From the ARRL Newsletter July 16 2025
ARES operators were embedded with local served agencies in the areas of central Texas affected by devastating floods. The needs and assignments have been changing, but ARES volunteers were stepping up to the dynamic needs of their communities. “This is a very fluid situation. It changes by the hour,” said ARRL South Texas Section District 7 Emergency Coordinator Terry Jones, K5LGV.
The operators were activated on Friday, July 4. Radio amateurs provided communications capabilities to agencies whose primary systems were damaged in the flooding event or where they suffer poor connectivity due to the terrain. ARES members helped the American Red Cross with setup of a reunification shelter in response to the floods. Ten hams were assigned to search-and-rescue teams.
Dozens of health and welfare messages were passed by ham radio operators who provided a critical link when phone lines were overwhelmed. “A lot of this is tied to circuit overload preventing folks from making direct contact with family members in the area,” said Kevin McCoy, KF5FUZ. During the floods and subsequent search and recovery missions, ARES members have been deployed to serve many different counties, including hard-hit Kerr and Kendall Counties. Mutual aid has been offered between several surrounding ARRL Sections. —ARRL News Desk