[KYHAM] FW: [SECARRL] Katrina and Emergency E-Mail Network

[Ron Dodson]

I am sending this forwarded message from our national SEC Listserv so
that you are all in the loop.

Apparently the Emergency E-Mail Network is trying to find ham radio
volunteers who will assist in creating an assistance network for Katrina
disaster areas.  While this is an honorable intent, MARS, SATERN, ARC
and many others already have these networks in place and in operation
daily. I caution everyone to not have a knee-jerk reaction to jump on
the bandwagon and make an immediate response to actually travel to the
damage areas as a reply to it.  

The governments in both MS and LA have asked that ALL FORMS of outside
help ONLY RESPOND at their request (No Freelancing!).  This is for a
number of reasons, chief of which, they have enough trouble figuring out
how to sustain those who live there without finding sustenance and
living facilities for well meaning outsiders too. Flim-Flammers will be
looking for an easy in also and that they do not need either. Proper
Identifications and authorizations will be essential parts of entry to
the areas.

Efforts to go and physically aid those in the affected areas will need
to be coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compacts
between state level EMA's. This also provides workman's comp for
responders in doing so.  Doing what they propose (if not done properly)
will short-circuit coordination of efforts and add an even worse case of
"TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN" as the New Orleans Mayor stated
yesterday. 

If you want to do something today aside from being ready to serve in
future capacities, give donations in dollars based on the amount of fuel
it would cost you to travel and stay for two weeks to a month to the Am
Red Cross, Salvation Army, Baptist Disaster Relief or another bona fide
VOAD group. These agencies will soon find that their ability to sustain
current operations will soon be depleting their treasuries and large
amounts of help will be needed just fund their efforts to feed and cloth
the victims for many weeks to come.

73, 
Ron Dodson, KA4MAP
SEC KyARES  

-----Original Message-----
From: secarrl at yahoogroups.com [mailto:secarrl at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of k2gw at arrl.net
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 11:16 AM
To: secarrl at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SECARRL] Katrina and Emergency eMail Network

Jerry:

Are you familiar with this message I just received a few minutes ago? 
It's from the Emergency eMail network that provides weather alerts, etc.

If you're coordinating the out of state response for the LA and MS
sections, you might want to talk to the Emergency EMail Network  or ARRL
HQ and make sure that this solicitation for out of state operators goes
through the website you have standing by for registering ham volunteers.

I would also hope that any out of state responder system includes
vetting by their local EC, SEC or SM so that you get qualified help.

Please advise so I know how to answer any questions I get as a result of
the Emergency eMail Network query

73

Gary Wilson, K2GW
SNJ SEC


-- 
Dear ARRL/Ham  Subscriber:

We are currently working to coordinate a Katrina
Ham Traffic net for the handling of RADIOGRAM
messages via ham radio and the Internet into
and out of the affected area. 

This initiative is in the EVALUATION PROCESS only and
is currently under consideration at ARRL.

The project needs of the following:

1. Hams who are in the affected area(s) or who can travel to the
affected areas with HF rigs and power.

2. Hams at their home QTH who can monitor selected HF traffic
frequencies,
copy radiograms coming out of the area and relay them via the Internet
to
The Emergency Email & Wireless Network for further relay.

If you would be able to participate in this effort you can email us at
mail at emergencyemail.org. Please share this information with those you
think may be of benefit.

Sincerely,

J. William

THE EMERGENCY EMAIL & WIRELESS NETWORK
http://www.emergencyemail.org/