Living off the Grid

"If the United States doesn't do something to protect the grid, and soon, a terrorist or an act of nature will put an end to life as we know it."  Roscoe Bartlett R-MD

The article mentions electromagnetic pulse related to nuclear explosion.  However, EMP also comes naturally with increased solar activity, ex. solar flare.  The impacts can be devastating.

Short of living as the Amish, what preparations are you making to overcome this naturally occurring event?

Can you talk on your radio with the power off?  

Are you into Remote Ham Radio Operation? #ARRL #HamRadio

Our friends at Remote Ham Radio, recently wrote, The current ARRL DXCC rules state the following:     

9. All stations must be contacted from the same DXCC entity. The location of any station shall be defined as the location of the transmitter. For the purposes of this award, remote operating points must be located within the same DXCC entity as the transmitter and receiver.

This statement clearly outlines the rules for remote stations. In short, if you are in the U.S., you can use any U.S. station to make a contact toward DXCC, remote or otherwise.

Previously this so-called Rule 9 stated that contacts must be made "from within a radius of 150 miles of the initial location", but the wording was changed in 1977 to account for an increasingly-mobile 

Beginning with Echolink, The Internet Radio Linking Project, the Allstar Network and RemoteHams.com, more and more are growing interested in putting their local radio assets on the internet for others to use.

Are you working on linking your radio to the World?  Let us know.

FEMA seeks youth council members

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council.

The Youth Preparedness Council is a unique opportunity for youth leaders to serve on a highly distinguished national council and participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit. 

Additionally, the youth leaders have the opportunity to complete a self-selected youth preparedness project and to share their opinions, experiences, ideas, solutions and questions regarding youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of FEMA and national youth preparedness organizations. Once selected, members serve on the Council for one year, with the option to extend for an additional year, if formally requested by FEMA. 

Council activities and projects center around five key areas of engagement: Programs, Partnerships, Events, Public Speaking/Outreach and Publishing. Members represent the youth perspective on emergency preparedness and share information with their communities. They also meet with FEMA on a regular basis to provide ongoing input on strategies, initiatives and projects throughout the duration of their term. 

Any individual between the ages of 12 and 17 who is engaged in individual and community preparedness or who has experienced a disaster that has motivated him or her to make a positive difference in his or her community, may apply to serve on the Youth Preparedness Council. Individuals who applied last year are highly encouraged to apply again. Adults working with youth and/or community preparedness are encouraged to share the application with youth who might be interested in applying.  

Youth interested in applying to the Council must submit a completed application form and two  letters of recommendation. Specific information about completing and submitting the application and attachments can be found in the application instructions. All applications and supporting materials must be received no later than February 24, 2014, 11:59 p.m. EST in order to be eligible. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2014.  

For more information about the Youth Preparedness Council and to access the application materials, please visit http://www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.

Who is your favorite weather person? #Skywarn #AltusOK #OKwx

Who is your favorite weather person?  Is it someone with the National Weather Service?  It is one of the media meteorologists?

With a long standing partnership with amateur radio in the Skywarn program, it would not be a surprise to know that amateur radio operators in Oklahoma have a weather person or two they appreciate.

Yes, "February 5 is National Weatherperson's Day" http://1.usa.gov/1fcR54I

Who are you appreciating today?