[mvarbb] Fwd: Katrina and ARES in LA & MS

[Fred Stone W8LLY]

From: "John Chapman" <jchapma4 at columbus.rr.com>
Subject: Katrina and ARES in LA & MS
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 06:29:32 -0400


FYI


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From: secarrl at yahoogroups.com  On Behalf Of Jerry Reimer
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 10:13 PM
To: secarrl at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SECARRL] Katrina and ARES in LA & MS


The on-the-ground situation in SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi is as bad as
television is reporting.  Neither state is permitting disaster relief
agencies into the affected areas except on a very limited basis and only
then where conditions are stable.  Nearly everyone is still staging as
close by as possible and waiting.

The Louisiana SM (Mickey Cox K5MC) and SEC (Gary Stratton K5GLS) are in
communications with state officials, who have directed them to NOT
advertise for volunteers.  Some volunteers have been requested, and these
are being staged at the state EOC.

The situation for the Mississippi SM and SEC, Malcolm Keown W5XX, in
Vicksburg MS is very uncertain.  His station is completely on the ground
and EchoLink repeaters in the area are off-the-air.  Attempts to contact
Assistant SMs have been unsuccessful.

An AB2M.net Amateur Radio operator registration web site has been setup and
is ready to go public when approval is received.  Some Amateur Radio
operators are known to be traveling towards the affected areas with
emergency services and disaster relief agencies as dedicated communications
resources.

Despite everyone's nearly overwhelming desire to help, about all we can do
right now is to make preparations for a prompt response when the officials
finally give their approval.  None of us know when that will occur.

Jerry Reimer, KK5CA
South Texas