Extraordinary Measures By Ordinary People In The Face Of A Disaster
Release Date: January 26, 2001
Release Number: 1354-37
» More Information on Arkansas Severe Winter Storm
Little Rock, AR -- When we look back on our lives, we find that we are most proud of what we did when it mattered the most. In Arkansas, numerous unsung heroes can be proud of what they did during this disaster.
"The recent winter ice storms pulled at the very fabric of Arkansas life," said Joe Bray, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "But Arkansans are a hardy bunch. I am grateful to community and state disaster workers for their professionalism."
Individuals, local and city government officials, members from voluntary organizations, and the National Guard all came to the aid of their neighbors during a time of great need. " Extraordinary measures were taken by ordinary people in the face of this disaster," Bray added.
"I have never been more proud to be an Arkansan. The response from our communities in this situation is a testament that working together we can weather any crisis," said David Maxwell, state coordinating officer.
The following is only a small example of a state that worked together. There are many other untold stories.
The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Conway, December 12 during the first ice storm. Their staff worked around-the-clock for several weeks. With expectations of Christmas and a well-deserved break looming ahead, they were surprised to be recalled on Christmas afternoon to resume 24-hour operations.
As emergency response operations evolved into a disaster recovery, more than 70 percent of ADEM's personnel were deployed across the state and to the joint state/federal Disaster Field Office to work with county and municipal governments. Many of those employees remain on extended duty through today.
"When all the phone service, cell phone and radio networks were not working, amateur radio operators came to the rescue providing emergency communications," said Jerry Roberts, county coordinator for Sebastian County. "They assisted in restoring communication to the county sheriff and the emergency medical services. Radio-operators even rode with sheriff's deputies to provide radio communications."
In the cold and ice with no way to get to the sheriff's and emergency management services communication tower due to blocked roads, the 188th Air National Guard Fighter Wing provided a bulldozer and an operator to cut a new road in addition to providing generators.
The Arkansas National Guard's 39th and 87th Infantry Brigade patrolled I-30 and I-40 providing generator support. The 2nd of the 132nd, Field Artillery Brigade out of Ft. Smith also furnished generators and refueled those generators for shelters and fire stations in the cities of Bonanza, Mansfield, Hartford and Jenny Lynn, and at Ramsey Jr. High School. They supplied more than 1,000 households with necessary water by providing generators for the Milltown-Washburn water system. The 223rd Combat Communications Squadron offered additional generator support.
More than 100 people who were unable to get to a community shelter or their homes were transported thanks to the National Guard. Several people received their first ride in a HUMVEE ambulance, provided by the Guard.
To the many people who were house-bound and on oxygen support systems the rural volunteer fire department, driving to their door with supplemental oxygen, was a welcomed relief from the stress they were experiencing.
"People with special needs such as oxygen and breathing machines are on a list," said Jim Johnson, Dallas County emergency management coordinator. "We responded immediately to those needs. There was a man who had recently undergone back surgery. He was in the middle of adjusting his bed when the power went out. He also received the use of an emergency generator."
Johnson related that within eight hours the public works department had the water system up and running thanks to the quick response of Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM).
The community helped one another. "Individuals without any heat or electricity themselves prepared hot coffee, on portable camp stoves, for the electric repair crews." Johnson added. "Others took up chain saws to clear roads and driveways. Neighbors who had been fussing and fighting for 10 years helped each other."
All communications in Garland County, including the eight radio stations, were out of commission as a result of the ice storm. "Had it not been for the amateur radio clubs and the ham radio operators, I don't know how we could have done it," said Joy Sanders, emergency management coordinator for Garland County. "They supplied us with the equipment and operators that allowed us to keep communications open and to shuttle messages to Little River, Hot Spring and Montgomery counties."
The rural volunteer fire departments in Garland County logged in more than 3,500 hours from December 27 to January 1. "They shuttled nursing home residents to shelters by day and returned them to the home at night," said Sanders. "They delivered the food that was provided by The Baptist Men and the American Red Cross twice a day to residents. In the middle of all of this there was a 50-car wreck on the highway. They delivered food to the state troopers as well."
The Arkansas Baptist Men prepared enough food for the 80,000 meals delivered by the American Red Cross. More than 3,300 people found refuge in the many shelters set up by voluntary agencies.
When disaster strikes, getting the job of recovery done, and doing it well, requires teamwork, cooperation and innovation between all levels of government, voluntary agencies and each individual.
Now everything is starting to settle down. For the most part, people have resumed their daily activities. "Garland County was granted funding by the city and county to upgrade their communication needs," said Sanders. The debris clearing is underway across the state, and FEMA has already issued more than $4 million in individual and family assistance.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 04-Nov-2003 12:11:17