February 14, 2024

February 14, 2024, will be etched in the memories of a generation of Oregon residents for more than Romance…

On that date Mount Doom, a little known peak in the Oregon Cascade mountains erupted, then began spewing poisonous gasses that killed every breathing creature for miles around. The gasses were heavy, and settled into pockets everywhere close to the eruption. The emergency was exacerbated by a terrible blizzard sweeping the area within hours after the beginning of the eruption.

An emergency management site was hastily established in Baker City, OR. An amateur radio ARES station was a part of the operation. By late morning of the day following the eruption, the extent of the disaster was beginning to become clear. However, the vicious winter storm had closed roads and airports. Widespread power outages made everything worse, but weather conditions were slowly improving.

The blizzard conditions having slowly abated, Oregon’s governor was able to arrive at the emergency management site in late morning by National Guard Helicopter, and immediately asked for an update on the communities in the mountains near the eruption.

The report was not encouraging. Virtually all forms of communication to the several mountain communities had been cut off, save for one – amateur radio. The governor was quickly escorted to the amateur radio ARES emergency van, parked immediately next a network TV van. The governor requested a briefing. The interview was recorded by the TV network.

“Well, madam, we have identified three communities particularly at risk. They are Vast Gorge, Excrement Creek and Crabtree Hollows. But we have contact with amateur radio stations in each of them.”

“Well, what are they reporting?”

“Vast Gorge has extensive damage. There is no power. No phones, cell or land line communication. A lot of injuries, some deaths. But we have a schedule arranged with the town mayor on Single Sideband voice arranged in anticipation of your arrival. That is in ten minutes.”

“Excellent. What about Excrement Creek?”

“Well, as you know, there are only a few hundred people living there, and normally no ham operators. But we got lucky. There is a back-packer ham radio gal visiting there by fortunate coincidence. She has a 5 watt radio and a wire antenna. She is there because of an operating program called Summits on the Air. She can only use Morse code with her equipment.”

“How can that be any good?”

“Actually, it is huge. She has sent us a lot of traffic. Even though she can only send and receive code on her little radio she is good at it. We’ve gotten casualty reports. Things they especially need. Gas masks, oxygen equipment, stuff for damaged lungs. And she has told us that the locals there are working like crazy to clear a landing spot for helicopters. She has already sent us the GPS co-ordinates, and has answered several questions the State Aviation Director asked about the landing zone. I believe the first helicopter to go there is leaving shortly. She also said she is dying for a cup of coffee. We are sending her a large thermos. ”

“Wow! What is she using for power?”

“Flashlight batteries! But she said they have a car battery for a back-up and that she can go for days with that,”

“Excellent. And what about Crabtree Hollows? It is the largest of the three communities.”

“Well, that is not as good a situation. We have solid contact with a station using a computer data mode.”

“Well, that should be good, right?”

“Uh, um, no, not exactly. We fear the station there may be on an automatic computer program. And probably an automatic back-up generator. We are thus far unable to exchange meaningful information. Early on, we made a contact. It lasted one minute, and we found out that our station was being received loud and clear. Since then we have not been able to even get another contact. But if we change the callsign we are using we can get another contact, once. And all we find out is that again we are loud and clear. The station has been on the air for hours. But that is all anyone can get – a report that they are loud and clear. Once.”

“How can that be?”

“The mode they are using is called FT8. It is proving to be totally useless for any kind of meaningful communication. We fear everyone there may be dead. And now, Madam Governor, won’t you sit here, our schedule with the mayor of Vast Gorge is ready…”