September is National Preparedness Month. In coordination with our
partners at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the ARRL
Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) is producing a series of
weekly articles to help radio amateurs and their families stay safe.
For a ham or any other public safety responder, whether paid or
volunteer, it is not uncommon to be called out to provide assistance
during disasters. We often do not know when we will be called or exactly
what the call will involve. We also do not know how long we may be
deployed. In the last edition, we focused on our go kit and the tools we
should have to deploy as an amateur radio volunteer. But have we made
sure our family is prepared for these times, whether we are deployed or
will be staying home?