9/11/2006

     As Emergency Coordinator in Sullivan County, I was very busy the last week of 
June 2006 - first week of July 2006.  I was called by KB2YUR,  Frank Stone,

ENY/SEC saying that the Red Cross from the Greater New York need radio operators 
ASAP to help with the flood here in Sullivan County.  The response was over 

whelming.  We drew amateur radio operators from many counties such as Orange, 
Duchess, Putnam, Pike, Pa., Ulster, Westchester, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties.

  If I missed 

a county, sorry about that!   We worked 10 to 12 hour days with minim of 7 radio 
operators a day.

     Being this was my first time in "doing" this emergency response work, it was 
very enlighting of how things are suppose to go.  Thanks to KB2YUR, Frank, made the 

whole thing run very smooth for the radio operators.  Thanks again to WC2E, Don, 
who kept the Liberty Repeater on the air and thank the SCARS club for the use of 
the repeater for the duration of emergency in Sullivan County.  

     The biggest lesson is to heed the national whether service when a storm report 
is put out over the air.  If an evacuate order is given go!   Now we have winter to 
look forward too.   

We have been blesses with a mild winter last year but don't let your guard down as 
we haven't had an severe ICE storm in some time so we are due.

When the power goes out, be prepared with all the necessary items.  Radio operators, 
do you have some sort of power supply other that the GRID?  Something to think about.

    The Greater New York Red Cross sent me a thank you letter for participating during 
the Sullivan County Flood.  Here is just an excerpt form the letter:

"Over the course of the operation 279 staff and volunteers including DART and ARES 
team members worked to assist families throughout our jurisdiction.  The services 
provided by the staff of the Emergency Communications Center, public affairs, 
government relations, Safety and Preparedness, Volunteer Resource Dept., accounting, 
informational technology, staffing, and logistics all provided vital support to 
those providing services to disaster victims."   

Expenses/Donations:
                                $305,606.

That is all from N2ZRL at this time.  So, be prepared, stay informed, stay safe, and 
stay on frequency! 

					      73 All, 
					      

					      Bob Mott N2ZRL
 
					      EMERGENCY COORDINATOR

                                              SULLIVAN COUNTY, N.Y.