If I had been assigned to Warrington for the mythical 2/22/2009 event where everything is perfect, good radio, good antenna, experienced operator, good food J, all set up, I would have made it, IF NOTHING WENT WRONG.  But let’s assume it went wrong.  If the experienced operator didn’t make it I would have had some rough spots.  To his credit the Dale let me do a lot of the things during the drill so I would know how the next time. 

Suppose I had been assigned to an EOC where there is no rig, no antenna and it is not the best location?  Or what if the building at Warrington became unusable, the power supply quit, the coax was cut or a fuse blew?

I could have lifted my mobile rig out of the car and put it in the EOC if the rig broke in a couple minutes.  I could have taken the magnetic mount off the car and used it for an antenna if the antenna wasn’t useable.  I also have a portable J-Pole and some coax.  Power would have been a problem unless I pulled the power supply from my home rig (which I did on 4/12) or I would have had to pull the car next to the building and work from there. 

That night I really started thinking what I might need in a future event.

For years I have kept a duffle bag in my car with a change of clothes, first aid kit, razor, toothbrush, an overnight kit.  I carry about a week of meds in my computer bag that is almost always with me and if it is not the med pack gets transferred to another bag I am carrying.   I’m looking at putting a week supply in the duffle bag and rotating them every month.  I generally have a couple of bottles of water in the car, probably not enough but a start.  I keep a minimum of bottles at home.  This covers me and that is the first thing.  If you aren’t functioning the whole system breaks down. An EMT told me, “You are no help lying in the back of an ambulance.” 

I carry a tool kit that has a butane soldering iron as well as DVM, spare fuses, connectors, RF and DC adapters, power poles and coax.  A radio with a blown fuse, a broken power line or an antenna connector that doesn’t match the feed line is worthless.

I started looking at the various places I go and started looking at how I would be able to respond if a call came.  If I am home or can return there I can put some things in the car and go in a couple minutes.  If an evacuation is likely I have an evacuation box in the laundry next to the pantry with records and things that would be needed.  I store my spare batteries in the evacuation box and bottled water and canned goods are next to it   There is an empty box there to fill with food items if I have time.  I would also pick up the FT857, Antenna tuner, battery and the power supply for it.  I have a box near the rig that I can dump things into fast.  My large battery is with the evacuation kit.  The rest of what I need to leave is in the car. 

It is not if we will have an event, it is when.  What if we were called next week, next month, or tonight?  What if you had to come as you are?