[BARC-List] Hams Make a Difference

[Frank Murphy]

           Finding loved ones



BALTIMORE (August 16, 2004) ‹DISASTER NEWS NETWORK

What do you do when your loved one was in the way of a disaster, but now all
the phone lines are down? The Salvation Army might be able to help.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) is a HAM radio team
that not only helps its onsite volunteers be in touch with the national
office, but they also help families find each other when a disaster wipes
out all other forms of communication.


Since Hurricane Charley hit Florida Friday, SATERN has fielded 312 inquiries
about missing family members.


The process goes like this. A family member with an inquiry can call or fill
out an online request form with SATERN. That information goes to Quent
Nelson in his Atlanta office. Nelson, the health and welfare coordinator for
The Salvation Army's SATERN, then logs onto his radio-internet computer,
called Echolink. 


Through Echolink, Nelson is able to see which HAM radio operators are online
in the areas he needs to contact to find the loved one. Nelson said if he
can't find an operator in the needed area, he'll find the next closest area.
"I may not be able to find any close operators because of power outages," he
said. 


But he can at least give the inquirers peace of mind if a Salvation Army
shelter is nearby where the loved one might be. "Sometimes that's all I can
do until I find someone close by - just tell folks that a shelter is open
and people are there caring for the disaster families," said Nelson.


A large number of amateur HAM radio operations assist the Salvation Army as
part of SATERN. "We've got about 2,500 volunteers," said Major Pat
McPherson, national director of SATERN. "So many people want to help. It's
great to see that spirit of altruism and 'can do.'"


McPherson said SATERN is tremendous asset to the Salvation Army onsite
teams. He said just last night the national director of The Salvation Army
was able to get an update from the team stationed in Punta Gorda, Florida,
an area devastated by Hurricane Charley, "even though all communications are
down around there, we can talk to Punta Gorda from far away."


SATERN also helps onsite teams organize local logistics when all
communications are down.


Nelson has been helping The Salvation Army with amateur radio since 1976
when he volunteered after a major earthquake in Guatemala. He said he enjoys
his job and the reward he gets when he's able to give an inquirer good news.
Stories from survivors of disasters are an interesting bonus as well. "I
talked to a woman in Florida last night where the homes on either side of
her were gone, yet a tree which could've crushed her home fell in the
opposite direction," he said. "She said she lucked out."


A HAM radio operator for most of his life, Nelson has helped several
branches of the military establish radio connections during his life as
well. He said he's done a little of everything, and is happy to know his
skills are being utilized with such a helpful program as SATERN.

"It's a very successful tool," he said.

FOR DISASTER VICTIMS THE HOT MEALS FROM THE MOBILE FEEDING UNITS ARE FIVE
STAR DINING. 

(Port Charlotte, FL) The line stretched for what seemed like miles as Bobby
Leonard and his canteen crew grilled up another round of hamburgers and hot
dogs for victims of Hurricane Charley.

Stationed at the Winn Dixie on Kings Highway in Port Charlotte, the canteen
from Mobile, Alabama was turning out hot food and cold drinks as fast as
they could fix it. 

³We¹re the only fast food place with hot food in the area right now,² says
Leonard who along with his crew had been working all day.² Many are just so
happy to see us and are thankful for a hot meal.²

John Baxter of  Port Charlotte who was savoring every morsel of his
hamburger said,  ³I¹ve been eating peanut butter and jelly the last few
days, so anything hot is appreciated.²

Scenes like that are being repeated at canteen stations throughout the
region as 48,615 meals were served from the forty three canteens that were
operating on Sunday in seven counties through out the state.

Trey Jones, regional disaster coordinator for The Salvation Army,  who is
helping oversee the relief effort in Charlotte County echoed the sentiments
of so many who are just thankful to have survived and are appreciative of
The Salvation Army being there to help them.


              SEE OTHER GREAT ARTICLES AT
<http://www.disasternews.net/news/>

Posted August 16, 2004 3:00 PM