Personal Profile: Mat Marcus KV2N

Written by Pete Smith N7BYP

Wednesday, 01 March 2006

In this issue of QRV? we’re featuring a somewhat different personal profile. We’re start in the usual way by highlighting Mat Marcus’ KV2N amateur radio and other interests. In addition we’ll find out more about Mat’s volunteer work as a radio operator in the Gulf Coast right after hurricane Katrina, but more about that later. Mat’s involvement with amateur radio began with a desire work with technology in a direct, “hands on” kind of way. You see, Mat makes his living as a programmer, an occupation he describes as one that deals primarily with complex abstract ideas. Mat wanted a more direct, as he noted a “do-ing” kind of experience, and amateur radio came to mind. Like many hams, he first received a novice ticket, then with the demands of job and family, let that novice ticket expire before deciding to get back in to radio at a later time. That he did and now Mat enjoys an extra class license. Also, like many of us, Mat received an invitation to join ACS through one of the mailings sent out to stimulate interest in our emergency communication service. He attended an ACS orientation meeting where he met Mark N7LYE and George K7YHB and since they didn’t scare him off (just kidding >>grin<<) he joined up and is a part of our organization. Mat has a variety of radios in his shack, an area in the upper level of his home that is shared with computing equipment used for work as a programmer for Adobe. His rigs include a variety of HF, UHF, and VHF ht’s and desktop model radios. I noticed several antennas ready for outdoor mounting. One that grabbed my attention was a compact multi band vertical that is tuned by its transceiver. (A note to myself: I’m going to have to look into one of those. They would be great for portable, field operations. –ed.) As a member of the ARRL, Mat receives helpful information from the ARRL RSS feed as well as publications dealing with emergency communications publications. As  you might guess, as a member of the ARRL, QST is one of his favorites. Away from radios, Mat takes pleasure in running and wilderness experiences. He particularly enjoys time with his family, especially electronics building projects with his son. Now let’s turn to Mat’s experiences as a disaster relief radio operator. After hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast, while working at home, Mat listened to EchoLlink, a computer based service for hams that combines traditional radio transmissions with voice over internet protocols. EchoLlink included channels containing radio transmissions from the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and while listening, he heard someone observe that much help was needed. Matt heard this call and responded by putting his name in an ARRL database for volunteers. At the same time, he began negotiations for an extended absence from work and started to research radio equipment he would need to acquire as well as explore airline schedules to the hurricane Katrina area, Mat freely admits responding to this call for assistance with some fear and trepidation. He had never worked directly in emergency situations and believed he might lack some of the leadership and technical skills necessary. Nevertheless, when the ARRL asked him to go immediately to the disaster area, that’s just what he did, after some highly appreciated last-minute training from George and Bill. Upon arrival in the disaster area he was sent to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, far enough north to escape the brunt of the hurricane but sustaining much damage nevertheless. At Hattiesburg, Mat became a backup net control dispatcher for the Red Cross, directing emergency response vehicles to areas of need.  Soon, however, he took over these duties as well as other assorted tasks that needed to be done. After a week at Hattiesburg, he was moved againreassigned to Hancock County Mississippi, where Katrina made landfall and most probably the hardest hit area. The regular Emergency Operations Center (EOC) had been destroyed by the storm so a temporary EOC was established near a the local high schoolStennis Airport outside of Bay St. Louis, one in one of the few buildings that, because it had been hardened for storms, was still structurally secure enough to house the EOC. The entire county was a shambles. Stores and homes were destroyed and the only way to get provisions to the people was through the use of “points of distribution” or PODsS. At the PODSs scattered throughout the county, desperately needed foodstuffs, medical supplies, and other provisions were distributed to survivors of the storm. Hams at the PODS PODs sent requests for supplies and services via radio to the EOC, where Mat and others maintained net control operations. At the Hancock County EOC, Mat supervised acted as officer in charge of a team of a couple dozen amateur radio operators, overseeing network operations and interfacing with the various ESF at the EOC. teams of hams who received and logged emergency radio traffic round the clock, receiving messages and forwarding them to appropriate personnel at the EOC. In addition to relaying official requests from the PODS, hams there also became aware of critical needs of individuals. Whenever possible, they found ways to meet those individual needs through their radio networks. As you might imagine the situation was characterized by Mat as “hectic and crazy” leaving him little time for sleep. In many ways, as Mat noted, because hams had knowledge of both area-wide and individual survivor needs, they became the “face of the people” at the EOC. Before returning home, Mat participated in debriefings as well as training that took advantage of his computer skills as he set up satellite-based emergency communications links. I asked Mat what advice he might offer that would help us become better prepared for service as emergency communicators. I waited as Mat leaned back and thought for a few moments. Finally, he said that there were many lessons to be learned and that he intended to enumerate them, but if he had to come up with a single bit of advice it would be this: “do whatever it takes.” By this, Mat means that when you respond to the call for help, be willing to do whatever is asked of you whether it involves radio communications work or not. I have heard this same advice, by the way, from others experienced in emergency relief work. Yes, we have radio skills and stand ready to use them if needed. That being said, we should also be ready to help in any way we are directed. Mat derived much from his relief work. He discovered leadership traits he never realized he possessed. He was able to make critical decisions quickly and effectively. His radio skills were also put to good use. Mat also had the satisfaction of knowing that his response made a difference, that it had positive effects in the lives of many some of the people who were victimized by this terrible storm.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 January 2007 )

 

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