I think that comment, sent to ALERT via e-mail in the wake of the April 8th tornado, pretty well sums up the efforts of amateur radio operators to serve their community. There's seldom any glamor, but there's always a critical benefit to the work ALERT Skywarn Net Controls and other hams do. With that in mind, please take a look at the following names: Jim Smiley, KE4CAP Kyle Washington, KF4JAE Mildred Cullen, AA4XF Ron Arant, N4PHP Lewis Cullen, AA4XE Boyd Shaver, KE4YZI Russ Steiner, W4VDA Steven Moss, KB4FKN Bill Heaton, KE4FBH Rodney Isom, KF4COV Randall Dickerson, KF4NWQ Mike Haley, KF4NER, helped by being on active standby. Walter Cooney, KF4AAG, did a great job manning the Birmingham- Jefferson Co. EMA headquarters. Walter became a focal point for for a heavy load of damage reports relayed to him on 146.880 and other frequencies, and made sure that EMA was aware of the situation as it was unfolding. Other ALERT members, including John Simons, KC4UCP, checked in on the 146.880 repeater, offering to provide assistance if needed. These are just some of the folks who helped the NWS deal with the worst tornado to strike Alabama since 1932. More than 30 people died in Jefferson county as a result of the storm which left a 30 mile path of destruction and thousands of homes either destroyed or heavily damaged. Unfortunately, as of the morning of April 12th--the fourth day after the disaster--no mention had been made of the valiant efforts of Alabama hams by the American Radio Relay League in its bulletins or other releases. So, much of the rest of the nation has yet to learn about the many efforts of hams to help ease the crisis. Nonetheless, members of ALERT and other amateur radio groups have every reason to be proud of what they have been doing before, during and after the tornado. We hope this report--created as a service by ALERT--will help inform others of what has been happening. Amateur radio operators performed superbly, despite circumstances filled with confusion, technical problems and other challenges. Of course, ALERT wasn't the only amateur radio group active because of Wednesday's tornado. Members of the HEART Net were extremely busy during and, especially, after the tornado slammed into west Jefferson county. HEART Net members were still on the air days later on the 147.140 repeater, assisting with disaster relief communications. The 444.600 MHz repeater was also used by amateurs manning one of the command posts set up to deal with with the storm's aftermath. The HEART Net activated at 7 p.m. April 8th. Here is information on HEART Net activities submitted to ALERT by James Keller, KF4JQP: Net Manager: Jerry Mead, K4ZCY Volunteer: Jerry Musso, KF4VDU Operating at Minor High School shelter: Head Coordinator for all shelters at Alliance Community School: James Keller, KF4JQP Assisting at Alliance school: Lori Keller, KF4OPJ Volunteer at Hueytown High School: Rick, KF4AOF Head communicator at Command Post: Gil Rogers, KE4LRN Assisting rescue Wednesday night: Pete Narmore, KE4ERX and Paul Cummings, KD4UWK Hueytown Police Dep't. Commander for volunteer hams: Sgt. Ken Samms, KB4AVV Net Control: Oberge, KD4MZY Coordinating with EMA: Walter Cooney, KF4AAG Others assisting: Kay Smith, N4WQP; George, WA4AOR; Bill, KE4JYF; Warner, KE4BYF; Mike, KE4UMD and Jerry, KE4BYV Providing relief for Hueytown shelter: Shawn, N4ZWC To the north of Birmingham, North Alabama Skywarn was very active with the severe weather threat affecting their area. Radio amateurs in west Alabama, east Alabama and in the Montgomery area were also busy. In Tuscaloosa, hams maintained an active spotter net on several repeaters. Reports were also relayed to ALERT at the NWS using the 145.350 MHz "tall tower" repeater. Radio was a busy medium in the state. Repeaters on 2 meters, 220 and 440 all got a heavy workout. In the Birmingham area alone, active frequencies included 146.880, 146.760, 147.140, 224.480, 442.075, 444.200 and 444.600. All of these repeaters were used at some point during the crisis. Some of these repeaters were in almost constant use, especially 146.880, 147.140, 442.075 and 444.600. But radio wasn't all that was busy. Lots of fingers were typing on keyboards. The Internet Gateway, our newest tool for emergency messaging, again showed how valuable it can be by allowing for the fast exchange of information without tying up valuable repeater airtime. Tom Moore, KL7Q, and Rick Kimbrell, KC4RNF, were among several Alabama radio amateurs maintaining an active presence on the Gateway, passing important information to hams at the NWS Skywarn station. If you are active in emergency communications outside of the Birmingham area and do not have Internet Gateway access for emergency communications use, you lack a valuable tool. If you would like to learn more about what a Gateway is and how it can assist radio amateurs and the groups they serve, be sure to attend the ALERT Skywarn Forum in Room I at 10:30 a.m. Saturday April 18th during BirmingHAMFest '98. Jim Smiley, KE4CAP, will present some interesting information on this important resource.