Port Charlotte

[ae2ny]

Hi Everyone http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I'm back from three days in Port Charlotte and the call escapes me, but they asked me to leave y'all with a report. So here goes.

We actually arrived in Port Charlotte on Thursday at 12:39pm and actually SAT all day while staging tried to deploy us. Not a fun day. But then Saturday, we were deployed to the Port Charlotte FEMA Center to provide comm from FEMA and SERT back to the EOC.

Looking at the damage on the way in through Arcadia, FL and further west along Highway 70 was absolutely devastating. But seeing the people that were coming to FEMA for help truly put a human face on it all. It was very sobering mentally and quickly got me away from the thought of "It can't happen to me".

On the Amateur side of it, listening to the Emergency Net they had on 147.255 / 147.120Mhz, they had over 20 stations set up at various places in Charlotte County. Amateurs came from all over the state whether in teams or individually, and were providing a tremendous service to the people of Charlotte County.

It literally made my heart soar to hear so many Hams out there helping, taking the time off work, leaving their families, to come help in this time of crisis.

The Amateur Community was incredibly strong and it makes me proud to be a Ham. As a matter of fact, the relief team from Brevard County where I'm from, came to relieve us yesterday at the FEMA Center. ANd let me tell you something...

There was a 17 year old Ham there, KI4GMB who was licensed almost 4 weeks ago along with my XYL who was licensed on the same night. The Amateur Radio Club he is a part of here in Brevard not only made him get a parental waiver signed, but also get a letter from his principle of the high school he attends saying it was OK for him to join the relief team.

The fact of the matter is folks, he was there when we needed him. So many people are badged with ARES and then when it comes time for them to help assist, they start hemming and hawing with nothing but excuses about why they can't join the Advanced Team like I was a part of, or a a relief team. 2 thoughts on this folks...

1) If you're badged with ARES but you're not going to respond when asked? Why the hell are you badged in the first place?

2) If a 17 year old who had to jump through hoops to be allowed to go and isn't even badged with ARES can show up, SO CAN YOU!

If you're a Ham, and you're asked to assist in another county... Please reconsider saying no. The people in that area may just be depnding on your Skills as a Ham Radio Operator to save their lives.


73 and Best Wishes to Everyone
It's certainly good to be back home.


Anthony - KI4VPR

[WA5KRP]

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing your observations.


I'm not quite understanding what group you are affiliated with in this deployment........



73


WA5KRP
Texas

[ae2ny]

B.E.A.R.S. & C.A.Ts

Brevard Emergency Amateur Radio Service

Communications Assistance Teams

Both with Brevard County Florida


Anthony - KI4VPR

[WA5KRP]

NICE YOB!http://www.computerpannen.com/cwm/contrib/edoom/sun_smiley.gif



WA5KRP
Texas

[N8CPA]

Anthony, as I said in another thread, you truly get it! Thank you for your service to both your community and to your radio service.

[W5HTW]

Thanks for your help.

My daughter lives in Fort Ogden, between Port Charlotte and Arcadia, and was dead center in the eye of the storm. We heard from her indirectly Saturday (via a trucker's Nextel link from her husband to her brother) that she had survived with only minor bruises, but we knew pretty much nothing else.

A well-meaning friend of ours called late Friday night, leaving a message on the machine that began with, "We know your daughter was hit pretty badly ... " It left the momentary impression our daughter was actually 'hit' (which wasn't far from the truth!)

By Sat afternoon we knew her home, damaged, was still standing, even "livable" and any injuries in the family had been limited to a few minor bruises. But direct contact was impossible.

I spent much of Saturday and a lot of Sunday, monitoring the SATERN net on 14265. I envisioned hearing of a Port Charlotte area ham who would be driving around and following up on requests for 'further info." I could ask him to drive by my daughter's place and give us a better report concerning damage to the area. That never happened. For one thing, I heard all the roads were closed, and I felt it would be unwise to ask someone to drive into a hazardous area and become 'part of the problem' just to satisfy my additional curiosity. I did hear there were some mobiles in the Arcadia area doing pretty much that, but Fort Ogden is a few miles south of Arcadia. At any rate, we decided not to clutter the air waves or the roads with non-critical requests.

There still, though, is no phone communication, neither LL or cell in her area. She made one phone call from a friend's house north of Port Charlotte, on Sunday. So we wait.

Good to see ham radio there. I always fear the over-enthused hams who are there more to be photographed with a belt full of HT's and an orange vest, but apparently the majority of hams participating, at least in the Arcadia area, were not publicity seekers, but real workers and do-ers. I applaud them.

73
Ed

[k6pme]

Thanx for the update. (I think I was one of those that asked for a report when you got back.) I sure know about being put into staging before you get deployed. I have often ran "code 3" half way across the state to "sit" in staging. It's nice to see that the system works using hams for communications. I myself have considered it but in a given crisis my talents are needed elsewhere.

Kudo's to you and your group! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif