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[RC] FW: Ham Assistance in Aftermath of Katrina - Jim Holland

Seems EVERYONE is WAITING for the powers-that-be to let them do something.
The incompetence of our government, particularly FEMA and Homeland Security
is unbelievable. There were pictures in the Atlanta paper this morning of
Georgia Rescue/EMT teams sleeping while waiting for "someone" to assign them
a job. Not allowed to do ANYTHING without "permission", whatever that is.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic

Richard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
175 Hells Hollow Drive
Blue Ridge, Ga 30513
(706) 258-2830
www.threecreeksarabians.com
Callsign KI4BEN
-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Web site [mailto:memberlist@xxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 12:24 PM
To: lanconn@xxxxxxx
Subject: Ham Assistance in Aftermath of Katrina

Greetings, All,

I know that a number of GA hams are already involved in the
overwhelming response efforts for victims in the areas devastated by
Hurricane Katrina. Some are with Red Cross, or Salvation Army, or with
NDMS, or with a church-related organization. Many are helping out right
here in GA, with the multitude of shelters that have been opened for
the enormous number of displaced persons, with the influx of evacuees
needing medical care, with participation in numerous emergency nets,
whether for ARES, SATERN, SHARES, or MARS. 

Others are desperate to volunteer, but aren't sure how to do that.
They've contacted me, or various leaders within the GA ARES
organization, expressing their availabilty and desire to deploy. News
of the atrocious lack of communications in these areas only adds to the
desire of hams throughout the country to help alleviate this problem
and to the sense of frustration that we can't do more.

The following message was posted on the SM reflector yesterday by JOE
PHILLIPS, SM of Ohio:

IF YOU ARE WAITING TO GO TO THE HURRICANE AREA TO ASSIST
PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING.

         The on-the-ground situation in SE Louisiana and SW
Mississippi is as bad as television is reporting.  Neither state is
permitting disaster relief agencies into the affected areas except on a
very limited basis and only
then where conditions are stable.  Nearly everyone is still staging as
close by as possible and waiting.

The Louisiana SM (Mickey Cox K5MC) and SEC (Gary Stratton K5GLS) are in
communications with state officials, who have directed them to NOT
advertise for volunteers.  Some volunteers have been requested, and
these are being staged at the state EOC.

The situation for the Mississippi SM and SEC, Malcolm Keown W5XX, in
Vicksburg MS is very uncertain.  His station is completely on the
ground and EchoLink repeaters in the area are off-the-air.  Attempts to
contact Assistant SMs have been unsuccessful.

An AB2M.net Amateur Radio operator registration web site has been setup
and is ready to go public when approval is received.  Some Amateur
Radio operators are known to be traveling towards the affected areas
with emergency services and disaster relief agencies as dedicated
communications resources.

Despite everyone's nearly overwhelming desire to help, about all we can
do right now is to make preparations for a prompt response when the
officials finally give their approval.  None of us know when that will
occur.

Jerry Reimer, KK5CA
South Texas
______________________________________________________

FOLLOW-UP today from ARRL's STEVE EWALD, WV1X:

As Joe mentioned earlier in a message he relayed  from South Texas SEC
Jerry Reimer, a Web page has been been established to help register
those radio amatuers wishing to prepare and assist with Katrina-relief
efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Approval has been received to help spread the word about this
registration page. 

HURRICANE KATRINA
DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION &
MESSAGE TRAFFIC DATABASE

http://katrina.ab2m.net/


___________________________-

 
So, there you have it. This is as much as I know about the situation
at this time.  Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear. Take care
of yourselves. And each other. 73, Susan

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ARRL Georgia Section
Section Manager: Susan K. Swiderski, AF4FO
af4fo@xxxxxxxx
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