Hurricane Katrina eComm 2005

For much more information about how amateur radio assisted with communications during and after hurricane Katrina read the TRO Signal at this link.

The ECOM Response to the emergency at Camp Gruber is QRT

At 1500L 9/10/05 Amateur Radio concluded our operations at Camp Gruber. Amateurs responded and volunteered hundreds of hours of time, to help fill this vital communication need. We were the communications backbone between responding agencies, we also passed TONS of traffic, ranging from, water & food request, supplies, bedding, and in fact Amateur Radio was the 911 system on Camp Gruber for many days. More phone systems have been added to the camp and Amateur Radio assisted in finding ways for OHP, EMS and Base Security to communicate together. The communication emergency is over on the Camp. At the 1800L briefing today when OEM announced that Amateur Radio was QRT, many thanks were passed on by all the served agencies. OEM, OHP, Red Cross, National Guard and more. All were very impressed with the professionalism and the "can do" spirit exhibited by Oklahoma Amateurs. I personally want to thank each and every person (amateur and non-amateur alike) that responded to this communication emergency. I can not express enough how privileged I was to help organize and plan this Amateur Radio response to a communication emergency. I am thankful to each and every person that worked long hours to make this a successful operation. From the initial request from Red Cross for radio amateurs to send emergency traffic info the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. To when victims from the disaster were evacuated to Camp Gruber, 2500 walking wounded arrived. Oklahoma Amateurs responded. As of this afternoon, less than 1000 are there and soon will be heading to new homes. You may not have reached out and fed, clothed, provided medical attention, or even given a hug to one of these hurricane victims, but because Amateur Radio was communicating, you allowed the responders to help. Thank you for your time and all your help!! 73 Mark Conklin N7XYO



Ben WB5VST, NIC 1, testing the constantly failing phone system.	Brian KD5NWJ working Net Control at "Shelter One" (Camp Gruber)

Chuck KW5I at Red Cross operations "Intake" , struggles to hear his radio over all the background noise in the busy center. Shortly after this, we purchased and handed out ear buds to each operator.	Ed K5CRQ NIC 2 and Mark N7XYO Command 1, review daily assignments and communications needs on Camp Gruber.

Ed WG5F passing messages from inside the Oklahoma Highway Patrol mobile command post.	EMSA and other area ambulances are ready to respond. FRED_KD5NBR - "Veteran Storm Spotter" Fred KD5NBR NIC 5 at the mic in "IC" (formerly Shelter One).

"Veteran Storm Spotter" Fred KD5NBR NIC 5 at the mic in "IC" (formerly Shelter One).	Notice the Amateur Radio Plate on the Macintosh County EM's truck.

No shortage of antennas in this parking lot.	"IC" or Incident Command on 9/4/05

Portable mast system from Paul WB5MPU, made quick work of setting up at Camp Gruber. Notice the "Fold Up" J-POLE and push up mast provided by Robert KE5BGX, that went up in a snap.	No shortage of OHP units at Camp Gruber.

Incident Command EOC for Camp Gruber.	Busy Red Cross Operations center "Intake".

John KD5VSB logging traffic at net control in "IC". John was in a soft cast and on crutches... that did not stop him from volunteering.	Marsha Gross responding with the Health Department took a moment out of her busy day at the "Triage" to tell Steve N5LPN how much they appreciated Amateur Radio being there to help with communications.

Steve N5LPN small car - BIG Antenna :)	Oklahoma Highway Patrol Mobile Command Center - Amateur Radio Optional.

Sallie K5TUL, of Tulsa at "TMC" the medical clinic at Camp Gruber.	Disaster Relief supplies are unloaded at the National Guard warehouse on Camp Gruber.