= NOW 25 WPM = TEXT IS FROM FEBRUARY 2023 QST PAGE 67 = EMERGENCIES, FIVE HUMAN WELFARE CHECKS AND RESCUES, AND SIX ROAD CLOSURES. THEY ALSO WORKED WITH SARASOTA ARES TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE NORTH PORT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER EOC AND THE SARASOTA EOC. WHEN ELECTRICITY AND THE P25 LINK WENT DOWN, THERE WAS NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITHOUT RADIO AMATEURS. A DAM BREACH FLOODED ABOUT 40 HOMES, AND WATER QUICKLY ROSE UP TO WINDOWSILLS IN THE HIDDEN RIVER AREA. SARG OPERATORS RESPONDED TO A LOCAL CHURCH AND SET UP A COMMUNICATIONS POINT THERE, WHERE THEY ISSUED SITUATION REPORTS SITREPS ON ROAD CONDITIONS TO ASSIST THOSE BRINGING SUPPLIES AND AID INTO DISASTER AREAS. SARASOTA EC GARY WELLS, WB9AYD, SAID NORTH PORT WAS WITHOUT COMMUNICATION, INTERNET, AND WATER. DISPATCH WAS HANDLED FROM A MOTOR HOME OUTSIDE CITY HALL, WITH MESSAGES RUNNING FROM WELLS CAR THROUGH A LINKED REPEATER SYSTEM. RISING WATER CLOSED MAJOR ROADWAYS. SARASOTA HAS NO RADIO ROOM AT THE EOC, SO OPERATORS = END OF 25 WPM TEXT = QST DE W1AW <