Posted by Mike on 5/12/2007, 5:24 pm A team of Amateur Radio volunteers entered the area Saturday morning and According to ARRL Kansas Section Manager Ron Cowan, KB0DTI, repeaters that The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) was conducting Twelve people died as a result of the severe weather, 10 of them from The entire town evacuated Friday night, and more than 400 people took refuge President Bush declared Kiowa County a major disaster area, making federal
Amateur Radio volunteers responded after an EF5 magnitude tornado with winds
exceeding 200 MPH swept through southwestern Kansas over the May 5-6
weekend, essentially wiping out the town of Greensburg. The town, population
1500, lost its hospital, schools, churches and all of its business and
infrastructure. A National Weather Service meteorologist called the tornado
"one of the most destructive tornadoes in the last 10 years."
began setting up communication, according to District 6 Emergency
Coordinator Godfrey Flax, KC0AUH. District 5 Emergency Coordinator Robert
Hanke, WG0Q, activated ARES in Pratt, Stafford, Reno and Barton Counties.
Hams deployed to Greensburg and Haviland, and net control operations were
established in Pratt.
remained on the air were some distance from the affected area. He and other
hams were monitoring 3.920 MHz Saturday in case there was HF.
logistical nets at 9 AM, 3 PM and 9 PM each day on 3.920 MHz, and HF and 2
meter operations were been established in Haviland. Kansas and Western
Missouri SATERN Coordinator June Jeffers, KB0WEQ, says SATERN members will
be utilized in Kiowa County to support Salvation Army canteens and the
service center in Haviland.
Greensburg, which is located some 45 miles east of Dodge City in Kiowa
County.
in shelters in Haviland and Pratt. The Salvation Army dispatched canteen
units from Dodge City and Hutchinson. A shelter was also opened in
Mullinville. On Sunday night, the Red Cross requested radio operators to
provide communications between the hospital in Pratt and the shelter in
Haviland.
aid available to people and communities affected by the storm. "Our hearts
are heavy for the loss of life in Greensburg, Kansas," the president said
Sunday. "It's going to take a long time for the community to recover."
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