 
   such  things  in  your  area) get out a tape recorder and start recording the 
   communications.   See  the  section  on  AUDIO.  You may be able to use those 
   tapes  to  supply  news  and  information  to  local newspapers, radio and TV 
   stations  or  others.   Be sure to ask them to credit Amateur Radio Operators 
   as the source of the information.  
   
  
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   In  Eastern  Mass.  let  the  PIC  know  of your activities.  We already have 
   methods  and  contacts  in  place to disseminate such information under those 
   conditions.   If  there  is no organized facility in your area, and depending 
   on the situation, you can distribute the information yourself.
   
   The  Yellow  Pages is a good source of contact numbers. Newspapers, Radio and 
   TV  stations, Cable companies and News Services are usually listed.  It helps 
   to  research  the  phone  numbers during your leisure time to have them handy 
   when  you  need  them.   Some  press and media may want to send a reporter or 
   photographer  to a "shack" or do an interview on the phone.  It helps to have 
   an  attractive shack and well spoken Ham for this activity.  Also an "Amateur 
   Radio" sign or two may be nice in the background of any pictures.  
   
   A  local  Ham  may  dedicate  his answerphone to an active, Ham related  News 
   story.   Although  it is preferred that those who are familiar with this type 
   of  thing  handle  it,  you  may  want  to  do it yourself.  The Ham Line can 
   provide  updates  on  the  situation,  announce  Health  and  Welfare traffic 
   facilities,  contain  "audio  cuts"  of received communications and etc.  See 
   the Basic Audio section for more information.
   
   Technicalities:   There  have  been  discussions  about  using  Ham Radio for 
   commercial   news-gathering.    The   controversy   is  about  Hams  actually 
   communicating  instructions  and  logistics  to news reporters via Ham Radio.  
   Also  allowing news reporters to "interview" sources via Ham Radio (3rd party 
   traffic  and  business).   I certainly would NOT break into disaster QSO's to 
   say  that Ted Koppel is on my phone patch and wants to ask some questions for 
   his  TV  show.   BUT,  Ted  is  welcome  to hear any and all communications I 
   receive  on  Ham  frequencies  (and  many  other  frequencies too) and he can 
   rebroadcast  them  at  his  own  discretion.   Please  see  QST  October 1988 
   Emergency  Communication:  Is  It  Legal? page 54, this subject is covered on 
   page 57 under Press Use of Amateur Radio.   This topic is also covered in the 
   FCC Rule Book 8th edition from ARRL chapter 7-3. 
   
   
   K1HLZ ARRL EMASS PIC
   Eastern Mass Ham Hotline (617) 437-0111 24 hours a day,
   or write:  HAM, Box 545, NeedHAM, MA 02192. 
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