Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: illgen@hq.af.mil (Keneth..Illgen) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Disaster Communications Message-ID: Date: 19 Oct 89 12:15:19 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: "Kenneth..Illgen" Organization: Air Force HQ, The Pentagon Lines: 29 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 462, message 4 of 9 In article ijk@violin.att.com (Ihor J Kinal) writes: >X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 459, message 1 of 10 >One of the networks called the CHiP, and they stated that they had >lost phone communications with most of their sites in the area, so >they were unable to give damage estimates. >I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE STATE POLICE DON'T HAVE BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS. I can't speak for CHiP but in most instances emergency services backup communications systems are prioritized. Radio traffic is initialy used for determining injuries and hospiital space. While the networks are rightfully interested in physically damaged areas the police, fire and medical departments have to use their limited frequency range to coordinate rescue efforts. >Speaking of communications, ABC constantly showed us the same picture >from the blimp that was there to cover the ball game. My wife asked a >very good question - why not send the blimp south towards the >epicenter, to give a direct report??? I was very frustrated with all the network coverage being focused on S.F. and Oakland. My loved ones are in San Jose and Palo Alto. I understand that S.F. is the major media center and naturally the best base of operations. Regarding the blimp; it's a slow moving craft and would not have made it far enough south before darkness set it. I think ABC and/or Goodyear made the right decision to keep it in the S.F/Oakland area.