Hurricane Charley affected UCFARC?

[KG4JYD]

After the recent disaster and widespread catastrophe in the Central Florida area it is worth wondering if the status of the University of Central Florida Amateur Radio Club has been altered in any way?

For those who are unfamiliar or need reminding about their eviction please view these previous QRZ news articles:
http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=52814
http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=43134


Since the UCF ARC was one of the main, if not the only, repeater on the eastern side of Orange County (Orlando) it interesting to ponder how that area has functioned these last few days without the help of that repeater.

Can anyone in the local region give us a status report?

Perhaps now would be a good time to launch a campaign to get the UCF ARC reinstated while it is FRESH in the minds of the public and high on the priority of officials regarding the importance and function of amateur radio at UCF. Of course it is also worth mentioning for ham radio in general the service and good will provided during times of disasters such as Hurricane Charley.

[w6em]

Quote[/b] (KG4JYD @ Aug. 18 2004,21:23)]After the recent disaster and widespread catastrophe in the Central Florida area it is worth wondering if the status of the University of Central Florida Amateur Radio Club has been altered in any way?

For those who are unfamiliar or need reminding about their eviction please view these previous QRZ news articles:
http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=52814
http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=43134


Since the UCF ARC was one of the main, if not the only, repeater on the eastern side of Orange County (Orlando) it interesting to ponder how that area has functioned these last few days without the help of that repeater.

Can anyone in the local region give us a status report?

Perhaps now would be a good time to launch a campaign to get the UCF ARC reinstated while it is FRESH in the minds of the public and high on the priority of officials regarding the importance and function of amateur radio at UCF. Of course it is also worth mentioning for ham radio in general the service and good will provided during times of disasters such as Hurricane Charley.
It might be worthwhile to use the ARRL West Central Florida's K4WCF multi-county wide area VHF/UHf repeater system as a positive example.

Coordination of manpower and materials from as far away as Tampa (100 miles to the north of ground zero) were in communication with the command post in Charlotte County. That included EOCs in Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, and Sarasota counties.

Also, the Red Cross and Salvation Army coordinated dispatch of resources from Tampa and incoming disaster mobile units via the repeater.

Local repeaters, 2, I think, in Venice and North Port were used for dispatching in the Charlotte/Punta Gorda/fort Myers areas, but have limited coverage.

Also, Nextel was out for at least a couple of days. Appeals were made on Tampa media for all not to use Nextel (Red Cross or Salvation Army I think was trying to use it for coordination and emergency communications!!!)

Cellular coverage was very spotty.

Amateur radio came through, big time.

You might want to wait for some form of official after action report which will hopefully describe what wasn't available besides land line telephones and electrical power.......


Lee
W6EM
Bradenton, FL.

[kc4nus]

I had thought about this myself. #But after seeing UCF's damage primarily being downed trees and the roof of the Wellness Center, there is still no motivating factor for UCF to do anything for UCFARC. #Doesn't matter that amateur radio was the primary link for much of the state in the path of Charley while celluar phones and landlines were down for much of the weekend after. #Closer to the landfall site, still the only means of reliable communications out of the affected area.

UCF has acted and continues to act like its own little city-state. #The welfare of the people around UCF does not seem to matter to the administration. #I doubt the welfare of the students is much higher on the scale considering I never even heard about UCF opening a shelter for at least the students in off campus housing UCF controls these days.

The offer I emailed 8/11 to UCF's Environmental Health & Safety (people who would have been running the shelter even if UCF decided to work with the Red Cross) for UCFARC members to provide backup communications was never answered.

If the matter is pushed again by the ham public, I see things just picking up where they left off. #The administration will hold up the $40K quote and tell people if it matters so much to you, donate money to make the UCFARC building happen.

The only way I see the attitude of the administration changing is if there had been injuries or deaths on campus which could be shown to have been caused by failed normal communication with no backup in place. #No bad press for UCF, no reason for them to change their agenda. #This has been how it has been since Hitt became the UCF president.

I appreciate your willingness to continue the fight. #I just don't see it making a difference unless there is away to get the general population into the fight so that the State government will actually hold the UCF administration accountable for its decisions.

Federal senators & representatives, State sentators & representatives, hundreds of hams, and a major money donor to the university as one of the hams who emailed and called Hitt did nothing to change the agenda of the administration. #Why would a hurricane that was only cat 2 when it got to UCF change their way of thinking.

I figure the only major result from Charley on the UCF campus will be the Wellness Center being shutdown for months while being repaired, and the University house Hitt inhabits being changed over to the UCF power grid since it was one of the very few builds to loose power on the campus; specifically due to it not being on the UCF power grid.

[w6em]

Probably fitting that Hitt's house took a "hit". #Ha.

The bottom line question, I guess, would be: #Will Hitt's home have a revenue meter, as it did when it was either served by Florida Power or Orlando UC? #(and will Hitt be charged for his personal energy use?) #A nice raise in pay if he now won't have to pay for how much he uses personally or pays a small token rate below what the public utility charges.

Perhaps something for some interested person about campus to investigate. #Who knows, there might eventually be something newsworthy. #

Lee
W6EM

[kc4nus]

Quote[/b] (w6em @ Aug. 23 2004,20:31)]The bottom line question, I guess, would be: #Will Hitt's home have a revenue meter, as it did when it was either served by Florida Power or Orlando UC? #(and will Hitt be charged for his personal energy use?) #A nice raise in pay if he now won't have to pay for how much he uses personally or pays a small token rate below what the public utility charges.

Perhaps something for some interested person about campus to investigate. #Who knows, there might eventually be something newsworthy. #

Lee
W6EM
Due to the fence and security gating around the "president's house", there is no easy way to find out if it even has a meter now. # Even if it does, I expect since the house is university property, the university pays the bill as it does for most of the president's expenses. #From his and his wife's vacations to the luxury SUV he drives from the president's home to his numbered parking space 50 feet from the administration building door. #And the president's house is only a 100 yards or so from the administration building.

Ah well, I don't really want to get into all this again. #Let me just say my direct interaction with the high administration of UCF has left me realizing they are not much different from polititians. #The main difference is the university administrators don't have voters they are accountable to for their actions. #From what I could find, they aren't accountable to anyone but themselves.

[KG4JYD]

That's why us that are Libertarians call them "educrats". I mean we know these people are ####heads - that has been proven already.

But more importantly, what do yall think we could do to raise public and political support for the UCF ARC in the face of this catastrophic disaster? Does anyone else think this perhaps would give us a leg to stand on?

I mean if we cannot get support from the government and the public at large at this point in time (right after one of our finest hours), then we can expect to never get it. This is why I say we should at least try one last time because this is our best chance and the odds are about as optimal as they are going to get.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[w6em]

The timing is indeed right. But, unless the media does a big story on the issue you won't get much attention.

Try to get a reporter from the Sentinel to do a piece on the amateur radio participation with Charley and how it could have been worse in your area, as it was in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Arcadia.

Senator Tom Nelson was interviewed on Tampa TV media and shown at Port Charlotte in short sleeves and staying there with the people for several days. He'd be a good one to help drive home the point, unlike the other guy from Washington who drove through at 40MPH in his white shirt and tie and black SUV with forty cops and didn't stop.....

Lee
W6EM
Braenton, FL.

[w6em]

I hope you guys at UCFARC are getting ready for Frances. From the latest forecast as of 16:00 UTC 9/01, it looks like Orlando is right in its path.

Early Saturday morning.


Lee
W6EM
Bradenton, FL

[kc4nus]

Yeah, we are getting ready. #I sent an email to UCF PD & UCF Environmental Health & Safety 8/31 offering UCFARC's assistance. #The director of EH&S said it was up to the UCFPD. #At this point, I have heard nothing from the UCFPD.

If I do not hear anything by 1500 today, I am waving off any operation by UCFARC on the campus and asking the UCFARC operators to volunteer their services to Orange & Seminole ARES. #I will then send a note to UCFPD & EH&S letting them know they will need to go through Orange County EOC if they decide later they want amateur radio support for Frances.

[kc4nus]

Well 1500 came and went. #No response to UCFARC's offer was heard from UCFPD.

[w6em]

Quote[/b] (kc4nus @ Sep. 02 2004,12:13)]Well 1500 came and went. #No response to UCFARC's offer was heard from UCFPD.
That's a shame. At least your efforts will help others in the community. Hitt's probably made it clear down through his PD chief that you guys are off limits....

ARES could probably better use your help anyway. Like one of the other posters pointed out, don't go where you aren't wanted. In the case of UCF administration, they have made it quite clear, unfortunately.

Clearly, their loss. I hope you guys get lots of positive recognition from the media and use the opportunity to tell the community of Hitt's posture on amateur radio on the campus.

Lee
W6EM
Bradenton, FL.

[n3uh]

STORM UPDATE: UCF Cancels Classes for today, Friday; Main Campus Offices Will Close Friday
Sept. 2, 2004


By UCF Staff

Classes at all University of Central Florida campuses have been canceled because of Hurricane Frances. Classes will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7, University of Central Florida President John Hitt announced.

Campus offices will be open today, Sept. 2, but will be closed Friday, Sept. 3. Essential employees may be asked to work Friday and throughout the weekend as part of the university’s emergency team and should check with their immediate supervisors. Essential staff and their families will be sheltered in the Education building beginning at 5 p.m. Friday.

UCF had not been designated as a public hurricane shelter as of Thursday afternoon. If requested by Orange County, the UCF Arena will be opened as a shelter. Check local media for updates on public shelters.

The university will update its news Web site throughout the weekend. Go to www.news.ucf.edu for information.

Students

UCF students are encouraged to talk with their families about whether to stay in the Orlando area or travel elsewhere.

On-campus student residents who remain at UCF will be directed to designated campus shelters, as will residents of Pegasus Pointe and Pegasus Landing, UCF’s affiliated housing. On-campus student residents not sheltered in their residence halls will be sheltered in the Classroom I Communication buildings, which will take students from 6 to 8 a.m. Saturday. For more details, go to www.housing.ucf.edu.

UCF students who live in off-campus residences, as well as staff and faculty, should locate the nearest county shelter and plan to go there in case of a weather emergency.

Faculty and Staff

Campus offices will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3. Offices will be open today, Sept. 2. Employees, particularly those who are in offices or areas with windows, should move their equipment (computers, printers, microscopes, etc.) to an interior location and cover them with plastic. Physical Plant employees will be distributing plastic bags on campus today to cover desks and equipment. Employees may also want to remove any files or other materials of importance to a safer area.

Campus researchers are being asked to back up their computer files and make arrangements for the safety of their research materials and data.

UCF Regional Campuses

Regional campuses in Daytona Beach , Palm Bay, Deland, Cocoa and Melbourne will be closed today and Friday. Classes at the (Kenedy)Space Center have been cancelled for today and Friday, and the Solar Energy Center in Cocoa will also be closed on those days. (FYI de KU4TF--Florida east coast UCF campuses)

UCF at MetroWest and UCF at Osceola closed at noon on Thursday. UCF at Sanford/Lake Mary will close at 5 p.m. Thursday. UCF at Ocala will be closed Friday; and UCF at South Lake will close at 1 p.m. Friday. (FYI de KU4TF--Greater Orlando Metro area campuses)
******
I swiped this off the main UCF site www.ucf.edu. I guess this is UCF's emergency gameplan.

"If requested by Orange County, the UCF Arena will be opened as a shelter. Check local media for updates on public shelters."

I spent the night a the UCF Arena during Hurricane Floyd in 1999 doing ham radio ops. The arena had about 1300 people there. If all forms of communication had failed my little HT and wire jpole would be the main source of communications. The UCF arena is a nice shelter logistically. It is set up for mass crowds i.e bathrooms, showers, locker rooms, food service etc... It probably could be turned into a long term shelter. However, it's no Holiday Inn--you won't get a king size bed at this place; Army cot if lucky.

"If requested by Orange County,..."
Again, jursidiction was one problem I ran into during the UCFARC eviction mess. "We know what ham radio is and would like to help but...not our jurisdiction...state land..."

Anyway I moved out of state and am no longer part of UCF.

73
de KU4TF
Former Officer of the UCF ARC

[kc4nus]

Had another special tidbit and two with UCF & Frances...

UCF opened 4 shelters in 4 separate buildings. #One for staff, faculty, & there families, two for students, and one for high level administrators. #The county & Red Cross were allowed to open the UCF Arena as a shelter to the public.

I was assigned as the ARES operator for the UCF Arena. #The UCF run shelters had no amateur radio support since the people I contacted 4 days before the storm made landfall did not feel it important enough to follow up with me and get the support.

When I got to the UCF Arena, I found the clients were not being kept in the arena proper because it had taken damage from hurricane Charley to the point that the roof was significantly compromise visiblely in 2 places, and much of the back wall leaked various amounts during the whole storm. #So a shelter which normally could hold around 1000 clients was limited to 300.

Next was the calls from someone at UCF claiming a shelter had over 1000 clients but no food and was in chaos. #These calls went to the county EOC and the Red Cross. #The calls were made enough that a shelter manager from 5 miles away was directed to drive to the UCF Arena to remedy the situation#while we were experiencing tropical storm force winds. #When she arrived, she found the almost 300 clients and everything well in hand. #She reported this to her supervisor.

The next morning her supervisor called her saying at least the county EOC had again received a #call from someone at UCF claiming over 1000 and no food. #When the storm finally passed in the afternoon, I guided the reassigned shelter manager to two of the buildings I knew were being used as shelters. #At the staff, faculty & their families shelter, we found the Environmental Health & Safety person Red Cross certified to run a shelter. #He stated there was around 250 to 300 clients in his shelter at peak. #The two student shelters had around 300 clients each and the adminstrator shelter had around 50 clients. #He had not had contact with one of the student shelters since the storm picked up to the point it wasn't safe to go outside.

I guided the reassigned county shelter manager to this shelter. #Talking to the RA who was run through basic shelter training and put in charge, there had been no problems and they had plenty of supplies.

The only connecting factor we could find between the UCF shelters & the UCF Arena shelter was all had UCFPD officers stationed in them. #Therefore, the only people who would have had a figure around 1100 to tell to the county EOC & the Red Cross would be someone within UCFPD dispatch or their supervisors.

While I don't know to what point the erroneous calls pissed off people in the county EOC and the Red Cross, I am fairly sure both the county Shelter Manager who was sent to the Arena during the storm and the Red Cross Shelter Manager who was there the whole time until the storm cleared, are both filing fairly flaming reports with their supervisors. #I already turned my report in to my EC.

The primary item I believe all three of us have or did list is requesting the UCF Arena be recertified by the Red Cross as a safe shelter before it is used again.

[w6em]

Mike:

Hi, its been a long time. #Thanks for your dedication to the task.

It would seem to me all important to identify the callers from UCF. #Anonymous caller reports leave open the possibility of students making the calls, with some form of vengeance in mind. #Were they people from the administration or UCFPD? #If they were, their misguided attempt to get more resources only compounded the problem. #And, perhaps future use of UCF facilities as shelters.

At any rate, whoever made the calls needs to be "pinched"; and not mildly.

Who knows, in some strange way, maybe that was their intention: To limit future use to only the "EAC" (Executive Administrator Club).


Lee
W6EM
Bradenton

[kc4nus]

Quote[/b] (w6em @ Sep. 08 2004,09:21)]It would seem to me all important to identify the callers from UCF. #Anonymous caller reports leave open the possibility of students making the calls, with some form of vengeance in mind. #Were they people from the administration or UCFPD? #If they were, their misguided attempt to get more resources only compounded the problem. #And, perhaps future use of UCF facilities as shelters.
I would love to know the excuse used if it is discover who the person(s) were who made the call to the county EOC & the Red Cross. #

Judging from what I saw at the two UCF shelters and what was written about the other student shelter in the student paper (www.ucfnews.com), UCF was resource heavy for their shelters. #They had enough resources that on Sunday, the UCFPD brought over all the cooked food they had remaining from the student shelters, after the students left, and gave it to the 170ish clients still in the UCF Arena from the 1st mass exodus when the eye of the storm cleared before the 6pm curfew.

I hope it was just an inmature student who realized who to call to cause problems. #It would be a very sad statement to add to the list UCF already has if it was a UCF employee who made the calls. #I don't really want to bother thinking about the political implications if it was done by any UCF representative of authority.

[KG4JYD]

A University of Central Florida professor (and ham radio operator) was caught in Port of Blair during the tsunami! Afterwards he became the main link to the rest of the world from the island. This is a short but pointed article which gives ham radio a lot of positive PR!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news....adlines (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-asectsunamiham01010105jan01,1,5781019.story?coll=o rl-news-headlines)

FYI his callsign is k4vud

http://film.ucf.edu/index.php?URL=faculty&&facultyURL=harpole


and of course
http://www.qrz.com/detail/K4VUD (http://www.qrz.com/detail/K4VUD)