09-14-2001, 07:04 PM
From the ARRL...
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 13, 2001--Some already are calling it "Amateur Radio's Finest Hour," as volunteers answer the call to assist in ongoing relief and recovery operations in New York City, Washington, DC, and western Pennsylvania. The need continues for operators to assist over the long haul, however. Current estimates suggest hams may be needed for a month or longer in the New York City area, and for at least the next two weeks in Washington, DC.
Amateurs Continue American Red Cross Support in Manhattan
New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D, reports that, as of this morning, hams were supporting emergency officials and the American Red Cross relief and recovery effort. Amateurs were staffing a dozen Red Cross shelters in addition to one staging/National Disaster Medical System center, various Red Cross units, and the Greater New York City American Red Cross Headquarters as well as the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
Carrubba says the telephone system in lower Manhattan continues to be problematic because of the high call volume. "American Red Cross communications are overloaded, and traffic from the shelters is coming into the New York City net at a rapid pace," he said. "The Amateur Radio ops are doing a great job under very difficult and strange conditions, but this is what they have trained for; they are getting it done well."
Red Cross Communications Officer Jay Ferron, N4GAA, agreed. "As of today, more than 90 hams have been involved in the operation," said Ferron, who's on the scene in lower Manhattan. "The Amateur Radio community has come out very big and very strong." Ferron said local clubs and repeater groups have volunteered gear, frequencies and operators. "We've had responses from as far away Philadelphia and Maine, as well as Rhode Island, New Jersey."
New York City District Emergency Coordinator Charles Hargrove, N2NOV, expressed his appreciation to the amateur community. "Thank you for all the support and well wishes," he said. "This is a difficult time for all of us. We appreciate all the amateurs who have volunteered their time and equipment." Manhattan EC John Kiernan, KE2UN, echoed Hargrove's remarks.
Carrubba is seeking additional volunteers from the Greater New York City region. He has asked out-of-state volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort."
Volunteers should have a 2-meter or, preferably, a VHF/UHF mobile radio, power supply, and mobile gain antenna. This is a change from earlier requirements. Carrubba said hand-helds have not been up to the task, given the difficult conditions in the vicinity of the disaster site. Amateurs are working two 12-hour shifts per day, 8 AM-8 PM and 8 PM to 8 AM, "plus or minus three or four hours, mostly plus," Carrubba said. This schedule is subject to change at any time. All volunteers must report to American Red Cross Headquarters for credentials and assignments. You must use public transportation to ARC HQ because of limited vehicle access, and there is no parking in that area. Amateurs with the necessary equipment and willing and available to volunteer should contact Carrubba to get on a schedule. Those responding should indicate availability. Contact Tom Carrubba, KA2D, via e-mail, ka2d@arrl.net, or call 631-422-9594.
More than a dozen hams from Long Island's Suffolk County Amateur Radio Emergency Service have been deployed to New York City. Suffolk County District Emergency Coordinator and RACES Officer Bill Scheibel, N2NFI, says the Long Island hams will support the New York City ARES team in lower Manhattan. "We are still working on our rosters in anticipation of further need as we go forward," Scheibel said today. He said some of the hams already on-site have told him they'd be willing to rotate back to Manhattan for additional duty after a break at home.
At present, Carrubba is seeking volunteers from the Greater New York City region--Northern New Jersey, Eastern New York and possibly Connecticut. "We have had many offers from out-of-state," he said. "I regretfully declined, as there are no provisions to house them, entry into NYC is difficult, and there's nowhere to park." Several out-of-area volunteers are on hold for the moment. Carrubba asked out-of-state volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort."
Prospective volunteers should be equipped with 2-meter H-Ts, extra batteries and portable antennas to handle daytime and overnight communicator shifts or to assist with shelter operations and other duties. Contact Tom Carrubba, KA2D, via e-mail, ka2d@arrl.net.
The N2ARC Princeton, New Jersey, Red Cross station suspended operation September 13. Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ, thanked all who contacted him to volunteer. He said the station will be reactivated, if requested by the American Red Cross.
Amateurs Muster at Pentagon to Assist Salvation Army
At the scene of the Pentagon attack near Washington, DC, Northern Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, reports an "upbeat" crew of about two dozen amateurs is staffing four Amateur Radio stations in the immediate vicinity of the Pentagon.
"What shocked me the most was the devastation you can see right there, 100 feet from the building," Gregory said. "The destruction is total."
The ARES operation is providing logistical support between the Salvation Army's relief and recovery effort on site and the agency's Arlington headquarters. The Salvation Army has been providing food and refreshments to the crews engaged in the Pentagon investigation and recovery operations.
Gregory reports three of the stations on the Pentagon's outer perimeter--one near the main Salvation Army assembly point--and one in the Pentagon "courtyard." A repeater net has been established on the Alexandria 145.15 MHz repeater for the four canteen units and a net control station at the Salvation Army headquarters. Chuck Rexroad, N4HCP, is coordinating volunteer staffing for the team.
Some 60 pieces of traffic were passed yesterday, Gregory said. "What we're finding is that communication is very difficult because of the tremendous amount of noise from the construction-type equipment and the generators providing power for the lights and support staff," he said. Because of the noise level, he and Rexroad opted to rotate operators in and out of the immediate vicinity of the attack as frequently as possible.
"There's the emotion of it, and there's the tremendous amount of noise, and it's very grating on you because you can hardly hear the radio to communicate," Gregory explained. In addition, the cellular telephone network has been swamped, and, because the Pentagon remains open, there's a lot of other RF in the vicinity to complicate matters further.
Gregory described the entire area as "very crowded with people" inside and outside the Pentagon. "People and equipment cleaning up, finding bodies, finding plane parts, firefighters still checking for hot spots, hoses, equipment," he said. "The damage to the building looks worse when you are right next to it than it does on TV."
The site is fully secured, and soldiers armed with M-16s and police control entry to the fenced-in compound. A temporary road has been constructed from Washington Blvd extending several hundred feet to the hole in the building in order to move heavy equipment.
"I found that it took me a few minutes to realize the gravity of what was going on and the importance of what we hams are doing in our own small way to help out," Gregory said. "The devastation of that building is awesome, and it puts things in perspective and it certainly made me proud to be an Amateur Radio operator and serve the people of the United States by offering this support."
Gregory said the Pentagon ARES operation continues to seek volunteers with VHF hand-held transceivers. "Because of the immensity of the thing, we're trying to have six amateurs on duty at all times," he said. "We need 20 volunteers every day for at least two weeks."
Volunteers should e-mail Tom Gregory, N4NW, at n4nw@arrl.net. He asked operators to indicate their present location and transportation arrangements, equipment type, and time and dates available.
Gregory said he anticipates that the Pentagon ARES operation might be asked to also support the similar Red Cross effort in the capital.
"Fourth" Crash Site Support Continues in Western Pennsylvania
Meanwhile, at the so-called "fourth" plane crash site in rural Somerset County western Pennsylvania, Kevin Custer, W3KKC, reports a busy scene as the investigation continues. Custer arranged preliminary repeater communication into and out of the crash site on Tuesday to help the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI and other state and federal agencies on the scene.
"At this time we are preparing for the possibility of family members coming to the crash site--or close by," he said. "I have communications in place for hand-held coverage of the crash site to our local emergency operations center and three surrounding counties." Eric Hegerle, N3VOC, of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network reports SATERN was using 146.610, 146.835, and 145.390 MHz linked repeaters for communication between Pittsburgh and the crash site.
"Things have calmed down since the FBI has taken over site and has secured it as a crime scene," Custer reported. This place has literally turned into a small city.
He said federal investigators continue to search for the flight data recorder--the so-called "black box"--as well as any evidence of what happened. He said the investigation could continue for several weeks.
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 13, 2001--Some already are calling it "Amateur Radio's Finest Hour," as volunteers answer the call to assist in ongoing relief and recovery operations in New York City, Washington, DC, and western Pennsylvania. The need continues for operators to assist over the long haul, however. Current estimates suggest hams may be needed for a month or longer in the New York City area, and for at least the next two weeks in Washington, DC.
Amateurs Continue American Red Cross Support in Manhattan
New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D, reports that, as of this morning, hams were supporting emergency officials and the American Red Cross relief and recovery effort. Amateurs were staffing a dozen Red Cross shelters in addition to one staging/National Disaster Medical System center, various Red Cross units, and the Greater New York City American Red Cross Headquarters as well as the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
Carrubba says the telephone system in lower Manhattan continues to be problematic because of the high call volume. "American Red Cross communications are overloaded, and traffic from the shelters is coming into the New York City net at a rapid pace," he said. "The Amateur Radio ops are doing a great job under very difficult and strange conditions, but this is what they have trained for; they are getting it done well."
Red Cross Communications Officer Jay Ferron, N4GAA, agreed. "As of today, more than 90 hams have been involved in the operation," said Ferron, who's on the scene in lower Manhattan. "The Amateur Radio community has come out very big and very strong." Ferron said local clubs and repeater groups have volunteered gear, frequencies and operators. "We've had responses from as far away Philadelphia and Maine, as well as Rhode Island, New Jersey."
New York City District Emergency Coordinator Charles Hargrove, N2NOV, expressed his appreciation to the amateur community. "Thank you for all the support and well wishes," he said. "This is a difficult time for all of us. We appreciate all the amateurs who have volunteered their time and equipment." Manhattan EC John Kiernan, KE2UN, echoed Hargrove's remarks.
Carrubba is seeking additional volunteers from the Greater New York City region. He has asked out-of-state volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort."
Volunteers should have a 2-meter or, preferably, a VHF/UHF mobile radio, power supply, and mobile gain antenna. This is a change from earlier requirements. Carrubba said hand-helds have not been up to the task, given the difficult conditions in the vicinity of the disaster site. Amateurs are working two 12-hour shifts per day, 8 AM-8 PM and 8 PM to 8 AM, "plus or minus three or four hours, mostly plus," Carrubba said. This schedule is subject to change at any time. All volunteers must report to American Red Cross Headquarters for credentials and assignments. You must use public transportation to ARC HQ because of limited vehicle access, and there is no parking in that area. Amateurs with the necessary equipment and willing and available to volunteer should contact Carrubba to get on a schedule. Those responding should indicate availability. Contact Tom Carrubba, KA2D, via e-mail, ka2d@arrl.net, or call 631-422-9594.
More than a dozen hams from Long Island's Suffolk County Amateur Radio Emergency Service have been deployed to New York City. Suffolk County District Emergency Coordinator and RACES Officer Bill Scheibel, N2NFI, says the Long Island hams will support the New York City ARES team in lower Manhattan. "We are still working on our rosters in anticipation of further need as we go forward," Scheibel said today. He said some of the hams already on-site have told him they'd be willing to rotate back to Manhattan for additional duty after a break at home.
At present, Carrubba is seeking volunteers from the Greater New York City region--Northern New Jersey, Eastern New York and possibly Connecticut. "We have had many offers from out-of-state," he said. "I regretfully declined, as there are no provisions to house them, entry into NYC is difficult, and there's nowhere to park." Several out-of-area volunteers are on hold for the moment. Carrubba asked out-of-state volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort."
Prospective volunteers should be equipped with 2-meter H-Ts, extra batteries and portable antennas to handle daytime and overnight communicator shifts or to assist with shelter operations and other duties. Contact Tom Carrubba, KA2D, via e-mail, ka2d@arrl.net.
The N2ARC Princeton, New Jersey, Red Cross station suspended operation September 13. Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ, thanked all who contacted him to volunteer. He said the station will be reactivated, if requested by the American Red Cross.
Amateurs Muster at Pentagon to Assist Salvation Army
At the scene of the Pentagon attack near Washington, DC, Northern Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, reports an "upbeat" crew of about two dozen amateurs is staffing four Amateur Radio stations in the immediate vicinity of the Pentagon.
"What shocked me the most was the devastation you can see right there, 100 feet from the building," Gregory said. "The destruction is total."
The ARES operation is providing logistical support between the Salvation Army's relief and recovery effort on site and the agency's Arlington headquarters. The Salvation Army has been providing food and refreshments to the crews engaged in the Pentagon investigation and recovery operations.
Gregory reports three of the stations on the Pentagon's outer perimeter--one near the main Salvation Army assembly point--and one in the Pentagon "courtyard." A repeater net has been established on the Alexandria 145.15 MHz repeater for the four canteen units and a net control station at the Salvation Army headquarters. Chuck Rexroad, N4HCP, is coordinating volunteer staffing for the team.
Some 60 pieces of traffic were passed yesterday, Gregory said. "What we're finding is that communication is very difficult because of the tremendous amount of noise from the construction-type equipment and the generators providing power for the lights and support staff," he said. Because of the noise level, he and Rexroad opted to rotate operators in and out of the immediate vicinity of the attack as frequently as possible.
"There's the emotion of it, and there's the tremendous amount of noise, and it's very grating on you because you can hardly hear the radio to communicate," Gregory explained. In addition, the cellular telephone network has been swamped, and, because the Pentagon remains open, there's a lot of other RF in the vicinity to complicate matters further.
Gregory described the entire area as "very crowded with people" inside and outside the Pentagon. "People and equipment cleaning up, finding bodies, finding plane parts, firefighters still checking for hot spots, hoses, equipment," he said. "The damage to the building looks worse when you are right next to it than it does on TV."
The site is fully secured, and soldiers armed with M-16s and police control entry to the fenced-in compound. A temporary road has been constructed from Washington Blvd extending several hundred feet to the hole in the building in order to move heavy equipment.
"I found that it took me a few minutes to realize the gravity of what was going on and the importance of what we hams are doing in our own small way to help out," Gregory said. "The devastation of that building is awesome, and it puts things in perspective and it certainly made me proud to be an Amateur Radio operator and serve the people of the United States by offering this support."
Gregory said the Pentagon ARES operation continues to seek volunteers with VHF hand-held transceivers. "Because of the immensity of the thing, we're trying to have six amateurs on duty at all times," he said. "We need 20 volunteers every day for at least two weeks."
Volunteers should e-mail Tom Gregory, N4NW, at n4nw@arrl.net. He asked operators to indicate their present location and transportation arrangements, equipment type, and time and dates available.
Gregory said he anticipates that the Pentagon ARES operation might be asked to also support the similar Red Cross effort in the capital.
"Fourth" Crash Site Support Continues in Western Pennsylvania
Meanwhile, at the so-called "fourth" plane crash site in rural Somerset County western Pennsylvania, Kevin Custer, W3KKC, reports a busy scene as the investigation continues. Custer arranged preliminary repeater communication into and out of the crash site on Tuesday to help the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI and other state and federal agencies on the scene.
"At this time we are preparing for the possibility of family members coming to the crash site--or close by," he said. "I have communications in place for hand-held coverage of the crash site to our local emergency operations center and three surrounding counties." Eric Hegerle, N3VOC, of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network reports SATERN was using 146.610, 146.835, and 145.390 MHz linked repeaters for communication between Pittsburgh and the crash site.
"Things have calmed down since the FBI has taken over site and has secured it as a crime scene," Custer reported. This place has literally turned into a small city.
He said federal investigators continue to search for the flight data recorder--the so-called "black box"--as well as any evidence of what happened. He said the investigation could continue for several weeks.