For Immediate Release

LOCAL CIVIL AIR PATROL MEMBERS ASSIST IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

West Bend, WI-- LtCol. Daniel Ritchie and Maj. Scott Glamann assisted state and federal Emergency Management agencies Tuesday, in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

Glamann, operating out of the Civil Air Patrol Wisconsin Wing Mobile Command Post, communicated with various emergency operations centers, or EOCs. He also served as the net control station for the FEMA National Radio System, the nationwide radio network for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio equipment was used to communicate with other stations from FEMA field mobile units in Nebraska, military installations in California and stations in Wisconsin. Maj. Glamann also monitored other emergency communications, for the purpose of briefing LtCol. Michael Curry, CAP Incident Commander.

The members of Wisconsin Wing and the 461st Wisconsin Composite Squadron of CAP maintain the Mobile Command Post in West Bend. In addition to HF and VHF radios, it is equipped with satellite receivers to receive weather and news information, a mobile weather station, and radios coupled to computers to receive and relay aerial photography. An antenna tower capable of extending up to 55ft is mounted atop the roof of the 29 ft. converted RV. Batteries and a generator power it all in places with no electricity. According to Glamann, “The vehicle is like a mobile EOC, capable of remote operations in an area with no communications or power of its own.”

LtCol. Ritchie served as the Wisconsin Wing net control station from his home in West Bend. The two are just a small fraction of CAP members from West Bend, its surrounding communities, and the state of Wisconsin who are on alert and ready to provide aircrews and ground teams to agencies requiring emergency support. Wisconsin Wing will continue to remain standing by in case of need.

Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary to the United States Air Force. Volunteer members continue to fulfill the three missions of CAP: Aerospace Education, Emergency Services, and developing mature, responsible youth through the Cadet Program.

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