Every Wednesday night at 8 PM there is an ARES net in my area. It is held on one of our local 2 meter repeaters that has a fairly wide coverage. Obviously, it is supposed to be geared to preparing for possible Emergency situations. I don't mind the participants talking about mundane bullshit in their area but they don't really talk much about Emergency Preparedness. My County doesn't have an ARES Emergency Coordinator and I was asked if I would take the job. I seriously thought about it but then decided that I'm not a JOINER. When I'm needed, all you have to do is ask and I'm on my way to help. I'm one of those call me if you need me kind of people. We have anywhere from 10 to 20 check ins each week. They start out calling for Portables and Mobiles first, then ARES Officials, and then General Check-ins. OK, I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with is the fact that they never discuss PREPPING in any way beyond a slight mention now and then. The best I can hope to hear most of the time is that somebody got a better radio or antenna. The Weather??? Come on dumbasses, we all live within 40 miles of the repeater. I'm pretty sure we all are having the same basic weather. I will admit that they always have a Covid report but mostly its the "You have to get the vaccine or you are going to die." Well, I'm not going to get into a debate on the air about that BS. I honestly think that when the SHTF, those people will actually become useful for passing information.
