Tuscaloosa Tornado Audio 12/16/2000
Cal Davis, KF4LAR, Net Control during the Tuscaloosa tornado, gets a real time
report from amateurs in the field watching the tornado tear through the city's
Englewood community.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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In a transmission made just moments after the tornado roared through
Tuscaloosa's Englewood community, a member of the Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio
Club provides a vivid description of what he sees around
him, while helping rescue a storm victim from a car.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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Net Control Cal Davis, KF4LAR, maintains a sense of calm in the midst of
sheer chaos, instructing hams in the field to concentrate their reports on
injured people needing help.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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Amateurs in the field get a stern warning from Net Control Cal Davis,
KF4LAR, to take cover as the tornado moves across the city, from west to
east, near Skyland Blvd.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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In an interview with ALERT's David Black, KB4KCH,
Cal Davis, KF4LAR, describes some of the benefits amateur radio provided
during the December 16th tornado, despite the availability of other more
advanced communications technology. Davis also shares details of a
valuable lesson his group learned about providing emergency communications
support.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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Amateurs go through the damage zone looking for tornado victims, while
staying in contact with W4KCQ Net Control at the EOC.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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Kirk Junkin, KC4ZMP, is asked to assess how many injured people he sees at
his location. The report is needed so amateurs can give doctors at DCH
Regional Medical Center an idea of how many patients to expect.
Meanwhile, TARC members discuss activation of the National Guard, as the
magnitude of the tornado's impact becomes more evident, while the search
for more injured people continues.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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An amateur in the field advises Net Control of a storm victim needing
medical aid. Hams help with pinpointing the person's location so
rescue crews can respond.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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TARC member Chuck Beams, KG4EER, describes what he and fellow spotter
Trip Harris, KG4DMH, saw as they pulled up to shattered homes, looking
for victims to help moments after the tornado had moved through.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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Chuck Beams, KG4EER, who along with Trip Harris, KG4DMH, helped rescue
victims moments after the tornado's attack, describes a chance encounter
on the telephone after the storm and which led to a very heartfelt
thanks.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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For Chuck Beams, KG4EER, the December 16th tornado that ravaged
Tuscaloosa will mean a lifetime of memories. But one scene stands
out above the others: Beams' rescue of James Fitts, and the
heartbreaking search for Fitts' wife, Carol, who died in the storm.
(Audio recorded and edited by ALERT)
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In their own words:
Amateur radio operators Cal Davis, KF4LAR, and Chuck Beams,
KG4EER, describe their roles in the December 16th, 2000 tornado that killed
11 people in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
(Edited by David Black, KB4KCH)
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in Tuscaloosa. These transmissions were recorded
on the 145.350 MHz "tall tower" repeater which was used to
relay damage reports from the eastern part of the county.
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