W4UC is the Club Call of the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association Ham Radio Club located in Pensacola, FL. We are dedicated to promoting Amateur Radio, performing Public Service and educating HAMs and non-HAMs alike on the benefits of Amateur Radio.
FFARA was instrumental in providing emergency communications during Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina.
FFARA provides communications for countless public events throughout the Pensacola Area year round
Good afternoon everyone,
August 24th, 2008, Sunday
Reporting from the Florida EOC
TS Fay spent 7 days in Florida. Every county was impacted in some way.
Fay entered the state 4 times during her visit. Cost to government
agencies so far is over $11,000,000. Eleven deaths have occurred. And,
TS Fay was a good incident to put our skills to test, evaluate our
operations, make improvements and get ready for the next one. This was
a small event by any means. Please do not think a cat 5 hurricane will
be so easy to manage.
NFL DECs and ECs please put together your after action reports to
include the following if applicable. Number of amateurs, hours worked,
types of assignments, any action performed by an amateur that was above
and beyond the ordinary, vehicle mileage if possible, any communication
modes used other than voice and any other item highlighting amateur
radio. Include any press or TV/radio media events. These reports should
also contain information pertaining to other volunteers who were
involved in your actions such as React, S&R K9's and Skywarn amateurs
and non hams.
NFL non-ARES amateur groups that would like their activity report for
TS Fay included to be sent to the League and the state officials please
send me a copy. I would like all reports in by 15:00 EST/14:00 CST
Monday August 25th while fresh in your mind. Send to KJ4G@arrl.org.
I am applauding all of the ARES amateurs for the job well done. It was
quite evident that teamwork was involved to get assignments done. Many
of you put in long hours, bought expensive fuel, and lost sleep in the
performance of your duties. I can tell you that some public officials
have noticed what "ham radio" is all about. I especially commend those
amateurs who volunteered to be deployed to the Crown district on short
notice. While the deployment was not enacted, these folks stayed on
standby for a possible deployment to NW Florida. I want to also thank
Susan, AF4FO, SM for Georgia who helped provide 3 amateurs for possible
deployment into NW Florida. This was a successful amateur radio event
because of all of you. Please keep up the good work.
As we enter the lull of the storm so to speak, NFL business that was
put on the back shelf will now start being addressed again. Joe, W2DWR,
NFL SEC is enjoying his vacation and will be home in about 10 days.
The next 2 storms out in the Atlantic at this time pose no problems to
Florida.
Next w/e is the Shelby hamfest. Sept 13th in Lakeland, Fla is the date
for a D-Star seminar in Lakeland, FL put on by Evans,
KD4EFM@polkemcomm.org for information and the folks he hangs out with.
NFL DECs please forward this e-mail to your ECs for distribution to the
local area hams.
Many many thanks again to all who were part of the TS Fay project.
73,
Paul, KJ4G@comcast.net
NFL SM
850-591-0442
The Milton Amateur Radio Club is still sponsoring the VEC testing. It is scheduled Bi-monthly, on the even number month (Feb,Apr,Jun,Aug etc), on the 2nd Thurs of that month. The testing location is at the West Fla Hospital, off Davis Hwy, just North of the I-10 - Davis Hwy inter-change. It is on the North end of the hospital in the Physical Therapy section, in the Pallivon section. The test will start at 7PM.