Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Signup Database Now Open
NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 31, 2005--The Hurricane Katrina Disaster Communications Volunteer Registration & Message Traffic Database now is open. Site Administrator Joe Tomasone, AB2M, set up the database, and South Texas ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, is handling volunteer coordination. This site is intended for Amateur Radio volunteers to sign up for communication support duty on behalf of Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi.
"Standard ARES mutual assistance rules are in effect," Reimer says in a statement for those considering signing up. "ARES volunteers intending to travel should not leave without specific instructions."
Reimer is encouraging trained volunteers "qualified and willing to travel into the area" to register. Initial volunteers chosen for duty will be drawn from those available within Louisiana and Mississippi, followed by volunteers from adjacent sections.
He notes that hotel or motel accommodations are unlikely to be available for volunteers traveling into the storm-stricken states and "any accommodations that are available are likely to be primitive and makeshift." Water suitable for drinking or bathing also is expected to be scarce.
"Unless you are presently mentally and physically prepared for complete self-sufficiency for at least several days, please do not immediately register," Reimer advises. "Not everyone needs to be in the first wave of volunteers; the recovery effort will last weeks and perhaps months, requiring an extended volunteer pool."
The ARRL South Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi sections' mutual assistance agreement is in effect for the Hurricane Katrina response.
Page last modified: 09:46 PM, 31 Aug 2005 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2005, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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