I was a Red Cross Responder to Katrina. Operated a communications van. Ham Radio was a valuable asset. Several repeaters were functioning within hours after the hurricane.

Gloria and I are hams. For our personal use, we have dual band (2m/70cm) HT's as well as several radios which can become instant cross band repeaters (D-700, TM-732 etc).

I frequently set up our crossband system and find it to be very easy to use, power efficient and provide very robust communications.

We let folks know when we are testing a crossband set-up and find that many hams had dual bands. After a brief learning curve they find the system easy to use.

We also have HF, but after being in several hurricanes, blizzards etc, we find that local communications are far more important than long range.

Rather that depend on others, we are working to provide service to the local ham community (wherever we are).

Nomad