[CC-ARES-RACES] Montgomery RACES activated today

[Tom Abernethy - W3TOM]

Hi Gang,

Though you may find this item timely and of interest. Look forward to
seeing everyone at this Friday's CCARC meeting.

73, Tom - W3TOM




RACES Activated Following DC-Area Train Derailment
NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 29, 2002--The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES) in Montgomery County, Maryland, has activated following a
passenger train derailment in the Washington, DC, area. Montgomery
County Deputy RACES Officer John Creel, WB3GXW, reports that up to 11
cars of an Amtrak train bound for the nation's capital from Chicago were
lying on their sides. Creel said many people were injured, some
seriously. No fatalities have been reported. 
"The 146.955 repeater is being used," Creel said. "We will be staffing
the Hospital Radio Net." Creel said 100-degree temperatures were
complicating the rescue effort. The train wreck occurred in Kensington,
Maryland, just north of Washington. 
At least 14 RACES members responded to the activation, and one
operator--Montgomery County RACES Officer Howard Gorden, W3CQH--was at
the scene of the crash. Other operators have been stationed at the
Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center as well as at two local
hospitals--Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Holy Cross in Silver
Spring. Creel said amateurs may be deployed to local shelters as well. 
Creel said much of the traffic the RACES team was handling concerned
casualties. "There are a lot of 'walking wounded' that they may need to
move to shelters," he said. In addition to the 2-meter repeater net,
Creel said, RACES members also were helping to operate the county's
800-MHz trunked radio system. Although the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) has not activated, Creel said, many RACES members also
belong to ARES. 
Rescue workers were attempting to free passengers trapped in the rail
cars, one of which reportedly rolled down an embankment. Some passengers
kicked out windows to escape, but others remained trapped, according to
news reports. 
Dozens of rescuers are on the scene. The train derailed at approximately
2 PM Eastern Time--some 10 minutes from its destination.