[BARC-List] SATERN Member's Respond

[Frank Murphy]

                     WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE:

         AN ON-THE-SCENE ACCOUNT OF THE NORTH DAKOTA FLOODS

                      By Ann S. Shaver, WH2E

"It's just like Armageddon, only everyone is alive!" Thus did Salvation Army
Major Pat McPherson, WW9E, describe conditions at the shelter for flood
victims established at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

"This is truly a disaster. I've never seen shelters actually used like this
before. There are 3,000 people here now. Usually, most people find their own
resources. Grand Forks is the second largest place in the state, a town of
51,000. These folks at the shelter are the ones who have no other resources.

"When the immediate crisis is over, these people will still have nowhere to
go. The Salvation Army realizes that and is making a long-term commitment to
them." 

"Amateur radio has played a big part in all the disaster-relief efforts.
>From my perspective, I know SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio
Network) has been essential in our own operations," Major McPherson, himself
an ardent amateur, raved. "Our training on 20-Meter nets particularly has
stood us in good stead."

"We (The Salvation Army) are responsible for providing food for the entire
Grand Forks shelter. Tom Romstadt, W9NIC, is at The Army's distribution
center over in Fargo. Bill Heaver, KB8QMP, is with another supply operation.
We have several mobile canteens in service, each with at least one
communicator as part of the team. You can imagine how important it is to
have reliable communications and we need HF to be able to coordinate all
this. Unfortunately, the Air Force doesn't understand that we need an
antenna on the top of the hangar to do what we have to do.

"Here at the shelter, we put a dipole on the side of the hangar. Of course
it's metal so that was like transmitting directly into a dummy load! We're
hoping to explain the situation to the Air Force authorities soon and
convince them. 

"In the meantime, we are relying on relay stations. Bill Davidson, K9SWW,
put up a 2-Meter beam here at the shelter. We can reach W9HV V in Crookston,
about 40 miles away. W9ZCL, Bill Shillington in Mount Prospect, IL, is
helping with relays all over the place. Ross Turner, K9STP, from Morrison,
IL, is also running hard.

"We have experienced SATERN operators throughout the Midwest who are running
hard. Tony Dacres, AA8EI, is coming from Cincinnati to Fargo to relieve Tom.
Like Tom, Tony will be up there by himself so he will be doing a lot of
things at the distribution center besides handling communications.

"Floyd Soo, W8RO, and his team in Mt. Clemons, Michigan, are on standby,
waiting to come out here as reliefs. The cooperation, the eagerness to help
is so impressive. 

"Walt Mertz, KØCLD, and his wife, Eunice, KAØSOM, came over from Minot and
really saved the day for us with a Butternut vertical on the back of their
camper here at the shelter. They've been very aggressive in getting our
traffic through. They're running hard for The Army."

In truth, a lot of people are "running hard for The Army." There are so
many, in fact, that Major McPherson readily admits that right now he has no
idea of the names or call signs of the scores of people who have contributed
their time and talents to relief efforts. And in Amateur Radio's finest
tradition, many organizations, many clubs, many individuals have joined
together to do what they can to mitigate suffering.

"There is great cooperation among the different radio groups. Bill Heist,
WB8BZH, is the North Dakota SATERN coordinator and also the RACES director
for Minot. MIDCARS is doing a great job relaying messages. South Dakota ARES
is involved. Radio-wise, things are just great.

Get Here ASAP 

"I was scheduled to be here Tuesday (April 22), to co-ordinate tactical
communications for Minnesota. On Saturday (April 19), Major Dave Dahlberg,
National Coordinator of Disaster Services for The Salvation Army, called me
and told me to get here ASAP. The woman who is head of MARS (Military
Amateur Radio System) for Minnesota had called The Salvation Army there,
basically calling for reinforcements. There's a great group of amateurs up
there--now brand new SATERN members! Everyone is running so hard, I'm just
sorry I don't yet know names and call signs.

"Right now, things are very hectic."

To say the least! In fact, interviewing Major McPherson by telephone, from
the comfort of my own desk with lots of paper and pencils, was easily the
most difficult interview I've done since the 1960s when I covered rock 'n'
roll festivals for a large metropolitan daily. Even Major McPherson, who
considers "difficult operating conditions" to be his normal environment,
admitted the situation at the Grand Forks shelter was extremely challenging.

A major flood is like the paradox facing the Ancient Mariner--"water, water
everywhere, nor a drop to drink." The entire town of Grand Forks had to be
evacuated because the water supply was compromised. Put more bluntly, it was
contaminated. No water for cooking or drinking, no water for showers, no
water for flushing toilets. The town and its surrounding region was
literally a disaster area.

"The motel where we¹re staying is charging the same rate, but there's no
maid service. Even if we had water, we couldn't flush the toilets because
the sewage has no place to go," Major McPherson explained.

"You might say we're learning to enjoy each other."

All systems are overtaxed

The water supply is almost as precarious at the Air Force Base, site of the
shelter. "Things are very fragile here at the Base. The Commanding Officer
mentioned in today's briefing that their own water supplies are becoming
taxed, that we may have to implement some form of water conservation soon."
Again, how ironic to be faced with water rationing because of a flood!

The phone system, too, is close to being overloaded, Major McPherson
reported. "That's why it's so good to have back-up communications in place.
We want to be confident of our back-up systems before the phones go down
altogether, which we expect to happen very soon."

Among other assignments, SATERN volunteers are shadowing all the Salvation
Army principals. "To tell you the truth," Major McPherson continued, " the
officers don't like having someone follow them around all the time. I guess
when we have time, we'll have to do some educating so they understand the
value of 'shadows.' Officers like Jon Wallace, N5OEB, who have been through

something like this before (note: Wallace was sent to Oklahoma City in the
bombing aftermath, saw the value of Amateur Radio, and got his license
shortly after his 'special assignment' was complete) really come to rely on
the 'shadows' for more than just communication assistance. But, like the
song says, ŒYou've got to be taught.¹

"Most officers, however, don't realize that cellular phones don't always
work, that the wired-phone system might go down. What's more, we find that
whereas an Officer might turn off his phone or let the battery run down, the
Amateur "shadow" understands that it is his responsibility to be reachable
at all times. 

"Cell phones have a place in an emergency but they can be awfully
inefficient. With an 'all-points bulletin,' you have to make numerous
individual calls. Sometimes you do need a private conversation, but most of
the conversations we have in this type of situation rightly should be heard
by all concerned. There are so many reasons why amateur radio still has an
important place in disaster-relief efforts.

"Until you've been through something like this, you just don't appreciate
what SATERN has to offer. SATERN volunteers, of course, understand that
communication is their first responsibility but they are expected to
contribute in other ways, too. For instance, a canteen communication has
been cross-trained to know how to help with food service as well.

"But it¹s not just The Salvation Army that doesn¹t recognize how much hams
can contribute to disaster services. Amateurs in general need to educate the
public, especially relief workers, about the role they can play," Major
McPherson elaborated.

It might be quite a while before Major McPherson has time to take on any
additional projects. SATERN members responded in force to the devastating
tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas and Tennessee in March. Before he was
able to compile information for a report on that, he and other SATERN
members were sent to southern Indiana in the aftermath of the Ohio River
flooding. Then, before he could report on either of those operations, it was
on to the Upper Plains --and a few days sooner than planned, at that. Of
course, this is what SATERN is all about--using communication and other
skills to help people in need!

WR