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 Previous: Surfin': New Meteor Scatter Application |  Next: The Pony Express Special Event Station Rides Again! |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 15, 2001--The Amateur Radio Emergency Service operation in support of the Pentagon disaster in Washington, DC, now has sufficient "out-of-town" volunteers, according to Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, of the ARRL Virginia Section.
"We still request hams within 50 miles of the Pentagon to send their availability," Gregory said. "In an effort to reduce conflicts and improve the scheduling, both the Virginia and Maryland SECs are working together to coordinate all operational support at the Pentagon to the Salvation Army."
Amateur Radio operators living in Maryland will be contacted by the Maryland SEC, Mike Carr, WA1QAA, for scheduling and operators in Virginia and all other areas will be contacted by the Virginia SEC, Tom Gregory, N4NW, for scheduling.
All volunteers should continue to communicate their availability to n4nw@arrl.net.
Also, all Amateur Radio operators who volunteer at the Pentagon site must have a VHF hand held with CTCSS encode ability, two batteries and an earphone or headset due to the high noise level in the recovery area.
"There are significant security controls in place created by the military that are beyond the control of ARES or the Salvation Army," said Gregory.
Radio amateurs who are considering communications duty in New York City should first contact the appropriate ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator in the tri-state area for further information on how to proceed:
Assigned volunteers will be asked to report to American Red Cross Headquarters for credentials and assignments. Volunteers must use public transportation to ARC HQ because of limited vehicle access; there is no parking in that area. Tom Carrubba, the Section Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL New York City-Long Island Section has asked potential out-of-region volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort."
In addition, New York City Amateur Radio volunteers must have a VHF (2-meter) or, preferably, a VHF/UHF (2-meter/70-cm) mobile radio, power supply and cables, and mobile/portable mag-mounted gain antenna. Carrubba says hand-helds are not sufficient to deal with the difficult operating conditions.
This duty requires a serious commitment and involves working in a possibly hazardous area in war zone-like conditions. Volunteers will need to supply some items of protective clothing.
| Previous: Surfin': New Meteor Scatter Application | Next: The Pony Express Special Event Station Rides Again! |
