[BARC-List] Fw: SM SITREP #1 - Hurricane Katrina

[Dan Malloy]

This seemed to be important, so I forwarded it to the list.  To those who 
have already seen it- Never mind.
Dan, KA1RDZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <djmalloy at mwisp.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 12:13 PM
Subject: SM SITREP #1 - Hurricane Katrina


> Hello to all...
>
> As many of you know, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast area with
> devastating results to the residents of New Orleans, Gulfport/Biloxi,
> MS, and Mobile, AL.  As of this writing, the situation in the most of
> the area is grim.  What are we to do?  This is the subject of this
> note.
>
> I will elaborate in this note, but here are the bullets:
>
> ..Get your information from the media.  Their coverage is excellent
> and extensive.  Refrain from crowding EchoLink and IRLP links for your
> own personal report.  If you would like to volunteer to be a VoIP or HF
> NCS, please contact Rob, KD1CY, our SEC.
>
> ..Use our long standing Health & Welfare NTS system to get information
> on your relatives, or those of friends and neighbors.  Remember, it
> will be very difficult to get a request TO your relatives.  We are
> standing by to receive any word FROM impacted relatives and friends in
> the next days and weeks.  Please contact Jim, N1LKJ, our STM, Rob,
> KD1CY, Mark, KB1EKN, our ASM, or me by email (preferred) or phone for
> assistance. All of our contact information is listed on our website
> http://ema.arrl.org .  Further information appears below.
>
> .. If you want to volunteer to help in the impacted region, it is
> commendable but it has to done correctly.  There are two avenues you
> can pursue as a ham.  The first is to volunteer directly with agencies
> such as the American Red Cross (ARC) and Salvation Army, etc.  They
> will give you further instructions.  The other avenue is through EMA
> ARES.  At this time, however, we have not received any request to
> activate or assist.  If we receive a request for individuals to assist,
> we will pass that to you.  In the meantime, DO NOT SELF ACTIVATE.  Due
> to the dire circumstances in the area, we need to receive necessary
> clearances from local authorities before anyone can proceed into the
> area.
>
> ..If you are volunteering other talents, please contact appropriate
> agencies directly.
>
> ..This is an excellent time to explain the workings of amateur radio
> to your family, neighbors, and friends.  Yesterday, many agencies there
> were relying on Amateur Radio after their normal communications paths
> had failed.
>
> I am taking the liberty of pass Rob's message so all in the Section can
> see it.  I apologize to many of you for the duplication.
>
> Begin Quoted Message=============
>
> Hello to all....
>
> Hurricane Katrina made three landfalls across the Northern US Gulf
> Coast and caused catastrophic damage as it affected Southeast
> Louisiana, Southern Mississippi and Southern Alabama. Katrina tore
> roofs off homes and caused wall damage, downed thousands of trees and
> power lines, totally destroyed some homes and caused 70-80% of the city
> of New Orleans to be under water as 2 levees were damaged.
> Communications infrastructure was also severely damaged. Katrina was a
> large hurricane that spread a path of hurricane force winds almost 150
> miles inland and was a hurricane for 13 hours after landfall as it
> spread that damage of hurricane force winds inland.
>
> There have been some inquires concerning contact into the affected area
> by people who have loved ones in those locations. Jim Palmer-KB1KQW,
> ARES Emergency Coordinator on the North Shore had one such request as
> did the President of the SEMARA Club, Don Manley-N1PMB.
>
> I would strongly recommend formulating such traffic into a routine or
> Health & Welfare NTS traffic message. You can then pass this message
> through one of the local NTS traffic nets in Eastern Massachusetts.
> Information on Eastern Massachusetts traffic nets can be obtained at
> the Eastern Massachusetts NTS web site, located at the following link:
>
> http://nts.ema.arrl.org
>
> Please make sure to have the contact's full name, address and phone
> number.
> While phones maybe down and the person may not be at their home, that
> information maybe helpful to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army
> to locate the person if they are in a shelter.
>
> If you cannot get on one of the local NTS traffic nets, you can pass
> the traffic via Packet or you can send an email to our ARES EC for NTS
> liaison, Gil Follett-W1GMF or our Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section
> Traffic Manager, Jim Ward-N1LKJ. They can also answer any questions
> that you may have as well. The email addresses for Gil and Jim are
> listed below:
>
> N1LKJ-Jim Ward n1lkj at verizon.net
> W1GMF-Gil Follett gilfollett at adelphia.net
>
> Eastern Massachusetts ARES provided front-line support for WX4NHC, the
> National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida, for the VoIP Hurricane Net.
> The VoIP Hurricane Net connected a handful of EOC's, served agencies,
> and spotters/Hams in the affected area of Hurricane Katrina. Connection
> was made with the Louisiana State EOC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the
> National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, the Mobile, Alabama EOC,
> and a handful of Hams and Spotters in the affected area. Indirect
> contact was made with the NWS Forecast Office in Slidell, Louisiana
> which lost all communications except for Amateur Radio as winds reached
> 135 MPH and caused significant building damage to the office. Contact
> was also made with the ARRL Assistant Section Manager in Mississippi
> and the Louisiana ARES Section Emergency Coordinator.
>
> An offer of assistance from Eastern Massachusetts ARES was made and
> maybe reiterated once a day's worth of damage assessment is complete.
>
> Our thoughts and prayers are with the Amateur Radio Operators and
> citizens in the Northern US Gulf Coast who have suffered catastrophic
> damage from Hurricane Katrina.
>
> Respectfully Submitted,
>
> Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
> ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
> Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Pager #: (508)
> 354-3142 Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM) Home/Data #: (508)
> 997-4503 (After 6 PM) Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5
> PM) Email Address: rmacedo at rcn.com http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
>
> End of quoted message=================
>
> If you want to help indirectly, cash donations made directly to
> reputable agencies such as the ARC are usually best.  Please do not
> leave food and cloth stuffs at agency locations or at state agencies.
> Be wary of phone and email solicitations which will undoubtedly
> increase in the coming days and weeks.
>
> God speed to those affected in the area.  Thanks in advance for your
> help in this matter.  73,
>
> /s/ Mike
> Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
> Section Manager: Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
> w1mpn at arrl.org
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