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| Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers pray before heading to Texas after Hurricane Ike in early September. Photo by Brent Gay/BCF |
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GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Brent Gay, a student at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, was part of the Emergency Communications (EmComm) unit for the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team which was activated to respond after Hurricane Ike tore through Galvaston, Texas in early September.
As an amateur “HAM” radio operator, Gay, who also works part-time in the information and technology department at BCF, is the Jackson County Florida assistant emergency coordinator and the vice-president of the Chipola Amateur Radio Club.
After arriving in Texas City, Texas, Gay was tasked with assessing the communication capabilities in the damaged area to determine if there was a communications emergency.
According to Gay, a typical communications emergency is simply when communications are down to such an extent that life and property are at risk.
The relief team quickly determined that cellular phones were still operational even though they were ‘sporadic’ at times, Gay said. The Texas City Police said their radios were working okay with some intermittent problems, according to Gay who reported that ultimately it was determined that while communication was not optimal, there was not a communications emergency.
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| Brent Gay, BCF student and amateur “HAM” radio operator served in Texas with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. Courtesy photo |
After assessing the communications capabilities in the affected area, Gay said the primary objective then became supporting the feeding unit that was part of the Disaster Relief team. Communications became important in the recovery process since the feeding units were stationed at two separate staging areas and locations throughout the time he was there.
Gay said he was able to use his VHF radio to speak with another HAM operator at the other staging area to facilitate the assistance provided to the devastated area.
The EmComm unit was also responsible for giving out radios to people on the team so they could communicate while driving and working in the affected area.
Understanding the importance of e-mail communication, Gay was able to set up a Winlink 2000 (WL2K) which enabled the relief team to send emails without internet capabilities.
“After setting up the program I sent a test message to the North American Mission Board by communicating to another HAM radio station in the Cayman Islands using the WL2K system,” Gay said, describing his duties as a communications volunteer. “NAMB then responded that they received the test message. The other HAM operators that I was with were very happy to have that working.”
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| An onsite operational communications trailer for Florida Baptist Disaster Relief enables leaders to provide needed communications links under almost any conditions after a disaster. Photo by Brent Gay/BCF |
Gay said one of his tasks was to install an aircard into a laptop computer in the communications trailer which enabled workers to connect to the Internet through the cellular telephone system.
Gay worked in communications with seasoned Disaster Relief workers Hugh Cater, whose radio call sign is “KE4CRO,” and Don Miller, “N4ZUV.”
Gay also acted as a runner between the two staging areas and assisted vehicles that drove up to receive food and water.
“I listened to them as they shared their heart about the hurts they had experienced due to the hurricane,” Gay said. “The expression was the same on many of the people—a blank glazed look.
“After hearing that I was there to serve them and the Lord, their face transformed to a look of hope. It is hard to put in words what happened after I told them that. It seemed to make a difference to them that I was not simply there to provide communication, be a runner, or tell them how to pick up their food and water, instead, I was there to meet their needs, serve them, and serve the Lord,” Gay continued. “That is why I went—to love others and to love the Lord. After all, that is what Jesus said are the greatest commandments and I believe that to be the main thing.”