[ARRL-OK] Tragedy and opportunity TODAY

Mon Aug 29 20:48:25 EDT 2005

THIS TAKEN FROM THE SALVATION ARMY DIVISIONAL ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA PIO.

Health and welfare information requests may be requested at
http://satern.org/

Let us also hope that the 90,000 people that did not go to the superdome
left the state rather than attempt to ride Katrina out.

AE5MH

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SALVATION ARMY UNITS IN OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS ALREADY DEPLOYED TO AID IN
HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER RESPONSE
OKLAHOMA CITY (August 29, 2005) - As Hurricane Katrina made landfall, The
Arkansas-Oklahoma Division of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
had already dispatched four mobile feeding units with personnel. Currently
they are staged in Shreveport and will move closer to the affected areas as
soon as the storm passes.
Captain John Reynolds from Norman, OK left early on Sunday morning to help
with Operations Management. The Army's Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi
Division, headquartered in Jackson, MS will coordinate Salvation Army relief
efforts for Hurricane Katrina. Oklahomans and persons from Arkansas will aid
in the delivery of critical support to hurricane victims, emergency aid
workers, and volunteers in the affected areas.
Each mobile feeding unit is capable of feeding between 1,000 - 5,000 meals a
day, depending on if required to cook on site or if delivering meals from a
larger kitchen. Mobile Feeding Units (Canteens) were dispatched from Sand
Springs, Ponca City, and McAlester, Oklahoma and Conway, Arkansas.
The Salvation Army has numerous vehicles, including mobile kitchens capable
of serving 20,000 meals per day, to dispatch to areas identified by state
and local disaster management officials, including clean-up sites, emergency
shelters, and flooded areas.
Food and supplies were placed in areas on Sunday afternoon, where they will
be kept at a safe distance from coastal and inland storm-surge regions yet
close enough to be moved immediately after the storm to meet the needs of
victims and first-responders. Operation Blessing and the Southern Baptist
churches, collaborating nonprofit agencies, will assist The Salvation Army
in providing food and transportation.
In addition to providing food, shelter, and supplies, The Salvation Army
also distributes clean-up kits, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and
cleaning supplies. Other resources provided including drinking water, shower
units, and first aid supplies.

For information on ways to assist The Salvation Army in meeting the needs of
the victims of Hurricane Katrina, persons may call 1-800-SALARMY or visit
our website at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.

###

About the Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church,
has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since
1865.  Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation
Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from
providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for
the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the
homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.  About 83 cents of
every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000
communities nationwide.  For more information, go to
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.
####

NOTE: Major Henry Gonzalez and Major Kenneth Morris are available for
comments or interviews.  For additional information, please contact Cindy
Fuller, PIO,  at 405-254-1156.

-----Original Message-----
From: arrl-ok-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:arrl-ok-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Mark D. Conklin N7XYO
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 8:23 AM
To: Arrl-ok at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [ARRL-OK] Tragedy and opportunity TODAY

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [pr:5547]  Tragedy and opportunity TODAY
From:    "Pitts, Allen W1AGP" <w1agp at arrl.org>
Date:    Mon, August 29, 2005 8:00 am
To:      "pr list" <pr at reflector.arrl.org>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

While I am very concerned for the safety and welfare of the people along
the Gulf Coast, today is also an opportunity for many PIO's around the
country to contact their local media and show them how ham radio has
activated around the country in the face of the hurricane.  Remember that
a LOCAL hook is always the best one.  If you can listen in on 14.325, then
you have something to show the reporters right there in your home town.
(Just do not transmit and clutter up their net)

Call your local news people and invite them to come and listen in.  Then
tell them about the ARES and other radio volunteers in your own area.
They will be looking for a local hook - and this one is great!

At the same time.... While this is a real opportunity for PR, also take a
moment to think about the real people under those clouds.

Allen G. Pitts,   W1AGP
Media and Public Relations Manager
ARRL
Newington, CT 06111
(860) 594-0328

______________________________________________________
___________________ Information __________________________
ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT wb5syt at arrl.org
Oklahoma Section Web page http://www.qsl.net/wb5syt/index.html

______________________________________________________

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