[CC-ARES-RACES] Our next mission, are you prepared?

[Tom Abernethy - W3TOM]

Greetings,

I would like to share a few thoughts that came to mind as I read the
below ARRL bulletin. In this new era of our country's history, when we
may be called upon to assist with almost any contingency, it is my hope
that everyone will seriously consider becoming prepared now before you
get the call for service. If you are not already registered, you need to
get on board by registering with our Charles County Amateur Radio
Emergency Services (ARES) Emergency Coordinator/Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES) Officer Mike Tackish, KA3GRW.
(ptackish@erols.com) Once you are registered, you need to become active,
get trained, and get involved in Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
preparations. Only as a prepared team can we provide the services
required to assist our community and country in time of need. Please act
today!

73, Tom - W3TOM



SB QST @ ARL $ARLB012
ARLB012 Texas amateurs aid in shuttle debris recovery, cataloging

ZCZC AG12
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 12  ARLB012
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  February 3, 2003
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB012
ARLB012 Texas amateurs aid in shuttle debris recovery, cataloging

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and SKYWARN volunteers in
Nacogdoches, Texas, have been assisting local emergency management
officials and NASA to locate and catalog debris from the Columbia
shuttle. The shuttle and its crew of seven, including three hams, were
lost over Texas February 1.

ARES and SKYWARN volunteers from the Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club have
been surveying the area in and around Nacogdoches looking for shuttle
debris. Public Information Officer Tim Lewallen, KD5ING, of the
Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club said amateurs have been accompanying
officials from both NASA and the EPA to expedite the search and clean up
of area schools. Texas officials have cancelled school in most of East
Texas because of fears that shuttle debris could pose a health hazard.

''Usually we just get the coordinates, take a photo and move on to the
next site,'' Lewallen said, ''and someone from NASA will come along and
pick up the piece later.''

He said the club had additional volunteers lined up for duty over the
next few days, with amateurs coming from East Texas, Houston and Dallas.
The ARES and SKYWARN volunteers have been working with emergency
officials from Nacogdoches County, Texas Rangers, NASA, Texas Department
of Public Safety, EPA and the National Guard.

The ARES and SKYWARN volunteers also were following up on NASA-provided
telemetry and radar information that indicates where debris might be
found, Lewallen said. The search area includes densely forested areas.
NASA has requested that those encountering debris avoid any contact with
it and cautioned that persons found with stolen accident debris will be
prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The Columbia crew, headed by Commander Rick Husband, included Pilot
Willie McCool and Mission Specialists Kalpana ''KC'' Chawla, KD5ESI;
David Brown, KC5ZTC; Laurel Clark, KC5ZSU, Michael Anderson, and Payload
Specialist Ilan Ramon. NNNN /EX