During the NERPC study we looked into anecdotal reports that during the Katrina disaster, Red Cross shelter managers refused to permit H&W messaging via Amateur Radio citing privacy concerns. From what we could document factually, although some individual shelter managers may have gone off the deep end and refused to allow H&W messaging via Amateur Radio, there was no national Red Cross policy prohibiting such messaging. It also appeared to have been possible that shelter managers may not have wanted the radio operators to become swamped with H&W messaging instead of handling higher-priority messages. Of course things change as time goes by. However, I would be willing to bet a small amount of money that the situation remains the same and there is no national Red Cross policy prohibiting H&W messages via Amateur Radio as long as message priorities are observed and the clients are accurately informed so they have no expectation of secure content. As we discuss a new SOU with the Red Cross, it would be a very good idea to have this H&W messaging question answered once & for all and memorialized in the SOU. That's assuming these people really want to work with Amateur Radio and show our volunteers due respect and cooperation. 73 - Kay N3KN