Victoria, I have made this suggestion a couple of times to various members of the board over the years and I will do it again. In the days following hurricane Katrina members of WISPA discovered how difficult it is to help in disasters when you are not part of a recognized group in the emergency management system. Many WISP's are also Amateur Radio operators (hams's). This group is recognized by both the FCC and emergency management agencies as a participating agency and has memorandums of understanding in place with non-governmental organizations (NGO's) such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross through their national organization call the American Radio Relay League (ARRL www.arrl.org) . This group of people typically belong to the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and/or the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). They are trained in providing disaster communications and are an integral part of the Incident Command System. They have a national training program and a full-fledged field organization nationwide.
I would recommend that WISPA establish a memorandum of understanding with the ARRL and do our best to integrate disaster efforts outside of helping individual WISP companies. Being able to establish internet and/or point to point Ethernet connectivity is very important after a disaster. WISP's can quickly do this. Being part of a recognized organization will help eliminate the problems associated with trying to do so in a disaster area. I will help with this committee, you should reach out to the ham wisp list that was created to see who else from that group would like to participate. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: members-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:members-boun...@wispa.org] On Behalf Of Victoria Proffer Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 9:05 AM To: 'Principal WISPA Member List'; memb...@wispa.org; 'WISPA General List' Subject: [WISPA Members] WISPA National Disaster Committee - Seeking Volunteers The mid-west and east coast have taken several tornado beatings over the last few weeks, as well as we have seen extensive flooding in the mid-west. I would say, it is just Spring, but I have never seen a Spring this devastating. A few weeks ago, at our in-person board meeting, we voted to form a National Disaster Committee; which passed unanimously. During this last 'epidemic' storm, I contacted WISPA State Coordinators to assist, if there was any significant damage in their areas. Fortunately, we are not hearing of any major damage from our members, with the exception of Hudson Technology Solutions, that lost a tower in El Reno, OK. I was in touch with State Coordinators over the last few days, in the event that more WISPA members could have been affected. I was also in touch with the Missouri WISPA members regarding help for a 'downed' WISP in Joplin, MO. I was impressed with our WISPA members that volunteered to help in the event of touchdowns in KS, MO and OK: . Airlink Internet - OK . BPS Telephone - MO . Computers & Tele-Comm, Inc. -MO/KS . Mark Twain Telephone - MO . Mercury Communications and Construction - MO . WISPERS ISP - IL The WISPA National Disaster Committee will create procedures of dealing with disasters when they affect our members and associated areas. With the way that Spring of 2011 is lining up, I believe it is important to establish this committee ASAP. Please contact me to volunteer for this committee. Thanks! Victoria Proffer President/CEO St. Louis Broadband, LLC <http://stlbroadband.com/> 314-974-5600 <http://wispa.org/> Wispa_logo+slogan2008SM 2010 - 2011 Board of Directors Committee Chairs - Bylaws | National Disaster | State Coordinators |Missouri State Coordinator
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