Hi;

Any folks down near New Orleans?

I got a email from someone from the Army at USAISC-FT McPherson in Georgia
looking for boats and people... (not sure they realize just how small my
kayaks are but I suppose distributing food would be ok if you have a big
enough canoe)

Would need a bunch of folks though to make a difference...

--
John Nelson
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Interesting thought - kayaks and canoes might be able to get into areas
where other boats couldn't, but probably not a lot of call for that.
I have a pontoon boat - the equivalent of a flat sheet of plywood 8' x 20' -
which could be used as support for such a venture. I'd been wondering if
there was a need for still more boats in the disaster area. Last I saw they
were saying only Coast-Guard certified boats would be permitted to assist,
and mine hasn't been inspected, so I didn't offer. I'm in central Florida,
probably 15 hours away (pulling the boat). I hate to think what it'd cost in
fuel to pull the boat (acts like a big parachute ...) that far. I'm retired
and on a fixed income (how can they call it fixed if I'm always broke???),
so that's a real concern now with gas hitting (I just read) $6/gallon
between here and Mississippi ...
You might send me that email address - I could find out directly if my
pontoon boat could be of use or just "in the way"
I did much disaster-assistance work back in the 60s&70s when I was a ham
radio operator and am aware that it's easy to want to help and easy to get
in the way of those who know what they're doing, as well.

"Chicago Paddling-Fishing" wrote in message
...
Hi;

Any folks down near New Orleans?

I got a email from someone from the Army at USAISC-FT McPherson in Georgia
looking for boats and people... (not sure they realize just how small my
kayaks are but I suppose distributing food would be ok if you have a big
enough canoe)

Would need a bunch of folks though to make a difference...

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

"chip" wrote in message
nk.net...

I did much disaster-assistance work back in the 60s&70s when I was a ham
radio operator and am aware that it's easy to want to help and easy to
get in the way of those who know what they're doing, as well.

From the President of the American Radio Relay League, which coordinates the
disaster-assistance work of radio amateurs:

------
"I know many people would like to move now," Haynie said. "Please don't. I
know many of you want to enter the fray, come to the coast and get involved.
Please, not yet." Haynie instead advised hams eager to assist to make sure
they're prepared, refresh their skills and knowledge of protocols and
procedures and let emergency management and relief agencies determine who is
needed and where.

"For now, the area is simply too dangerous and no one is being allowed in,"
Haynie went on to say. "Transportation and logistics, including volunteer
groups coming in, must be done in an orderly manner or we may only add to
the chaos and confusion."

------

I worked for some time with a regional dive/rescue team with guys who are
amateur operators in addition to being veterans of military special-ops
units, guys who have "go-gear" packed to live independent of outside support
for anywhere from 10-14 days, who have trailers packed at all times to head
for disaster areas. They're staying at home until they actually have a
mission.

THis disaster is more than huge. The government-declared disaster area is
said to be equal in size to England. That's way more than huge. Even
people who know what they're doing are overwhelmed.

It's frustrating not to be able to join the effort. For now, we can donate
to the Red Cross and other relief agencies, and that is about all.

I have been watching the news, and my view is that the best boats would
be the larger (16 foot or more) outboard motor boats. Air boats have
also been used. You would probably want a crew of two people, and be
able to safely carry 4 or more victims. I heard that there are a bunch
of volunteers using their fishing boats for that purposes. Bass fishing
boats are very common in the south, and should be well suited to rescue
work. Bass boats have outboards, and are frequently used near shore
around obstacles such as submerged trees.

I don't think that canoes, kayaks, or other small boats are the right
tools for the job of rescue, in general. Don't carry enough, and are
too slow. Obviously I would use my own canoe to rescue myself and
family, if I was in the affected area, but I think that the distances
from the launch point to the victims could be quite a few miles. The
other problem with canoes, etc., is that they could easily tip over when
loading victims, who cannot be assumed to be wise to the ways of small
boats.

Kayaks and canoes for rescue is a nice idea, but not practical.

Richard



Chicago Paddling-Fishing wrote:
Hi;

Any folks down near New Orleans?

I got a email from someone from the Army at USAISC-FT McPherson in Georgia
looking for boats and people... (not sure they realize just how small my
kayaks are but I suppose distributing food would be ok if you have a big
enough canoe)

Would need a bunch of folks though to make a difference...

Richard Ferguson wrote:
: I have been watching the news, and my view is that the best boats would
: be the larger (16 foot or more) outboard motor boats. Air boats have
: also been used. You would probably want a crew of two people, and be
: able to safely carry 4 or more victims. I heard that there are a bunch
: of volunteers using their fishing boats for that purposes. Bass fishing
: boats are very common in the south, and should be well suited to rescue
: work. Bass boats have outboards, and are frequently used near shore
: around obstacles such as submerged trees.

: I don't think that canoes, kayaks, or other small boats are the right
: tools for the job of rescue, in general. Don't carry enough, and are
: too slow. Obviously I would use my own canoe to rescue myself and
: family, if I was in the affected area, but I think that the distances
: from the launch point to the victims could be quite a few miles. The
: other problem with canoes, etc., is that they could easily tip over when
: loading victims, who cannot be assumed to be wise to the ways of small
: boats.

: Kayaks and canoes for rescue is a nice idea, but not practical.

: Richard

Well, as of yet, I haven't received a reply when I asked if this was a
serious request and for additional contact info... keep in mind I didn't
contact them, they contacted me... I too am not sure that we can move
enough stuff to make a difference... although, if you get food or water
to one person, I suppose that is making a difference... will let you know
if I hear back... mean time, think of a place along I-55 with a large
parking lot that could be used as a meeting place... but don't start driving
yet...

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

Britain extracted all its troops from Europe when they wee forced back
to Normandy in Private Boats donated freely by their owners most of
whome stayed with the craft to help the evacuation.
What is being suggested is not unheard of.
Canoes and Kayaks .... I am not sure they are appropriate.
The Bass boats, hover craft and air boats would be the cats meaw.

wrote:
: Britain extracted all its troops from Europe when they wee forced back
: to Normandy in Private Boats donated freely by their owners most of
: whome stayed with the craft to help the evacuation.
: What is being suggested is not unheard of.
: Canoes and Kayaks .... I am not sure they are appropriate.
: The Bass boats, hover craft and air boats would be the cats meaw.

I agree, although it might depend on just how much fuel they have around
to burn...

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

On 4-Sep-2005, wrote:

Canoes and Kayaks .... I am not sure they are appropriate.

They are being used by those in the area that have them.

There was an item on last night's news of a Canadian fellow
that drove from Colorado (where he's attending university)
to New Orleans with his kayak. He rescued one person and
has been helping where he can. This kayak is a big recreational
kayak with a canoe-like cockpit.

I could see a sea kayak or similar being used to poke into places
a larger vessel couldn't go and assisting the crews of larger
craft.

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:
On 4-Sep-2005, wrote:


Canoes and Kayaks .... I am not sure they are appropriate.


They are being used by those in the area that have them.

There was an item on last night's news of a Canadian fellow
that drove from Colorado (where he's attending university)
to New Orleans with his kayak. He rescued one person and
has been helping where he can. This kayak is a big recreational
kayak with a canoe-like cockpit.

I could see a sea kayak or similar being used to poke into places
a larger vessel couldn't go and assisting the crews of larger
craft.

Mike


Where kayaks are going to prove useful is later, after areas have been
cleared of survivors that we know of. Teams of people in kayaks or a
canoe will be able to go house to house... to find and count bodies and
mark the rooftops accordingly.

People won't be lining up to volunteer for that.
That takes something you can only expect from paid help with the
equipment, training and psychological support after the fact to do a
job like that.
Without a uniform I would be frightened some fool would shoot me
thinking ( Not without cause ) that I was in to steel his or her
property .
I have served with our army, I have seen death. This is incramentally
beyond what I would want to do to myself. There is no dinner
conversation ( or other civil circomstance ) where this becomes
appropriate banter.

This job will be done and the people that do it will need support. I
for one would not want to take this baggage home to my wife and kids.
I am also the guy that can paint the walls with other peoples blood, It
does not faze on me: But the pure scale of this ............