[TCARC-NTX] Shuttle Disaster Relief Communicators

[david@justcalldavid.com]

For N5VAV and all:

So far this is an alert to be ready for call up by the
TBM and Red Cross.  Call up generally follows alert
within 24 hours.  I'm on the call list and have told
them I might be able to muster other volunteers.

Operating points would be Dallas TBM EOC, Nacogdoches
TOC, and field assignments in East Texas, but the role
and nature have not been communicated down the chain
yet.  It could turn out they decide to only call up
two hams, or as in the Hurricane Lili relief effort,
over 40 supported just the TBM and Red Cross effort,
while several other teams helped with the National
Guard, Salvation Army and RACES teams.

The TBM and Red Cross provide the food and kitchen
(such as in this alert).  The TBM also provides (not
for this alert) hot shower units, portable day care
centers, a well equipped eoc with ham radio shack, and
chainsaw units.

The communications I have done in recent relief effort
included talk-in to TOC and between TOC and field
units, coordination of food delivery teams taking food
to workers at work sites, coordinating logistics,
interagency and intra-agency coordination.  I used
both HF and VHF/UHF for these activities.

This is a great time to make sure your ready kit and
radios are organized, in case the last minute call up
comes.

While I am alerting TCARC to the Texas Baptist Men/Red
Cross alert since that is who contacted me, don't be
surprised if ARES/RACES call ups may seek
communicators also, particularly State of Texas RACES
and FEMA RACES.  Also expect the possibility of FCC
reserving certain frequencies for the occasion.


Ready kit suggestions:

flashlight, batteries, large notepad, pens and
pencils, sleeping bag, cot (sometimes cots are issued
at the DR site, and other times not), hygeine stuff
and clothes for 5 days, a good bath towel and shower
shoes, radio stuff and electronics tools.

Hope this info helps.

David

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