That was nice they mentioned that. Now if they (along with ARRL and other region organizers, et al) would only back up their rhetoric regarding GCOA frequencies acknowledged since 2005 by all 3 IARU regions...

Contests do not conflict with GCOA. Contesters are required to clear the frequency when it is required during an actual emergency. Such behavior has happened before, e.g. Katrina. There is no such requirement when an emergency is not being conducted. Even though I have not been a ham for long, I have heard a contester move when told "An emergency is underway on this frequency, please be considerate". But - if there's no active emergency, then the frequencies are not saved "in case there might be one".
- k