American Legion members work for disaster preparedness in California | 02.22.2007 | 07:12:18 | Views: 5319 | ID: February 22 '07: During a national or regional emergency, power will remain unavailable to residents for long periods of time. In addition to no electricity, general services such as telephone services would prevent people from calling emergency management officials. Cell phones would work only as long as they can hold a charge and so American Legion members in Palisades, California have volunteered to set up an amateur radio station to help with disaster communications for the community, the Palisadean Post reported. American Legion Post 283 "is first addressing the communication issue by establishing an amateur radio service that will be capable of operating 24 hours a day dring times of power failure throughout the Palisades," the Post reported. "If a resident needs emergency assistance, such as medical help, he or she can go to Post 283 (corner of Swarthmore) and use the Legion's ham radio to communicate directly with paramedics." One Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department official told the Post having the American Legion's cooperation was helpful because "The American Legion should be able to dovetail right in because they understand the chain of command, delegation of authority and the usefulness of following proper protocols. These will be essential in an emergency. You'll be able to minimize panic and a lot of desperation for residents and their distant relatives." Help from the American Legion came after talks between Department of Homeland Security and Legion officials in late 2004. Throughout the country, the Legion has been working to raise disaster preparedness and response through its 15,000 Legion Posts. Ham radio operators also have participated in helping first responders establish communications operations during real and simulated scenarios.
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