On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina broke the levees and drowned much of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Communications failed. Power grids collapsed. Families were cut off.
This episode goes back to a conversation I recorded in 2015 with Carl (KB5WMY, Silent Key), who served in the Bossier Parish 911 center during the aftermath. Carl and his local group of amateur radio volunteers carried their part of the load — passing messages, relaying calls, and keeping people connected when the systems had gone silent.
Carl shared the victories, the heartbreak, and the trauma of serving in those moments. He was honest about the calls that got through and the ones that didn't. He has since passed on, but his story still speaks today.
On this 20th anniversary of Katrina, we remember Carl, honor the countless first responders and volunteers who stepped forward, and recognize the role amateur radio can still play when everything else fails.
If you hold an amateur radio license, or any radio privileges at all, let Carl's story be a reminder: when the time comes, use what you have to serve others.
