SB QST @ ARL $ARLB003
ARLB003 Hams respond to emergency

ZCZC AG03
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 3  ARLB003
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 9, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB003
ARLB003 Hams respond to emergency

Hams in upstate New York are responding to the weather emergency
caused by ice storms across the Northeast. Albany County ARES was
activated January 8 at around noon local time to assist the American
Red Cross. April Stack, KA2QIG, reports a local emergency net is
operating on the 147.12 MHz repeater, while neighboring Schenectady
County ARES runs a flood watch emergency net on the 147.06 MHz
repeater. The 145.39 Mount Equinox, Vermont, repeater also is being
used to relay information to New York*s northern tier counties when
HF cannot be utilized. HF communication began January 8 on 7255 kHz,
then moved to 3993.5 kHz. HF operations will continue to use both
frequencies.

A state of emergency has been declared in at least five upstate New
York counties. National Guard units were dispatched to the hard-hit
Plattsburgh area January 9 to assist in recovery efforts. In the
Albany area, some 50 homes were evacuated in Waterford, New York,
where the Mohawk and Hudson rivers meet. The National Weather
predicts the rivers will crest the morning of January 10. Localized
flooding also has been reported in some of the state's western
counties, including Montgomery and Schoharie, and Fulton. The Red
Cross has set up shelters in affected areas.

The ice storms have caused massive power and telephone outages in
New York state up to the Canadian border and west as far as
Watertown, and east to Burlington, Vermont. As many as 100,000 are
reported without power in the Northeast. Widespread power outages
also were reported north of the border, and as many as 3 million
residents in Southern Quebec have been affected.

Hams are stationed at the Albany, New York, Red Cross Chapter House,
the National Weather Service in Albany, and at the New York State
Emergency Management Office, as well as at designated river level
recording sites along the Mohawk River. They are keeping in contact
with Red Cross officials in Plattsburgh. Damage assessment is
expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Albany County operations are being headed by ARES Emergency
Coordinator George Odom, KB2SIY. The Section Emergency Coordinator
for Eastern New York is Anthony Pazzola, WB2BEJ.
NNNN
/EX