The 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst of its type in US history, had Jackson County in Missouri visited where the Amateur Radio emergency communications role was praised.
Senator Roger Wicker personally thanked radio amateurs for their lifesaving role during the Hurricane, and took part in use of the special anniversary event K5A, one of a dozen such callsigns issued.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to thank the Amateur Radio operators for their role in helping the public to save lives and in getting information out that was vitally needed,” he told TV news.
Senator Wicker was co-sponsoring the Amateur Radio Parity Act 2015 — legislation against the expansion of restrictions that have some bans on outdoor antennas.
Developing over the Atlantic Ocean, Katrina came ashore on August 29, 2005, with wind and a tidal wave. It moved structures, caused flood waters to inundate well inland, and through its path the deaths at least 1,245 people.
The hurricane surge protection failures in New Orleans are described as the worst civil engineering disaster in US history. The disaster cut normal communication services with Amateur Radio helping many people contact others in the US and throughout the world.
A number networks were involved in providing vital information — these included WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Centre, to the Hurricane Watch Net, the Waterway Net, Skywarn and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN).
— Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.