[ARRL-OK] Ham's Help Out During Telephone Emergency

[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

 Forwarded by:
Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Public Information Coordinator
ARRL Oklahoma Section

Ham's Help Out During Telephone Emergency

By Steve Bradly KC5ZSD Brokwn Arrow ARC Pres.

Broken Arrow, Okla - On December 23, 2002, Valor Telecom experienced
signaling trouble with their telephone network which greatly hindered, and
in some cases, shut down telephone communications in the City of Broken
Arrow. Broken Arrow is Oklahoma's fastest growing city and is an just to the
south east of Tulsa.  The trouble with the phone system, was created by the
loss of SS7 signaling which is provide to Valor by Southwestern Bell,
through a third party vendor. This isolated Valor phone offices, and the
Broken Arrow from calling outside the city. As a result, the City of Broken
Arrow implemented it Telecommunications Failure Plan, deploying city
employee's throughout Broken Arrow, as emergency contact points for the
public to request emergency services. A request also went out for amateurs
to assist with communications effort in the EOC and area hospitals. Several
responded to the call; Jeff Scoville AE5ME, Joe Horn KC5VPO, Johnathan Down
KD5QLM, and Michael Down KD5QLN, staffing position at the Broken Arrow EOC
and three Hospital emergency rooms. Joe Iverson KD5KKZ an ARES member who
lives in Tulsa, reported to the City Of Tulsa's Emergency Operations Center.
Many hams checked in with offers to respond and with information which was
passed through the EOC to the appropriate agencies. The operation lasted
about five hours with messaging between the EOC"s and hospitals being passed
to help everyone came it through the emergency. Lines of communications
where also opened with the Oklahoma State Department of Civil Emergency
Management in Oklahoma City via the HF rig in the Broken Arrow EOC. .

All in all, things went smoothly. The city officials where again very
impressed and appreciative with the amateur communities commitment to
service and response to the emergency.. They wish to extend a big thanks to
all involved for the help. It is times like these that such partnerships
between local government and the local ham's become invaluable.