[K3PZN-List] TEXAS EMERGENCY STILL IN EFFECT

[Bisasky]

      Emergency Declared as Texas Flooding Continues

NEWINGTON, CT (Jul 5, 2002)--The Federal Communication Commission 
declared a general communications emergency Friday in response to severe 
flooding in parts of Texas. Days of nonstop rainfall have created some 
of the worst flood conditions in 100 years and caused thousands to flee 
their homes.

At midday Friday, the FCC declared 7285 kHz off limits during the 
daytime except for stations handling flood-related emergency traffic. 
Also off limits is 3873 kHz during nighttime hours. Amateurs are 
required to stay at least 3 kHz away from these frequencies until the 
declaration is rescinded. FCC Enforcement Bureau Senior Advisor for 
Public Safety Arlan K. Van Doorn indicates the declaration may last up 
to 72 hours.

ARRL South Texas Section Manager E. Ray Taylor, N5NAV, is directing ARES 
response from his home in New Braunfels, one of the communities being 
ravaged by the flooding. The Guadalupe River at New Braunfels normally 
flows at around 300 cubic feet per minute. The rate on Friday was 
estimated at 70,000 cubic feet per minute, after the water overran the 
spillways on an upstream dam.

In addition to the wide-range emergency net on HF, Amateur Radio is 
providing communications to municipalities and volunteer groups. A Texas 
Baptist Convention mobile kitchen equipped with ham gear has been set up 
at a shelter in New Braunfels, Taylor said. About a dozen members of the 
Kendall Amateur Radio Society have been providing two-meter 
communications support to the police station and two shelters in Boerne, 
Texas, since Thursday morning, at the request of Boerne Mayor Patrick 
Heath.

As of Friday evening, 23 Texas counties were under a Flash Flood 
Warning. More counties are likely to be added as the rain continues and 
the floodwaters flow toward the coast.

Page last modified: 03:32 PM, 06 Jul 2002 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org <mailto:awextra@arrl.org>
Copyright � 2002, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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