Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network Update

From the ARRL...




One month into its disaster relief support operation in New York
City, Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network (SATERN)
volunteers are holding up well. SATERN Amateur Radio Liaison Officer
Jeff Schneller, N2HPO, says his current team is doing a fantastic
job, and the operation could run for several more weeks.



SATERN is now ''making do'' with at least six Amateur Radio volunteers
per day, from about 9 AM until 11 PM, primarily to support the
Salvation Army World Trade Center canteen operation. Operators have
come from all over, including New Hampshire, Ohio, North Carolina,
Florida and Missouri, and Schneller said he even had offers of help
from England and Canada. Two local groups--the Broadcast Employees
Amateur Radio Society (BEARS) and the Electchester VHF Club have
been providing exclusive use of their repeaters since Day One.



Schneller, who's in the fire alarm and sprinkler business, also has
been involved from the start, and--with the understanding and
support of his customers--has been logging some long hours. He said
most of the volunteers' employers have been supportive as well.
Carlos Varon, K2LCV, has been Schneller's backup and is in charge of
scheduling volunteers.



SATERN radio volunteers have been handling base station duties at
Salvation Army Headquarters on 14th Street in Manhattan as well as
providing communication at key field sites, aboard supply trucks and
at the distribution warehouse. Schneller thanked the dozens of
Amateur Radio operators who have turned out to assist. He also said
he appreciated the many other offers to help. SATERN now is limiting
its fresh volunteers to those available from the Greater New York
City area.



Schneller strongly advised all Amateur Radio operators to prepare
for the future by first getting acquainted with and joining their
local ARES or SATERN teams, then by taking the ARRL Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Course. More information about SATERN is
available on the SATERN Web site.
Information on the ARRL's emergency communications course is
available on the ARRL Web site.