Katrina Update Thursday Sept 8, 2005 Late Night Edition To: ARRL HQ ARRL ODV From: Harold Kramer There are lots of activities relating to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief here at HQ. I am not sure if I can capture all of them. Sorry if I missed anything important, just let me know what it is and I will add it tomorrow. A Special Thank You to all ARRL HQ Employees for their help. I particularly want to mention the folks who, because of their job responsibilities, have been unable to help directly with Katrina Relief. You are the folks who are keeping us up and running by making sure that our books and magazines are still being published and mailed, our members requests are being serviced, QSL cards, awards and exams are processed and sent out, our phones are answered, our IT infrastructure is up and running, the bills are being paid, etc. Thanks to all of you for keeping your eye on the ball. Web, Communications and PR: 1. The website has been updated with new stories, information and photos. Please check out Rick Lindquist's excellent article. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/09/08/100/ 2. Jon Bloom and staff have added a new web tool - The Katrina Volunteer Information Database. This online resource will have us match relief requests to operator resources. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/agencies/ Tracking all of these requests has been a major problem for us and this tool should help solve them. 3. Allen Pitts in now in Alabama. He has done more interviews with National Media and did a live interview on WTIC -AM here in Connecticut. 4. A reporter from the Christian Science Monitor visited HQ today to obtain information for a story due next week. 5. Special thanks to Sharon Taratula for coordinating media requests while Allen is away. 6. Computerworld Magazine is doing an expanded series on our Katrina efforts. 7. HK will appear on Connecticut Public Television tomorrow. I will not be asking for pledges, however, there will be a live interview with Allen Pitts from Alabama. 8. Based on strong positive feedback, a second special edition of the EmComm newsletter will be published Saturday. Thanks to our Editor, Rick Palm and "Publisher" Rosalie White for making this happen. Field Operations: 1. Dennis Mostchenbacher is also in Alabama with The Red Cross. His center has deployed about 80 ops. Dennis reports that many of the Red Cross Shelters are getting their telephone service back but amateur communications is still needed. 2. Rosalie White reported that a number of operators were used by the Florida Air National Guard to coordinate communications efforts. 3. Dave Patton has been working with SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) who is requesting more ops for deployment in the Gulf Coast Region. 4. Dave has also been handling requests from FEMA for ops in Louisiana for deployment to hospitals. Thanks again Dave for all your help. 5. Steve Ewald has been coordinating the daily Gulf Coast SM region conference call. Steve reports that they now need relief operators in Louisiana. 6. Dave P also reports that in some areas enough services have been restored so that some ops are being sent back home again. Overall the call and emails are slowing down as things become a bit more normal and organized. 7. There are many, many stories about deployment, assistance and rescues provided by amateur radio that are too numerous to mention here I hope that we can retain and capture them all when this is over. Donations/Equipment Relief: 1. Mary Hobart convinced Long's Electronics to donate 2,000 AA batteries for use with the HT's that are being sent out. 2. Janet Rocco reported that Comet Antennas, DX Engineering, Samlex , LDG, MFJ, M2, and Kenwood have either sent donated equipment or will be shortly. 3. We have shipped out most the HF Radios and associated accessories. Some of the HT's have also been shipped. Thanks to Wayne Mills for coordinating this effort. Other: 1. Joe Carcia reports that there was a major solar flare yesterday that shut down HF communications for a period of time. Propagation has been returning during the past hours. 2. The net activity has now decreased. Some nets have secured and others are closing down early. W1AW has now returned to a normal operating schedule. 3. Jon Bloom and others have suggested that we need a strong post analysis of this event. I agree since this event, because of its magnitude, has fundamentally altered our emergency response methods and procedures. Rosalie White's report on the NVOAD daily conference call: 9/8/2005 1. Rosalie reported that our communications volunteers are sending reports of good work being done at Red Cross shelters and EOCs, and that if any other organization need help, to let us know. She reported that our volunteers in Montgomery AL warn volunteers going there who are using generators to bring gas cans because stores have no gas cans. 2. Chain saw workers are in Wiggins, MS. Volunteers who want to help are welcome. 3. MS FEMA: there is water, MREs, cots, baby formula for shelters. If needed, contact FEMA Action Officer (pronounced Mr. "Hoosway Diaz") landline 703-669-7363 cell 225-229-1418 4. In MS and Houston, the United Methodists are marshalling volunteers for centers for help with feeding/sheltering. May need comms help, and if so, he may send email to Rosalie. 5. Convoy of Hope- has distributed 28 million pounds ice/food in MS,LA - They have requested amateur operator support. 6. For donations and for contractors who are volunteering, but not for people who are opening their homes - go to https://www.nnern.gov FEMA's National Resource Center