Public Service Information
Since 1913, public service communication has traditionally been one of the primary responsibilities of the Amateur Radio Service. Today, disaster work is highly organized with amateur radio operators regularly participating with State and local offices of Emergency Management as well as Disaster Relief organizations. Each year amateur radio operators donate hundreds of man hours to their communities for public service events and in response to emergencies. BRARC has a proud tradition of public service since our organization in 1937.
Amateur Radio Operators have responded to many disasters in the past, but Hurricane Katrina proved to be the largest communications disruption in history. Stranded people were unable to contact 911 in many areas. The phone company switch was underwater preventing any incoming calls; the network depended on the local switch to route calls; however, some people were able to call long distance to find help. Upon reaching a friend or family member, they would advise their location and then ask that party to call their local 911 or attempt to reach someone in Louisiana.
With the assistance of Amateur Radio operators, State EOC was able to maintain contact with New Orleans using a series of linked repeaters .Hospitals were able to coordinate the delivery of supplies and many rescue calls were received on amateur radio and then routed to the Coast Guard. The Hammond Club provided use of their repeater; allowing the State EOC to communicate directly with Washington Parish. Amateur radio was the only reliable method of communication with the parish. This link was used by several state and parish officials to coordinate delivery of emergency supplies and to assist in the evacuation of hospitals and nursing homes in the area.
Locally, several BRARC members assisted the Salvation Army at their local command center and with the distribution of relief supplies.
After the storm many people realized that amateur radio still had value. In 2006, a White House Report on Katrina recognized that Amateur Radio for its role in rescue and recover. Many new stories followed; here are a few of the notable quotes that have appeared in news reports after the storm....
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“When we're moving through the neighborhoods, we need to communicate
with police and other authorities. All of us have these different radios,"
said Klooster. "The technology that we have has not been implemented
to share information across these boundaries. “
Army Col. Larry Klooster, CIO -Joint Task Force Katrina - Government Computer
News 9/13/05
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“...the radio communications system for the New Orleans police and
fire departments dissolved as its radio towers lost their backup power
generators in the ensuing flood. Some of the equipment could have been
brought back up quickly, except that technicians were blocked from entering
the submerged city for three days by state troopers who were themselves
struggling with an overwhelmed radio system from a different manufacturer.”
AP 9/13/05
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''Our communications grid was devastated and we need significant assistance
in restoring governmental communications,"
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco 9/2/05 in a Letter to President Bush
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“As has been proven consistently and repeatedly in the past, when
communications systems fail due to a wide-area or localized natural disaster,
Amateur Radio works, right
away, all the time…”
Jim Hayne - ARRL 9/15/05
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“As usual, throughout the stricken areas, ham radio operators have
been pressed into service. When telephone systems fail, and cell towers
and their circuits collapse under the load, there's nothing like good
old-fashioned Amateur Radio…”
The Ocala Star-Banner 9/9/05
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“Ham operators have also helped locate the stranded in New Orleans.
Although many in need of rescue there had cell phones, once the storm
hit they were able to reach the authorities only by calling people outside
the area, because the land lines on which 911 calls within the city depended
had been destroyed.
New York Times 9/8/05
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ARES / RACES
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who
have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications
duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur,
regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization,
is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than
possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve.
The Emergency Coordinator is a key player on the local emergency scene. The EC prepares for and manages communications resources during disasters. BRARC has appointed Robert, N5ULA, as the club's emergency coordinator. Robert is also the ARRL Emergency Coordinator for East Baton Rouge Parish. For more information, you can visit the Louisiana ARES site. The site also includes a registration database where you can sign-up to volunteer.
Today, many national organizations have formal agreements with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other Amateur Radio groups including:
Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service organization
of volunteer Amateur Radio Operators that provide communications support
to local and State emergency management agencies. Normally RACES provides
radio communications during periods of local, regional or national civil
emergencies. Many government agencies now identify their amateur operators
as an "Emergency Communications Auxiliary" as they often assist
with all forms of communications, including trunked radio systems and satellite
phones. 
BRARC
regularly participates in special events held in our community. These events
often pose communication challenges due to their size or location. BRARC provide
support communications on a complimentary basis to any non-profit organization.