If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2015-08-19   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   August 19, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
    *  ARES(R) Supports 60,000 Runners in Atlanta for Peachtree Road Race   
    *  LZ Drill in Washington State: Joint Emergency Exercises Work on a Small   
       Scale   
    *  Anatomy of a CERT: East Lake (West Central Florida) CERT   
    *  Letters: An Emergency Paging Method   
    *  Letters: Georgia County Interfaces with Emergency Management via   
       Planning Committee   
    *  Letters: San Diego Winlink Net Marks Five Years   
    *  ARRL Staff Developing Patch Display at HQ; Send in your Group's Patch!   
    *  Connecticut ARES Region Conducts Simplex Test   
    *  Georgia Group to Conduct 9/11 Memorial Special Event   
    *  Remembering Hurricane Katrina Ten Years Ago This Month   
      
      
   ARES(R) Briefs, Links   
      
   Katrina 10th Anniversary Mississippi Memorial Event Set (8/10/2015); Amateur   
   Radio Volunteers Support Michigan's Premier Bicycle Tour (7/22/2015).   
   September is National Preparedness Month. This year FEMA is asking you to take   
   action now - make a plan with your community, your family, and for your pets.   
   Plan how to stay safe and[NPM15_logo_v6Final-national.jpg] communicate during   
   the disasters that can affect your community. FEMA asks everyone to   
   participate in America's PrepareAthon! and the national day of action,   
   National PrepareAthon! Day, which culminates National Preparedness Month on   
   September 30.   
      
      
   ARES(R) Supports 60,000 Runners in Atlanta for Peachtree Road Race   
      
   For the last 45 years, Atlantans have celebrated Independence Day in the   
   United States in unique fashion: by closing one of the City's busiest   
   thoroughfares and allowing 60,000 runners, supported by 5000 volunteers,   
   including over 50 Amateur Radio volunteers, and nearly 200,000 spectators for   
   the Peachtree Road Race, sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the   
   Atlanta Track Club.   
      
   The Amateur Radio response is coordinated by Race Committee Members David   
   Ziskind, KE4QLH, and Chris Balch, KS4MM (ARRL Volunteer Counsel and AEC for   
   Atlanta ARES). Operators come from ARES groups and Amateur Radio clubs all   
   over the metropolitan Atlanta area.   
      
   Working closely with the Atlanta Fulton County Emergency Management Agency   
   (AFCEMA), Atlanta Police and Fire Departments, as well as numerous federal and   
   state law enforcement and public safety agencies, the Amateur Radio contingent   
   provides crucial on course intelligence and safety reports for injured   
   runners, race conditions, and even the occasional suspicious package. Learning   
   from the experience of colleagues in Boston, net control operations for the   
   race are located at AFCEMA's underground Emergency Operations Center. AFCEMA   
   Director Matthew Kallmayer has worked closely with Atlanta ARES EC Ken Reid,   
   KG4USN, to stock the EOC with 3 dual band radios (2 Kenwood V71s and an ICOM   
   IC-2820). Accordingly, we were able to run and respond to 3 different nets (as   
   well as a D-STAR link to the Atlanta Police Headquarters) providing   
   coordination among public safety, Atlanta Track Club   
   organizers, and media outlets. Race communications benefited from the loaned   
   repeaters of the Atlanta Radio Club, the Metropolitan Atlanta Telephone   
   Pioneers Amateur Radio Club, and the Georgia Tech Amateur Radio Club.   
      
   This year provided a particularly challenging environment as July 4 saw   
   Atlanta hit by a long line of severe and dangerous thunderstorms just as the   
   race got underway. As the storms intensified, Track Club officials made the   
   decision to hold the last half of the runners (half the field was already on   
   the course) and move those waiting to start indoors for safety. After a   
   30-minute delay, 25,000 race participants emerged into the rainy late morning   
   and completed their annual jog down Peachtree Street. - Chris Balch, KS4MM,   
   AEC Atlanta ARES   
      
      
   LZ Drill in Washington State: Joint Emergency Exercises Work on a Small Scale   
      
   One hour before the Airlift Northwest medical helicopter was due to arrive,   
   the rain was coming down so hard, cars were pulling off the streets because   
   wipers couldn't clear their windshields. The wind was gusting and heavy   
   thunder shook the area. Yet, by 6:30 PM, the storm had cleared for the most   
   part, and the training exercise began.   
      
   ________   
      
      
   Riverside Fire Authority, Centralia (Washington) ARES, Lewis County 911 center   
   and Airlift Northwest had planned this joint exercise for weeks. Several years   
   earlier, Centralia ARES established eleven emergency helicopter landing zones   
   (LZ) around the community of 16,000 located in southwest Washington State. The   
   local hospital had been the only designated landing spot for medical   
   helicopters, but the community is divided by two large rivers and Interstate   
   5. Any large earthquake would likely collapse all or most of the overpasses   
   and bridges creating small pockets within the city that would be difficult to   
   reach by normal disaster response services.   
      
   The helicopter landing zone project began by locating open fields, school   
   yards and vacant lots that could be used as alternate landing zones. Level   
   landing zones of at least 100' x 100' were needed. The fields could be grass,   
   packed dirt, a roadway or even snow. Identifiable structures such as water   
   towers needed to be marked. High tension lines, trees, fences, light poles and   
   other hazards had to be assessed. Each year, the Centralia ARES   
   team checks each landing zone to be sure it still meets requirements.   
      
   The landing zones were in place but had never been needed nor had a helicopter   
   ever landed on any of them - until now. The joint exercise began to take form   
   when we asked Riverside Fire Authority Chief Mike Kytta if he thought we could   
   get Airlift Northwest, the local medical helicopter service located 25 miles   
   to the north of Olympia, to fly in as a practice drill. Coincidentally,   
   Riverside Fire was planning an exercise for their volunteers that could easily   
   be turned into a request for a medical aircraft response. A quick e-mail to   
   Airlift Northwest brought the response "We can make that happen." The joint   
   exercise was set for a month later.   
      
   Excitement was in the air at the next ARES meeting as the exercise was   
   discussed. The team retrained on how to set up a landing zone, helicopter   
   landing procedures and LZ safety. While Chief Kytta would be the overall   
   Incident Commander, the ARES team designated a communications supervisor,   
   landing zone supervisor, aircraft communicator and safety officers. Remaining   
   volunteers were assigned positions around the perimeter of the landing zone as   
   this would be in a residential area and the landing of a helicopter was sure   
   to attract spectators. Chief Kytta asked that ARES members provide   
   notification to those homeowners living around the landing zone, and a simple   
   flyer was created for distribution accordingly.   
      
   The Centralia Street Department agreed to provide barricades to block off an   
   adjacent street so we would have adequate parking for emergency vehicles. They   
   also provided orange traffic cones to help identify the 100' x 100'   
   landing area from the air. Since it was possible that a delay might mean a   
   night landing, ARES also purchased traffic flares and chemical lights just in   
   case.   
      
   Also, the Centralia ARES group had just completed a one year project of   
   creating an ARES communications vehicle and this event would be the first real   
   test of its equipment. During its last training meeting before the exercise,   
   the team went over safety procedures again, established where team members   
   would park the communications vehicle, the fire department aid truck and a   
   fire engine and marked the 100' x 100' landing zone. A simplex frequency was   
   designated for all landing zone personnel. The team felt ready to make the   
   exercise a success, but hadn't thought about the weather.   
      
   Exercise Commences   
      
   On the day of the event and in the middle of the storm, a text message to Fire   
   Chief Kytta brought back the reply that they were ready to go if the weather   
   permitted. As the storm passed, Riverside Fire Authority began their   
   part of the exercise. Fire Department volunteers were dispatched to a   
   simulated vehicle accident where the people in the car had been ejected from   
   the vehicle. Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and began a search of   
   the wooded area for victims. In this simulation, they were to locate four   
   victims. One had minor injuries, two were "walking wounded," and one was in   
   critical condition and would, as planned, need airlift out by medical   
   helicopter to a trauma center.   
      
   As the drill progressed, Centralia ARES began setting up the landing zone and   
   prepared to communicate with both the fire personnel and the aircraft.   
   Riverside Fire and crews located their "victims" and began transporting them   
   towards the landing zone after requesting the local 911 center call for a   
   medical helicopter.   
      
   Inside the ARES communications vehicle, team members took updated information   
   on the patient's condition from the aid crew in the field. It is approximately   
   a 10 minute flight from the Olympia airport to the landing zone and it was   
   timed to have the fire department aid vehicle arrive at the landing zone a few   
   minutes before the helicopter. As the fire truck and aid vehicle arrived and   
   parked, ARES members could hear the aircraft approaching in the distance.   
      
   When the Airlift Northwest helicopter was in sight, the ARES aircraft   
   communicator made contact and provided updated landing zone information that   
   included wind direction, identifiable landmarks, landing zone coordinates and   
   known hazards to the aircraft. In moments, the aircraft was circling the field   
   and settling down to a safe landing.   
      
   Everyone waited as the helicopter shut down and the flight nurse got out and   
   approached the fire department aid crew. They simulated patient transfer   
   procedures and then everyone was allowed to approach the helicopter to get a   
   closer look. The flight nurse briefed the ARES team about the equipment on   
   board, demonstrated how to load a patient and discussed patient preparation   
   with the fire department crews. The pilot spoke to the team about the   
   helicopter and outlined what he needed for an emergency landing zone to safely   
   land the aircraft. Thirty minutes later, the ARES team cleared the landing   
   zone and directed the helicopter back into the air.   
      
   Conclusion   
      
   What began as a simple training exercise to establish potential helicopter   
   landing zones for the community turned into an opportunity to work with a   
   served agency, Riverside Fire Authority, and to test ARES equipment and   
   procedures for landing an actual helicopter. The Airlift Northwest crew was   
   generous with their time and equipment. Chief Kytta and his fire department   
   training staff were tremendously helpful in setting up this valuable exercise.   
      
   You don't have to have all the answers when planning interesting training, you   
   just need to start asking for help. Training opportunities are everywhere if   
   you are willing to ask, even for smaller ARES teams. - Bob Willey, KD7OWN,   
   Centralia (Washington State) ARES Emergency Coordinator [Willey is a retired   
   Operations Commander with the Centralia Police Department and has been an   
   Amateur Radio operator since 2001. The Centralia ARES team was formed as a   
   result of the devastating 2007 floods that covered the area and completely cut   
   Interstate 5 for several days.]   
      
      
   Anatomy of a CERT: East Lake (West Central Florida) CERT   
      
   [In last month's issue, an article "Critical Partnership: CERT Joins with   
   Amateur Radio Club for Field Day in West Central Florida," touched on the   
   synergistic relationship between a CERT group and large Amateur Radio club.   
   This month, we'll explore this relationship more fully, a whole that seems   
   more than the sum of its parts - ed.]   
      
   East Lake CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) in Palm Harbor, Florida is   
   very active in Amateur Radio in the north end of Pinellas County. [Pinellas   
   county lies to the east of Tampa with a population of about one million on the   
   coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater is the county seat, and St. Petersburg   
   is its largest city.] Combining forces with the Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio   
   Club (UPARC) results in a pool of nearly 70 licensed   
   amateurs with training that goes beyond traditional ARES training. ARES trains   
   us to be communicators[certlogo.jpg] using a variety of frequencies and modes   
   in emergencies. A CERT educates ordinary citizens about disaster preparedness   
   for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster   
   response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team   
   organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in   
   the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their   
   neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are   
   not immediately available to help.   
      
   One aspect of this training is communications. Many CERT teams use basic   
   Family Radio Service (FRS) radios for this. We have found that FRS is not   
   always reliable for this purpose. East Lake CERT realized the shortfalls of   
   FRS and began to recruit and train Amateur Radio operators to be their   
   communicators through Technician and General licensing classes, mentoring and   
   word of mouth.   
      
   Brief History of CERT   
      
   The first CERT was born in California out of a need of support for first   
   responders following catastrophic earthquakes. The program was intended to   
   fill the gap between what first responders were capable of providing and the   
   needs of the community immediately following these events.   
      
   The training units were developed using lessons learned from actual events.   
   The most immediate needs were prioritized and combined with preparedness   
   objectives to present a well-rounded and inclusive program that would enable   
   volunteers to prepare, plan and respond in the safest and most efficient way.   
      
   In February, 1985, a group of Los Angeles City officials went to Japan to   
   study its extensive earthquake preparedness plans. The group encountered a   
   society that had taken extensive steps to train entire neighborhoods in one   
   aspect of alleviating the potential devastation that would follow a major   
   earthquake. These single-function neighborhood teams were trained in fire   
   suppression, light search and rescue operations, first aid, or evacuation.   
      
   In 1986, the City of Los Angeles Fire Department developed a pilot program to   
   train a group of leaders in a neighborhood watch organization. A concept   
   developed involving multi-functional volunteer response teams with the ability   
   to perform basic fire suppression, light search and rescue, and first aid.   
   This first team of 30 people completed training in early 1986 and proved that   
   the concept was viable through various drills, demonstrations,   
   and exercises. Expansion of the program, however, was not feasible due to   
   limited City resources, until an event occurred in 1987 that impacted the   
   entire area.   
      
   On October 1, 1987, the Whittier Narrows earthquake vividly underscored the   
   threat of an area-wide major disaster, and demonstrated the need to expedite   
   the training of civilians to prepare for earthquakes and other emergencies.   
   Following the Whittier Narrows earthquake, the City of Los Angeles took an   
   aggressive role in protecting the citizens of Los Angeles by creating the   
   Disaster Preparedness Section within the Los Angeles Fire Department. Their   
   objectives included:   
      
   o Educate and train the public and government sectors in disaster preparedness   
      
   o Research, evaluate, and disseminate disaster information   
      
   o Develop, train, and maintain a network of Community Emergency Response Teams   
   (CERTs).   
      
   In 1993, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) decided to make the   
   concept and program available to communities nationwide. The Emergency   
   Management Institute (EMI), in cooperation with the LAFD, expanded the CERT   
   materials to make them applicable to all hazards.   
      
   In January 2002, CERT became part of the Citizen Corps, a unifying structure   
   to link a variety of related volunteer activities to expand a community's   
   resources for crime prevention and emergency response.   
      
   As of November 2011, 50 states, three territories and six foreign countries   
   were using the CERT training.   
      
   East Lake CERT History   
      
   East Lake CERT was established in 2005 by Mark Weinkrantz and District Chief   
   Mark Teolis. The first class was trained by Lealman CERT. Not all teams are   
   able to sustain the interest of their members, are not able to recruit new   
   members, or have the funds to progress. In this regard, East Lake CERT has   
   been very fortunate to have been able to expand their membership as well as   
   focus on one of the most valuable assets following a disastrous event:   
   communications. East Lake CERT has 30 licensed amateurs. They train weekly   
   with a net held on UPARC's VHF repeater.   
      
   Communicators also train with the entire CERT team in several drills   
   throughout the year. In June, East Lake CERT activated its own UHF repeater   
   with the call W4ELC. East Lake CERT has partnered with UPARC's 40 members to   
   provide CERT training to UPARC members and UPARC has welcomed the CERT   
   communicators to use the W4AFC repeater.   
      
   East Lake CERT Moves Forward into Future   
      
   Where do we go from here? What does the future hold? East Lake CERT has been   
   working closely with fire departments in North Pinellas County municipalities   
   to initiate training of Fire Department personnel to be Amateur Radio   
   operators, position radio equipment in each station and train personnel on the   
   use of the radios. The goal is to provide a backbone of emergency   
   communications through Amateur Radio that can be activated in an emergency in   
   North Pinellas County. That network could then interface with Pinellas   
   County's EOC, or support local, neighborhood operations. East Lake CERT is   
   about to open communications with Tarpon Springs, Florida and Sunstar (an   
   ambulance company) to include them in the network.   
      
   Conclusion   
      
   UPARC and East Lake CERT have come together to form an alliance and   
   partnership for the good of our local communities. A CERT trained Amateur   
   Radio communicator is someone you want around when disaster strikes. An   
   Amateur Radio network among Fire Districts could be the lifeline that supports   
   our CERT teams in whatever tasks they are called upon to perform. East Lake   
   CERT has focused on helping members become licensed operators and in the   
   establishment of a North County emergency communications system. Having CERT   
   trained volunteers and radio operators in every community is our goal in order   
   to live up to our mission statement: "The Greatest Good For The Greatest   
   Number." - Contributing authors: Kevin Poorman, KV4CT, East Lake CERT; David   
   Moore, KK4DLX, East Lake CERT; Barb Conciatori, KI4VOV, East Lake CERT; and   
   Andy Miller, KJ4FEC, Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club   
      
      
   Letters: An Emergency Paging Method   
      
   Should a situation arise where radio operators need to be notified of an   
   impending emergency/disaster or requested to assist with an occurring   
   incident, a page can be sent out using the cellular phone grid and the   
   Internet. There are several different types of emergency paging systems and I   
   have tried almost all of them. Currently, our local government uses this   
   method and it is effective and easy.   
      
   "But wait! If there is a disaster, those phones/Internet may not work!"   
      
   Most warnings such as a tornado watch/warning or severe storm warning are   
   broadcasted far in advance of the onset of hazardous conditions. At this   
   point, many hams are monitoring frequencies and listening for news. Local   
   incidents that occur without advanced warning such as a nuclear power plant   
   evacuation or aircraft down are likely the ones where a quick call up is   
   needed, but even these events do not necessarily take out the entire   
   phone/Internet system.   
      
   "I don't have a phone or I do not want to receive texts."   
      
   Test messages could be limited to just once a week. These tests are to make   
   sure you are receiving the sent texts. There are few individuals today without   
   a mobile phone at their disposal. Any phone that can receive texts can be used   
   to receive the page.   
      
   When a page is sent it will likely tell you where to tune to get information   
   such as "tune to 7200 kHz LSB or 145.450 MHz FM." That would alert operators   
   to tune in and get the details they need for responding.   
      
   How Does It Work?   
      
   A text message is sent to your phone's e-mail address, which consists of your   
   phone number followed by the provider's "@ domain.com". Most carriers charge   
   for this. The fee is usually small and worth it if you receive an alert. It is   
   only free when you have signed up to receive text messaging through your phone   
   carrier.   
      
   These are the phone e-mail addresses. Just substitute/insert your cell phone   
   number and send yourself a test message.   
      
   Common U.S. Carriers:   
      
   AT&T   
      
   1234567890@txt.att.net   
      
   Metro PCS   
      
   1234567890@mymetropcs.com   
      
   T-Mobile   
      
   1234567890@tmomail.net   
      
   U.S.Cellular   
      
   1234567890@email.uscc.net   
      
   Crickett Wireless   
      
   1234567890@sms.mycricket.com   
      
   Sprint   
      
   1234567890@messaging.sprintpcs.com   
      
   TracFone   
      
   1234567890@mmst5.tracfone.com   
      
   Verizon   
      
   1234567890@vtext.com   
      
   "Who would send out the pages?"   
      
   The EMA Director, for example, could send out a page and contact all operators   
   with just one e-mail. Most operators carry their phone with them. This system   
   is simple to use and a great way to advise the radio community of anything   
   that might be of importance. -- Steve Bellner, W8TER, Maumee, Ohio   
      
   [I tried it and it works well. -- ed.]   
      
      
   Letters: Georgia County Interfaces with Emergency Management via Planning   
   Committee   
      
   Amateur Radio operators in Glynn County (Georgia) stand ready to provide   
   communications to our Emergency Management Agency as an active partner on the   
   county Local Emergency Planning Committee. A multi-band communications center   
   organized by Don Wellons, N4CMA, with county assistance can be activated and   
   fully operational in our EOC upon order of competent authority. In addition,   
   the county has multiple go-boxes with VHF/UHF transceivers that can be   
   deployed to Amateur Radio-licensed responders throughout the county. This   
   capability, combined with a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary mobile emergency   
   communication trailer assembled by David Lawrence and his volunteer team of   
   USCGA Land Based and Mobile Operational Radio Facilities (most are also   
   licensed radio amateurs) will provide a viable communications network in the   
   event that traditional systems may be disrupted in the early hours or days of   
   a disaster. -- Bob Shoreman, KK4VIK, Corresponding Secretary, Glynn County,   
   Georgia Local Emergency Planning Committee   
      
      
   Letters: San Diego Winlink Net Marks Five Years   
      
   For the past five years I have been conducting the San Diego Winlink EmComm   
   Weekly Drill and News. Here's how it works: A drill message goes out every   
   Thursday, and San Diego and upper Baja, Mexico area radio amateurs can keep   
   their operating skills sharp and their equipment readiness verified by just   
   hitting "reply" to the message.   
      
   A drill message last month went out celebrating five years of the San Diego   
   Winlink EmComm Weekly Drill and News being in continuous operation. In total   
   for the five year period, 259 weekly messages were sent and received with more   
   than 3500 check-ins during that period. In another drill message recently, I   
   gave my view of some of the highlights (and a couple of the lowlights) of our   
   experiences with emergency communications in San Diego County during this   
   period. -- Ed Sack, W3NRG, Coronado, California   
      
      
   ARRL Staff Developing Patch Display at HQ; Send in your Group's Patch!   
      
   We're working on putting together a patch display here at ARRL HQ. We're   
   looking for ARES or other public service communications groups, that have   
   their own patches, to send us one for the display. Obviously we do not need   
   the ARES patches we sell, but ones designed and used by local groups. Any   
   group that wants to contribute one can mail it to ARRL, attn. Mike Corey, 225   
   Main St. Newington, CT 06111. -- Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL Emergency Preparedness   
   Manager   
      
      
   Connecticut ARES Region Conducts Simplex Test   
      
   Connecticut is a leader in emergency/disaster communications support in all   
   modes for all hazards. The ARRL Section's ARES Region 5 (covering a large   
   portion of the western aspect of the state) executed its third annual simplex   
   test on August 1st. The test, spearheaded by Paul Gibb, KB1TOR, was created to   
   study how communications could be carried out throughout the geographically   
   large Litchfield and northern Fairfield counties without the   
   use of repeaters. The goal of the test is to light up as many EOCs as possible   
   in the region. This year 46 stations participated in the test, which was held   
   on the 2, 6 and 40 meter bands.   
      
   Gibb is the Special Projects Coordinator for the state's Department of   
   Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) Region 5 Regional Emergency   
   Planning Team (REPT) in Connecticut. Gibb has been instrumental in getting   
   nearly every EOC in Region 5 equipped with Amateur Radio transceivers, VHF/UHF   
   antennas, and in some cases NVIS antennas for HF work. Gibb was recognized by   
   ARRL Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, at the annual section ARES meeting   
   in Southington this past spring for his accomplishments. -- Dana A. Borgman,   
   KA1WPM, Public Information Coordinator, Connecticut Section, ARRL   
      
      
   Georgia Group to Conduct 9/11 Memorial Special Event   
      
   Cherokee County (Georgia) CERT/ARES will be operating Special Event station   
   N4A on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12 in remembrance of   
   those families and loved ones who lost their lives, and the Public Safety   
   members who gave countless hours during and following the 9/11 attacks.   
      
   Jim Millsap, WB4NWS, District EC for the Metro Atlanta District ARES, reports   
   "We will be operating from the Cherokee County EOC Ham Station and the   
   Cherokee County CERT/ARES trailer on HF frequencies in the General Class band   
   of 20, 40, and 80-meters on Friday, but the biggest event activity is expected   
   on Saturday. Stations are invited to check in on Friday or Saturday. A special   
   certificate will be provided to those who make contact and send a self   
   addressed #10 envelope." (More details will be provided on QRZ as the event   
   dates draw closer).   
      
      
   Remembering Hurricane Katrina Ten Years Ago This Month   
      
   Katrina was one of the most devastating hurricanes in the history of the   
   United States. It is the deadliest hurricane to strike the United States since   
   the Palm Beach-Lake Okeechobee hurricane of September 1928. It produced   
   catastrophic damage - estimated at $75 billion in the New Orleans area and   
   along the Mississippi coast - and is the costliest U. S. hurricane on record.   
   (source: National Hurricane Center)   
      
   Here are two snippets from a special edition (just the second issue!) of the   
   ARES E-Letter that was released on September 2, 2005:   
      
   "I know many people would like to move now. Please don't. I know many of you   
   want to enter the fray, come to the coast and get involved. Please, not yet.   
   Transportation and logistics, including volunteer groups coming in, must be   
   done in an orderly manner or we may only add to the chaos and confusion." -   
   (then) ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP"   
      
   "Numerous reports are coming in on the devastation and relief response,   
   including ARES, manifested by Hurricane Katrina. This special release   
   addresses initial ARES responses and planning. Everyone has seen the media   
   reports and the public notices of various governmental agencies and   
   Non-Governmental Organizations, so they will not be reiterated here. The   
   purpose of this edition is to share early reports and stories of what our   
   fellow ARES members are doing in the field in response to one of the worst   
   natural disasters to beset the United States. These efforts are only   
   preliminary, and in no way represent the total ARES effort, which will evolve   
   over the hard hours, days and weeks to come. - K1CE"   
      
   Much reporting on the amateur community's response was published in QST and   
   elsewhere, but early reporting was covered in "The Katrina Chronicles 1,"   
   November 2005 QST, pp 43-48, and "The Katrina Chronicles 2," February 2006   
   QST, page 50, with authors Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, and Steve Ewald, WV1X.   
      
   Katrina changed the face of emergency management and FEMA in this country, as   
   it did for Amateur Radio emergency/disaster communications training and   
   programs, bringing a new level of "professionalism" to our ranks. Let's hope   
   we'll never need it for another disaster on the scale of a Hurricane Katrina.   
   Take a moment to remember the victims, and the radio amateurs who did their   
   best to mitigate their suffering. -- K1CE   
      
      
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   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month. ARRL   
   members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data   
   Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/.   
      
   Copyright (C) 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   ... Your life is a monument to stupidity.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)