Today marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina. For some of us in the amateur radio community, it is a reminder that when systems fail, radio can still play a vital role. Many operators across the Gulf Coast and beyond contributed to the response. From health-and-welfare traffic to relays to supporting overloaded 911 systems, amateur radio operators stepped up alongside first responders, the Coast Guard, and countless volunteers. One of those voices belonged to Carl, KB5WMY (SK), who worked out of the Bossier Parish 911 center during those days. Carl has since become a Silent Key, but in 2015 he shared his story with me on the HamRadio360 podcast. He spoke candidly about the calls that got through, the ones that didn’t, and the lasting weight of serving in those moments. On the 20th anniversary of Katrina, I’ve re-released that full conversation as a way to honor Carl, remember the service of amateur operators across the region, and recognize the importance of our privileges when used in the service of others. (This is an Audio Only Podcast) You can listen to the episode here: Prep Comms w/ KB5WMY-SK There is an additional hour of recovery recordings in the associated blog posting, Here.
This is a few news stories from my station the day after Katrina. HAM RADIO - Hurricane Katrina News Story_KOLR_10 (Part 1) HAM RADIO - Hurricane Katrina News Story_KOLR_10 (Part 2)
With a news reporter sitting next to me to explain all the chatter on the radio there was a "Break, Break, Break this is WGY906 can anyone hear me?" You will see on my paper confusion about the callsign then a second call was made still thinking I had the callsign wrong. It was after contacting this station I realized this was a FEMA Callsign. Who has heard a FEMA callsign on the air before?
In case one remembers how multiple authorities of the day later -- real-soon-class later -- said that "no one told us how bad Katrina would be", just search "Hugh's Katrina Timeline" ( https://ominous-valve.com/katrina.html ) for "Appendix #3" to see the text of NWS Special Advisory 8/28, released as the storm center approached the coast, which includes such passages as ...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA... ..DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE. HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT. AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK. POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED. Yeah. That kind of "no one told us."
I worked in several shelters after Katrina. I can still remember little kids asking me where their parents were.
I wasn't directly involved with Katrina other than being about 200 miles North in the Jackson, MS area. We had trees down and power out for several days. Vehicles lined up overnight to try and buy fuel with many sleeping in their vehicles overnight. Fortunately I had planned ahead for the possibility of damage in our area and had fuel, generators and food and my emergency radio setup. I also remember the MS Gulf Coast in 1969 when hurricane Camille devastated much of the coast. I took part in search & rescue efforts and I'll never forget pulling bodies out of the rubble and seeing children, bloody, dirty and crying for their parents, some of whom died in the storm surge.
I read your messages with a shudder. God forbid that this happens again. Please accept my condolences and pity for those who experienced this. Boris Kazakhstan
Katrina/Rita was my first deployment as a reservist for FEMA . The week before I deployed I spend in the Piney Woods of east Texas bring supplies and providing coms for the Salvation Army after Hurricane Rita. I can still picture the devastion in east Texas from Rita. 5 years later I deployed to New Orleans for another hurricane. The damage from Katrina was still very evident. My disaster recovery center set up on what used to be a fire station on the Chef ? Highway just outside the levi. Not sure if that fire station ever got rebuilt. de ke4d
I was fortunate enough to know Mr. Carl. He was a great friend and Elmer! He knew his stuff! dearly missed.
I worked Hurricane Katrina as a FEMA/DHS responder. Was in Hattiesburg/Camp Shelby by 05 Sept. I had a radio operator that was with me. He would take radiograms during the day and cw burned the wire at night. He was the reason I became a ham. He was from Michigan and went sk in 2015. Carl was happy with his plaque and his replacement radio when his died when Rita or Wilma hit. Lost of respect to those hams.
1 YEAR Hurricane HELENE, We are running a Memorial NET on the Mt. Mitchell repeater 145.190 or on broadcastify.. Listen, Check-in and share your brief story.. 73' Ed N4EDX
Carl was a friend and a member of our local radio club, SARA (Shreveport-Bossier Amateur Radio Association). I believe I can speak for the club when I say thank you for recognizing his efforts. Bob Davis, KB5RD Past President, SARA
