SB QST @ ARL $ARLB023
ARLB023 Communication emergency lifted; hams continue Gulf flood response
ZCZC AG23
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ARRL Bulletin 23 ARLB023
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 15, 2001
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB023
ARLB023 Communication emergency lifted; hams continue Gulf flood response
An FCC-declared general communications emergency in Texas and
Louisiana for 3873 and 7285 kHz has been rescinded as of 6 PM
Central Time (0100 June 15 UTC).
Amateur Radio continues to support relief agencies in the wake of
heavy flooding in Texas, Louisiana and parts of Mississippi. South
Texas ARRL Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, says several dozen
more volunteers still are needed to help provide communication
support for Salvation Army, Baptist Mens' Kitchen and Red Cross
relief operations.
Amateur Radio volunteers with VHF capability--either an H-T with
extra batteries or a mobile and portable antenna--are needed to
assist relief agencies. Prospective volunteers should contact Taylor
via e-mail at n5nav@texas.net; South Texas Section Emergency
Coordinator Bob Ehrhardt Sr, W5ZX, w5zx@yahoo.com, or Jeff Salmons,
N5ECP, n5ecp@flex.net.
The Gulf region suffered some of the worst flooding in decades after
Tropical Storm Allison moved ashore last weekend and stalled. The
storm claimed more than a dozen lives. Although the initial flooding
was receding, additional rainfall arrived this past week, and more
is predicted.
Relief organizations had been using Amateur Radio HF links between
their field volunteers and their regional headquarters operations.
Cellular telephone service was made available late this afternoon,
however. Telephone outages continue to be widespread in the Houston
area, Taylor said.
Hams also have been using VHF and UHF repeater nets to provide
emergency communication and to coordinate relief activities on the
local level, including at Red Cross shelters. Thousands were
displaced by the flooding.
Taylor said many hams in the Gulf region have volunteered to help
out in the aftermath of the flooding, but he did not yet have an
accurate head count.
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