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SPECIAL BULLETIN – AMERICAN DISASTER
Tuesday, 11 September 2001 approx 8:45 New York Eastern Time and 2:45pm local time in South Africa, the world was rocked to the core on hearing about the most vicious, callous and cowardly terrorist attack launched on any country in history.
Many people in South Africa became aware of this attack within 30 minutes of it happening, but I only became aware of it at approximately 4:30pm. I immediately went to the CNN channel and I personally could not believe what I was seeing.
The drama intensified as the day wore on and although stunned at first, I then went on to 14.275 MHz to listen for anything coming out of the States. The only thing heard was D.X.
The following day, I accessed the ARRL website and started downloading information from ARES, to see how they were handling the situation.
Firstly, on the official ARRL website there was a message from their President, Jim Haynie, W5JBP. The message in brief read; "President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, has expressed his deep appreciation to amateurs throughout the world who have sent messages of condolence and support. Haynie also praised the actions of Amateur Radio volunteers."
"Radio Amateurs in New York City and elsewhere around the country are doing everything they can to support the authorities in locating and assisting victims. Never have if felt more strongly about what a great privilege it is to be part of the extraordinary global community of Amateur Radio."
The report then went on to list some of the countries that have submitted condolences. Hamnet have also sent the ARRL and e-mail of condolence and have offered our services should it be necessary.
The two emergency organizations that are active in the disaster are ARES and RACES ie. Amateur Radio Emergency Services and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Organizations.
The following are headings taken from various reports that have been downloaded since Wednesday, and including Saturday morning.
12 September 2001
AMATEURS RESPONDING IN TERRORIST ATTACK AFTERMATH.
Lower Manhattan has taken on the look of a war zone. Both ARES and RACES have initiated emergency nets and other activities in response to today’s attacks. Other ARES and RACES groups in the New York City and Washington DC areas were reported on alert and standing by if needed. States of emergency have been declared in affected areas.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management bunker is located adjacent to the World Trade Centre. At one point, the bunker’s entrance was blocked for about 20 minutes by debris from the skyscraper’s collapse, reports Bob Reed, W2CE.
The repeater net is handling emergency traffic and shadowing some New York City officials. Another group have been monitored handling medical traffic and shadowing medical officials while yet another group is at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Manhattan.
Only Emergency vehicles are being permitted into Manhattan. All bridges are closed to incoming traffic and both the Holland and Lincoln tunnels have been closed in both directions.
At this stage most if not all emergency nets were in full operation around and including Manhattan.
The report then goes on to highlight the various sections, divisions and counties that have been activated and fully operational. At this moment in time the bulk of the activity is on 2 Metres with one net on 3.993.5 MHz.
Other networks that were activated include MARS – Military Affiliate Radio System and SHARES, a network of federal agencies assisted by the Amateur Radio operators who participate in MARS. By early afternoon (approx. 3-4 hours after the disaster, more than 200 stations had checked in, including participants from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, The Federal Aviation Administration, state emergency operations centers and Air Force, Navy-Marine Corps and Army MARS members. The bulk of participants were amateurs reports Bill Sexton N1IN.
At this stage, regional nets had also been activated across the country. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network SATERN, had activated an HF net on 14.265 MHz. SATERN also handles health-and-welfare inquiries via its web site. Other frequencies, which may be of interest, are in the 20M band on 14,326 MHz. where an information net is underway.
FCC, FEDERAL AGENCIES SHUT DOWN IN WAKE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS.
Along with most other federal agencies, the FCC has closed its offices and sent its employees home in the wake of the terrorist attack. Then the Federal Aviation Authority was shut down.
13 September 2001
MORE AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AS TERRORIST RESPONSE CONTINUES.
It is now into the 2nd day after the attack. Calls are now going out for more volunteers to come forward to support the Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Washington DC. Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory N4NW, has put out a call for hams in the Washington DC, area to support the Salvation Army canteens providing relief to emergency workers at the Pentagon during the next few weeks of cleanup. Amateurs will provide communication to coordinate trucks and supplies. "Groups of 6 hams are needed from 5am to 12 midnight on shifts every day for the next several weeks," Gregory said.
Volunteers do not have to belong to ARES or ARRL. They need a hand-held VHF radio (no cars are allowed in the area) and at least 2 spare batteries and a charger.
What has also transpired at this point was that telephone and cellular telephone systems in the wake of the attack were "very weak" and it was rendered useless within a short period of time. As John Creel, WB3GXW indicated, "It just didn’t hack it". Creel also issued this statement, quote, "If you’re not a member of an ARES of RACES group, now’s the time to seriously consider joining" end quote. He said under the circumstances is was difficult for him to turn away offers of help from non-members who would not have been allowed access given the "lock-down" situation following the attack on the Pentagon.
HAMS SOUGHT TO ASSIST RED CROSS IN HEW YORK CITY
In the New York City area, Amateur Radio volunteers – especially those trained with the American Red Cross and in disaster communication skills – were being sought to assist the American Red Cross relief effort in Manhattan. Again, they were looking specifically for amateurs with 2 metre equipment, spare batteries and portable antennas to handle daytime and overnight communicator shifts or to assist with shelter operations and other duties. Here, also, a telephone number was given but with the comment, "serious inquiries only".
As the day proceeded, more and more networks were set up and even more activated to be on standby. From New Jersey, Long Island etc., more and more hams were checking in and making themselves available.
Again, remembering, no traffic at all (except emergency units) was allowed into lower Manhattan.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AMATEURS ASSIST AT FOURTH CRASH SITE.
In the Somerset County, not far from Johnstown, amateurs have been providing support for investigators and outside relief agencies at the crash site.
Because of interference form other repeaters in the area, Kevin Custer W3KKC, arranged preliminary repeater communication into and out of the crash site on Tuesday to help Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI and other state and federal agencies that are on scene and continuing the crash investigations.
AMATEURS AMONG THE MISSING IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE ATTACK
At least four Amateur Radio operators are among the many still missing in the aftermath of Tuesday’s attack on the W.T.C. in New York City. The attack also destroyed the major TV and radio-transmitting site atop one of the twin towers
The hams reported missing include:
Still the call goes out for more Amateurs to make themselves available. The area has now grown to include the Greater New York City area – including Eastern New York, Northern New Jersey and Connecticut – to assist in supporting the W. T. C. disaster relief and recovery effort.
Volunteers must have the following equipment; 2 Metre or preferably a VHF.UHF (2m/70-cm) mobile radio, power supply and cables and mobile/portable mag-mounted gain antenna. Tom Carrubba (N.Y. City Long Island Section Emergency coordinator, indicated that hand-helds are not sufficient to deal with the difficult operating conditions. He stressed the fact that operators are still needed but that this is a difficult assignment.
Amateurs are working two 12 hour shifts per day, 8am to 8pm and 8pm to 8am, plus or minus three or four hours, mostly plus. Schedule subject to change at any time. The duty requires serious commitment and involves working in a possibly hazardous area in war zone-like conditions. Volunteers will need to supply some times of protective clothing and should first contact the appropriate ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator in the tri-state are for further information.
He then went on to provide the various web sites and telephone numbers where volunteers could register.
15 September 2001
AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS RISING TO THE OCCASION
Newington, Connecticut. Some already are calling it "Amateur Radio’s Finest Hour", as volunteers answer the call to assist in ongoing relief and recovery operations in New York City, Washington DC and in western Pennsylvania.
The estimate at this time is that hams may be needed for a month or longer in the New York City area, and for at least the next two weeks in Washington DC.
Although there were many offers to assist from out-of-town operators, at this stage, regretfully, the offers were declined, as there was no provision for accommodation.
On this morning’s download there also is a picture taken from a satellite approx. 3-400 miles above the earth as it passed over the site. The definition is remarkable with the long plume of smoke being blown out to sea.
WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THIS DISASTER?
That I am not going to discuss now as this bulletin is already too long. Over the next few weeks, the whole operation will be discussed as more information becomes available. This could last a very long time and every effort will be made to download experiences from the ARRL site as well.
This, surely, must be the most profound wake-up call that has ever been issued to any Emergency Communications network, anywhere in the world.
We acknowledge with thanks, all the information downloaded from the ARRL Website and for obvious reasons, it was abbreviated.