[PBARC] A Message from ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

A Message from ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP 


My fellow Amateur Radio Operators, 

There is no doubt that the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina will
be the largest and longest emergency actions that hams have ever undertaken.
It will also be one of the hardest, not simply due to the large areas
involved, but also because many of us have friends and relatives directly
impacted by this catastrophe. For them, and all the people of the Gulf
region, we ask divine aid and comfort in this time of sorrows. 

But we are also hardened and resolved to turn this event into one of the
most glorious opportunities to show the unique attributes of ham radio - it
works! You know that. We can again show the world that we have the best
trained, most ingenious and dedicated ARES and RACES operators ever in
history. We have the attention of the world press, and we will show what ham
radio can do. 

This will not happen in a week, not even in a month. The recovery efforts
will be drawn out over numerous states and are expected to go well into the
winter. Hams will grow weary and need relief and replacement from all across
America. The ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, is already
working on strategic plans to make it possible for these volunteers to come.
Our goal is to provide the SECs with all the support we can muster and allow
them to do their jobs. 

There is a curious coincidence in the fact that the United Technologies
grant, which allowed the ARRL to train so many thousands of hams in
emergency communications, ends this week. Now we are seeing the results of
that effort. Disciplined hams, using correct procedures have already saved
many lives, and will save hundreds more by providing timely, accurate and
critical communications to our served agencies. To the students, mentors,
organizers, funders and teachers of those courses we can only say, "Well
done!" 

I know many people would like to move NOW - please don't. I know many of you
want to enter the fray, come to the coast and get involved. Please, not yet.
Instead, get yourself ready. Refresh your skills and knowledge of protocols
and procedures. Once the agencies are able to complete a preliminary needs
assessment, we will know who is needed and where. For now, the area is
simply too dangerous and no one is being allowed in. Transportation and
logistics, including volunteer groups coming in, must be done in an orderly
manner or we may only add to the chaos and confusion. Information and
coordination for such a historically large response is being developed and
will be made available soon. But for now, work through your SECs and follow
their lead. I would also ask that you be professional and disciplined
whenever checking into an HF net. Net control is a difficult job at best, so
be respectful. If you have traffic fine, but if not, please stand by. 

There is already no doubt that when the history of this event is written, to
role of Amateur Radio will be one of honor. Unpaid volunteers who came
through for their country and communities when all other systems failed or
were overwhelmed. By working together and mutually supporting each other, we
can perhaps give these very dark days a small glint of glory. Let these be
the days that hams, decades from now, remember with pride. Together we can -
and will - make it happen because, after all, we are HAMS.