HAMS ASSIST IN SEARCH FOR COLUMBIA DEBRIS

In Texas this week, Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN volunteers
have been assisting federal, state and local officials and relief
organizations in their search for shuttle Columbia debris and remains of
the crew members.

"Ham radio has proven to be the only reliable communications options
during the recovery effort," said Public Information Officer Tim Lewallen,
KD5ING, of the Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club. "The communications systems
used by other federal and state organizations cannot penetrate 'The Pine
Curtain' as we know it in East Texas," he said. He said even local
authorities were having problems with their radio gear.

Lewallen says federal authorities have requested that every survey team
have at least one Amateur Radio operator along to help keep the recovery
efforts coordinated and organized.

Lewallen also cited the reliability of EchoLink connections among the
various groups as key to getting the operation up and running and keeping
it running smoothly. He suggested that prospective volunteers visit the
North Texas Section Web site for additional information.

Alan Hayes, NE5AH, in the ARRL South Texas Section said February 6 that
hams were urgently needed to assist in the search and recovery effort in
the San Augustine County area east of Lufkin, site of the debris search
command center at the Department of Public Safety. Hayes said a
substantial amount of the debris recovery yet to be done--he estimates 50
percent--is in San Augustine County, which has few active hams. Debris
from the Columbia has been recovered in more than three dozen Texas
counties, and the search now has moved into parts of Arizona and
California.

"We currently have the infrastructure and portable repeaters in place,
thanks to all of the volunteer efforts from outside of our area," Hayes
said. Volunteers have been making use of a portable repeater donated by
the Garland Amateur Radio Club and set up at in San Augustine.

"To date, Amateur Radio has proven to be the only reliable communications
in this area of operations, and approximately 25 operators per day have
been needed," Hayes concluded. "Thus far, alternative communications from
sources other than Amateur Radio have not been successful."

Hayes says that two dozen or more operators are needed each day, and he
expects that need to continue for the next three weeks. Prospective
volunteers may get in touch with South Texas Section Emergency Coordinator
Bob Ehrhardt, W5ZX .

Other agencies involved in the effort include the Texas Department of
Public Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, the FBI, local law
enforcement and fire departments and National Guard units from Texas and
elsewhere. Relief organizations include the American Red Cross, The
Salvation Army and the Texas Baptist Men's Kitchen. The Salvation Army
also has been using Amateur Radio for its communication needs.

Hams also assisted students and staffers from the Humanities Undergraduate
Environmental Sciences (HUES) Geographic Information Systems and Forestry
Resources Institute labs at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Several amateurs in Texas reported hearing a reverberating, rumbling sound
as the Columbia broke up above them and debris began to rain down on the
landscape. "Very scary," said Ralston Gober, W5ZNN, of Corsicana, Texas.
"It shook the heck out of my house and shack!"

Date: 3 Feb 2003 
From: "ARRL Web site" memberlist@www.arrl.org
To: rmonagha@post.smu.edu
Subject: Columbia Recovery Efforts

The following is the info that has been sent out to the Collin County
ARES and Dallas County RACES Groups. The driving directions are from the
Dallas area. Please read the entire message and send an email and check
with the local contacts prior to departure. Plan on being self sufficent
( ie dressed for weather conditions, own water, drinks, snacks, etc).
Again please check with  Kevin Anderson, KD5CCH kevin@andersoft.com  to
find out thier current needs as they may change with little notice.


Columbia Shuttle Recovery Request  Update 1

Operators are needed to assist with recovery efforts based from
Nacogdoches, TX.  It is approximately 173 miles or 3.5 hours by going
east on Interstate 20/80, south on US 259, take the 59 loop on the west
side of town and exit east on Texas 21W into town. Much of the area to
be worked is rugged and outside local repeater coverage. Some operators
may be sent to San Augustine,  Lufkin or to Hemphill depending on
requirements.

The forecast for that area of the state for Monday is gusty winds with a
40% chance of thunderstorms with the possibility of some severe weather
north of the search areas Monday.

Equipment COMMUNICATOR RESOURCE TYPE M - MOBILE

Primary operations will be on 147.32 (+)   PL:141.3
High Power VHF and good antenna 
(HT w/rubber duck will not be adequate for primary radio)

Other VHF frequencies: 146.74 (-) PL 118.8 in San Augustine
145.37 (-) PL 88.5  further out There may be operations on 444.575+ and
possibly on 7285 KHz HF. Four Wheel Drive vehicles will be an advantage,
however, they are not mandatory.

Cellphones may be useful but are also not mandatory.

Civilian GPS coordinates will not be used as an official reference for
debri located. GPS is highly recommended for purposes of personal
navigation. Additionally, laptops with mapping programs may be very
useful to those not familiar with the county.

As you travel to Nacogdoches, monitor 147.32 and check in as soon as you
have a strong signal so they can re-direct you if necessary to a duty
post. 

NOTE: All operators must keep track of mileage and times worked to be
turned in to officials.

Our central contact point is Kevin Anderson, KD5CCH. Please contact him
via email if you can't report when expected or if you must cancel and
please copy me as well.
 
Contact via email is to: kevin@andersoft.com  and aa5qx@arrl.net.

For additional information regarding Communicator Resource Types  go to
John Galvin's webpage at www.qsl.net/n5tim and select the listing on the
left column of his page or go directly to
http://home.attbi.com/~jrgalvin2/resourcetypeV2.pdf.

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ARRL North Texas Section
Section Manager: Lawrence E. Melby, KA5TXL
ka5txl@arrl.org
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