ARRLWeb: Amateur Radio Hurricane Volunteers Needed in Louisiana, Texas

ARRLWeb: Amateur Radio Hurricane Volunteers Needed in Louisiana, Texas

"Amateur Radio Hurricane Volunteers Needed in Louisiana, Texas

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 4, 2005--There's a renewed need for Amateur Radio volunteers in Louisiana, while fresh volunteers are required in Texas. Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator Gary Stratton, K5GLS, says FEMA--the Federal Emergency Management Agency--now is asking for Amateur Radio operators to support Hurricane Katrina damage assessment operations in and around Thibodaux. FEMA also needs to establish a communication link from Thibodaux to St Charles, Stratton says.

The initial requirement is for eight Amateur Radio volunteers. Duties would include riding with supply vehicles as they accompany FEMA on damage assessment tours, Stratton told ARRL. The plan is for radio operators on this assignment to return to the 'muster point' each night. All would get three meals a day, but volunteers should bring along a sleeping bag. Ham radio volunteers also will be needed to handle communication for kitchens and feeding facilities operated by the American Red Cross and the Baptist Men's Kitchen.

Stratton has expressed concern that Amateur Radio volunteers in his beleaguered section already are stretched thin supporting the recovery effort there, and he's looking for assistance from outside Louisiana. After recruits serve a two-week stint, Stratton says he expects fresh volunteers will be needed to replace volunteers rotating out of the area by then.

VHF and UHF equipment (preferably dualband) and a mag-mount antenna are a must for this assignment, and HF gear is a plus. Radio equipment that can be used mobile would be best, but hand-held transceivers might be suitable for assignments in and around Lake Charles. "


73 fer nw,
Bob N5IET

(old calls KE5CTY - WB5ZQU - WY5L)
10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
http://www.qsl.net/ke5cty/
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.