[Repeater-Builder] Fw: Praise for the hams!!!!

[Dick]

With all the worry about the fragile communications infrastructure in times of disaster, it seems that we hams are being recognized as an adjunct infrastructure that isn't nearly as fragile.   73,   Dick W1NMZ The White House today released its review of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, which, according to a statement, "identifies the systemic problems in Federal emergency preparedness and response revealed by Hurricane Katrina - and the best solutions to address them." The report included 17 lessons the Executive Branch learned after reviewing and analyzing the response to Katrina; made 125 specific recommendations to the President, and identified 11 critical actions to be completed before the first day of the 2006 hurricane season.   The report also included a section titled, "What Went Right" in the Katrina response, which singled out amateur radio operators for particular praise:   *"Other organizations worked tirelessly to assist emergency responders that, due to the storm, did not have the equipment and means to effectively carry out their duties. Amateur Radio Operators from both the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the American Radio Relay League, monitored distress calls and rerouted emergency requests for assistance throughout the U.S. until messages were received by emergency response personnel. A distress call made from a cell phone on a rooftop in New Orleans to Baton Rouge was relayed, via ham radio, from Louisiana to Oregon, then Utah, and finally back to emergency personnel in Louisiana, who rescued the 15 stranded victims. Ham radio operators voluntarily manned the amateur radio stations at sites such as the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Watch Net, Waterway Net, Skywarn and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network." YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.