Amateur Flood Response, Relief Support Continues in Texas
NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 9, 2002--Upwards of 150 Texas amateurs--most of them working through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)--have been supporting flood response and relief efforts in flood-ravaged areas of Texas. ARRL South Texas Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, reports that ARES teams are assisting the American Red Cross, the Baptist Men's Kitchen and The Salvation Army in their efforts to feed and clothe flood victims and to provide them with household essentials as they begin the massive cleanup.
"We're in real trouble down here and it could get worse," Taylor said, noting that flood runoff now headed for the Gulf of Mexico could raise river levels in eastern and east-central Texas. Additional rainfall also is possible, he said.
Although an FCC-declared communications emergency for 7285 and 3873 kHz has been terminated, responding agencies continue to make use of HF for both health-and-welfare and tactical communications, Taylor said. "We're doing as much as we can on 2 meters," he said, "but we still really need HF." Taylor said amateur HF was providing the only reliable communication in and out of some flood-stricken communities, and telephone and cellular telephone service remains erratic.
Taylor, who lives in New Braunfels--just northeast of San Antonio--said his own house suffered some damage to the pier and beam support structure as a result of last week's heavy rains. He said the Guadalupe River was still overflowing the spillway at Canyon Dam north of town.
President George W. Bush already has designated 13 counties as disaster areas, and a request to add another 17 counties to the list was reported to be in process. At least eight deaths have been attributed to the flooding, which has affected nearly 50,000 Texans.
Several days of nonstop rain between June 30 and July 6 generated some of the worst flooding in 100 years and caused thousands to flee their homes. Some areas of central Texas--which had been suffering drought conditions--got nearly three feet of rain. As residents have been allowed to return home this week, most Red Cross shelters were closed, but a few hundred people continue to take refuge.
Taylor said the Baptist Men's Kitchen, the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army continue operations in seven or eight communities with Amateur Radio support.
Page last modified: 11:52 AM, 09 Jul 2002 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2002, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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