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August 2005. Hurricane Katrina damage in Jones County MS. (Pictures by Steve Grantham)
Katrina passed though this inland area at category-3 strength leaving virtually all residents of the area without power, telephone, cable, and internet services. Laurel and Jones County area Hams manned HF and/or VHF stations at the Laurel-Jones EOC, Red Cross, and local shelters to provide communications.
It is now almost two weeks since the storm, and I still do not have power at home. I checked my email off site to see that there are a number of health & welfare request messages on the president account. I will endeavor to look into these. However, a number of them were a week or more old when I received them.
Please send your health & welfare queries to amateur organizations outside the affected area. They can then be handled via the Ham Radio communications network for a more timely response.
Steve Grantham, AA5SG
August 2005. Katrina put this 1000-foot tower on the ground. (Picture by Steve Grantham)
The 146.61 repeater is off for repairs. The 146.895+ (136.5 tone) repeater is available for use in the Laurel and Jones County area. Other Laurel repeaters are 443.65+ and 147.03- (both with 136.5 tone).
The storm took down towers at two or more Jones County repeater sites, and damaged numerous DB-224 style VHF and UHF antennas across the region. We sure have our work cut out for use as we endeavor to rebuild.
Steve Grantham, AA5SG
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