The reports are often technical in nature however we have found that many non-technical people are connecting to it Please feel free to explore a largely unknown side of emergency response in Canada, amateur radio. There is also an extensive media page with links to news archive sites, stories, pictures and video of the Pine Lake disaster. This web page is a work in progress and will keep changing as new photos and reports become available. Check it frequently for updates. Mountain Daylight Time UTC minus 6.
Disasters are usually events that happen at the worst time and in the worst place.
The Pine Lake tornado fits both descriptions from a communications perspective. The emergency net was in operation for 166 hours in direct support of Red Cross emergency services during which amateur radio operators provided 541 hours of officially logged volunteer support to the Canadian Red Cross and approximately 100 to 200 hours in unofficial support to other relief agencies and individual victims. As of Saturday July 22, amateur radio operators were still in the field supporting the farm debris clean up operations. Central Alberta Emergency Co-ordinator Garry Jacobs VE6CIA had to return to Red Deer from Glacier Waterton Hamfest. His story is common, as many key Search and Rescue, Red Cross, Hospital, Emergency Medical Services, Fire and Police personnel were on holidays or leaving for weekend activities.