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Pinellas/Pasco County REACT
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Background Information
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REACT was founded way back in 1962 and started out in citizen band radio. Today's REACT has advanced way past that. Now REACT uses GMRS radios which are police quality radios with REACTS' own radio frequencies, amateur radios, computers, citizen band radios and cell phones in times of community disasters-
before, during and after as well as clean up operations. Pinellas/Pasco County REACT was established and chartered in Tarpon Springs January 12th, 1998. A GMRS repeater site was established and licensed on September 14th, 1998. This was established by a personal bank loan which has two years of payments yet, not to mention the insurance that must be carried against lightning, etc. The purpose of Pinellas/Pasco County REACT is many fold. One is to establish a 24 hour monitoring system and to coordinate efforts with and provide communications help to groups like the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Search and Rescue teams, K-9 teams, Emergency Management, local and state authorities and other agencies. REACT members voluntarily provide their time, services, and equipment; mobile, portable, or base as requested by a team officer during emergencies or team projects. Pinellas/Pasco County REACT has several projects that stand out amongst other projects. One is the disaster service to nursing homes. We have several nursing homes that have radios on our frequencies to aid them if power, phone lines or generators go out. They will be able to reach us and we can direct the proper authorities to them for assistance. Pinellas/Pasco County REACT also trains with another volunteer group that trains search dogs. We go out in the woods and leave a trail for them to find us. The dogs in this group are certified for land and water searches. In the event someone should walk away from a nursing home, we would be able to have a dog from this group search for that person. The third thing we are active in is hurricane operations. We put our people out in the field and have constant radio contact with weather and damage reports. We help evacuate the special needs people in the various homes when needed. We also send people to the nursing home sites to be there if additional help is needed. Everything has been of personal expense and we have never asked for financial assistance, but are to the point in our development and outside funds are now needed to keep things running and to be there for our community. REACTS' repeater site is worth $5000.00 to make this all happen the way it has and radios run about $500.00 each. If interested in joining our group or donating money or equipment, please contact us at (727) 938-6990
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REACT on the Sea
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Pinellas/Pasco County REACT is also actively involved in at sea search and rescue ops. We currently have a 16ft, flat bottom boat to help in these searches, as well as to evacuate people from flooded areas. As we find out new information on damages and maritime conditions, we send reports back to the Florida Council so that they may quickly and effectivly evacuate person and issue warnings to our community.
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REACT as your eye in the sky
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Recently, Pinellas/Pasco County REACT has aquired a new member, Kevin Stoffel, who has given us access to a small aircraft during search and rescue, as well as other emergency ops.
If a search and rescue is needed, he will search the area in a Cessna 172 airplane, and look for signs of wreckage and/or injured persons. During sea operations a small plane such as this will be a great asset to us. Helicopters can stir up the waters, decreasing visiblity, and the victims
chances of survival. After locating the wreckage, he would then radio back to the Coast Guard, and they would take over from then on.
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