Amateur Radio Volunteers Still Needed

In Mississippi, Ed Daszkiewicz, N0EPD (rear), of Crossville, Tennessee, and Jacky Schwartz, KA1RBC, of Hatley, Mississippi, handle traffic at "Gulfport Operations" at Harrison Central Elementary. [Greg Ansley, KB4R, Photo] Jim Jett, KC6ETU, of Marietta, Georgia, operating from a makeshift station at the Bay St Louis, Mississippi, Senior Center in support of a Red Cross shelter. "I feel like I benefited more from helping than they did from my help," Jett commented. [KC6ETU Photo] ARRL Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK (right), speaks with two incoming Connecticut volunteers at the Montgomery, Alabama, volunteer marshaling center--Dave Hyatt, K1DAV (middle), of Torrington and Dave Wilcox, K1DJW, of New Hartford. [K7BV Photo] ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, volunteered for a time at the Montgomery, Alabama, Red Cross volunteer marshaling center, where he helped set up W4AP. [K7BV Photo]

NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 29, 2005--UPDATED--Amateur Radio volunteers still are needed to assist relief agencies in the southern Mississippi counties hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. In addition ham radio volunteers are wanted to support Hurricane Rita FEMA operations in Texas. ARRL Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, who's been at the American Red Cross volunteer staging area in Montgomery for nearly a month now, says he got a call for more operators this week, but turning the "operator pipeline" back on after holding off on soliciting additional volunteers has been slow.

"Yesterday we received a renewed need for amateurs who can deploy to the Gulf Coast region," he said. "Three Mississippi Gulf Coast counties need amateurs in EOCs, American Red Cross shelters and other locations to provide reliable communication." Sarratt says he's trying to fill a need for 18 operators in Hancock County, 24 in Harrison County and 9 in Jackson County. He reports he's already begun getting word via the nationwide network of ARRL SMs and SECs on the availability of fresh recruits.

ARRL Mississippi SM Malcolm Keown, W5XX, indicates that the need for Amateur Radio volunteers in the Harrison County EOC is likely to continue `round the clock for another month.

Prospective volunteers may indicate their willingness to deploy by first signing up on the "Hurricane Katrina Disaster Communications & Volunteer Registration and Message Traffic Database," then awaiting word on whether to deploy. Operators should not self-deploy! If requested to report, they should notify their ARRL SEC.

Volunteers who are asked to deploy would report to the Montgomery marshaling center to receive orientation and a specific assignment. Some volunteers will help support communication at Red Cross shelters set up for evacuees, while others will provide tactical communication for feeding stations.

Amateur Radio Station W4AP at the Montgomery staging facility monitors 7.280 MHz days/3.965 evenings to keep in touch with HF-equipped mobile operators who are traveling to or are at their assigned locations.

Operators requested to deploy should be self-sufficient with some food, fuel, water and camping gear sufficient to cover their travel to and operation in affected areas. Shelters are supplying food for ham radio volunteers in affected communities, however.

In Louisiana, where New Orleans and several parishes suffered severe damage from Hurricane Katrina, SEC Gary Stratton, K5GLS, says local ARES members are still handling communication request and needs that arise in that state. He says that first responders are expected to enter Cameron Parish this weekend. Amateur Radio volunteers have been asked to accompany law enforcement personnel to support their internal communication on this mission.

Al Oubre, K5DPG, reports that flood waters in Louisiana have been receding. Most shelters in Louisiana now have telephone service, electricity and running water.

Hurricane Rita Amateur Radio Response Continues

North Texas SEC Bill Swan, K5MWC, reports that two teams from his section are in Jasper, Texas, to assist the Salvation Army there. He foresees more ham radio volunteers will be called to assist after cities such as Beaumont and Port Arthur are reopened for residents to return.

In San Augustine County, Texas, Marshall Williams, K5QE, says that up to eight ARES-trained Amateur Radio volunteers are needed for one week minimum stints to support the FEMA-coordinated disaster relief operation with mobile HF SSB and VHF FM. Prospective volunteers may register their availability on the "Hurricane Rita Disaster Communications Volunteer Registration & Message Traffic Database." The FEMA support requirement is likely to continue for several weeks, with up to eight volunteers needed each week.

The need is for self-contained operators who can provide their own shelter, water and some or all of their food for a week. The duty tour will involve working in high humidity and temperatures, so anyone with medical problems that could be aggravated by these conditions should not volunteer for this assignment.

The West Gulf ARES Emergency Net (7.285 MHz days/3.873 MHz evenings) is providing daily updates on the Hurricane Rita emergency response at noon and 7 PM Central Daylight Time.

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