Katrina Report

Tuesday Sept 13, 2005

To: ARRL ODV

      HQ Staff

 

Barring any extraordinary circumstances, this will be my last regular Katrina update. I’ll issue others as the need arises.

 

Thanks to the Board and staff for their input and comments on my previous updates. 

 

Thanks to the Katteam members for their unselfish sharing of their knowledge and expertise; their able help and assistance in getting the job done; their unwavering dedication and commitment to the task; and for giving up much of their own personal time to this effort.  Special thanks to Dennis Motschenbacher, and Allen Pitts who acted as our liaisons in the Gulf Coast region.

 

The Katteam members are: Jon Bloom, Joe Carcia, Steve Ewald, Steve Ford, Norm Fusaro, Dan Henderson, Mary Hobart, Bob Inderbitzen, Harold Kramer, Greg Kwasowski, Rick Lindquist, Wayne Mills, Bill Moore, Jodi Morin, Dennis Motschenbacher, Dave Patton, Allen Pitts, Janet Rocco, Barry Shelley, Chuck Skolaut, Maty Weinberg, and Rosalie White

 

 

  1. The Relief effort is winding down for us as normal telecommunications infrastructure is restored.  Reports from the field indicate that cell phones, landline telephony and electric power are returning to many of the areas that were damaged by Katrina.

 

  1. As near as we can tell, there are around 1,000 volunteer amateur radio operators currently deployed in the Gulf Coast and other areas such as evacuee centers.  The supply of operators is currently sufficient but there are some concerns about replacement operators.  The amateur radio community has demonstrated an incredible commitment to public service.  We should be proud of our efforts.

 

  1. We have shipped many of the HF and VHF Radios and accessories such as headphones, power supplies, etc. to Montgomery for deployment.  Dennis reports that the equipment supply is currently sufficient.

 

  1. Duracell has donated 5,000 AA batteries for use in the field.  Thanks to Mary Hobart for her efforts.

 

  1. The $100,000 CNCS grant has been officially approved.  Jon Bloom and staff have created a web site to handle reimbursement requests. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/09/13/2/?nc=1   Reimbursement requires SM or SEC approval and will be for $25 a day for a maximum of 4 days.

 

  1. On the PR front, Allen Pitts reports that his quick Google search came up with 17 pages of “hits” about amateur radio and Katrina.  Allen has a professional videographer, a ham, working in the Gulf Coast on obtaining footage of our efforts.

 

  1. Our Washington team, along with President Haynie, is submitting testimony about Amateur Radio’s role in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts for use at the upcoming Congressional hearing on Hurricane Katrina.

 

 

And, in the life goes on department, congratulations to Zoe Belliveau on obtaining her Technician License today and Maria Somma on upgrading to Extra today.

 

 

Harold

 

Harold Kramer, WJ1B

Chief Operating Officer

ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111

860 594 0220

www.arrl.org/