There are times when folks need help. And there are people who will generally offer that help. They help in times of crisis and they help just because they are asked. The Missouri Rapid Response Team (RRT) is a set of federally licensed amateur radio operators, who are trained, equipped and prepared to support folks who need help in a variety of ways.
We are prepared to respond in the event of an emergency. Should a tornado strike an area, and additional communications are needed that cannot be supplied by existing resources. Members with specific skills, equipment and availability will be dispatched to assist with communications need.
We support NGOs, offering communications support at local shelters or emergency centers.
We are available to support community events where large scale/large area communications are needed. Fifty and one hundred mile bike races, large scale boat races on one of our rivers or even assisting a municipality with bus communications during a multiday special event drawing thousands of people are just some of the things our members have supported in the past.
We come from a long line of radio amateurs (commonly known as `Hams`) who since the advent of radio communications have been there in times of need. Specifically, Missouri Rapid Response Team has its roots in the minds of a couple of St. Charles County MO Hams. Art Goodall W0KG and the late Dave Collins, KC6YNC (SK), came together in 2007 as a vehicle to support the emergency support system centered primarily on the 11 county area around the City of St. Louis. The area has a integral relationship with rivers that flood regularly and weather extremes. Goodall, a retired Army Colonel, saw the need to give local governments and served agencies additional portable communications to be used in both emergencies and to support community events. That group became known as Missouri District C Rapid Response Team (RRT) and ARRL ARES affiliated organization. It was originally granted the license KD0QHN but that was quickly changed to the much easier K0RRT. Goodall provided the initial capital and support to provide a self-contained independently sufficient communications trailer. The trailer provides the ability to move state of the art communications to the location where it is needed. The antennas, radios and computers were all designed to be able to communicate with served agencies, local, regional and national emergency centers and local volunteer hams. Collins was the infield leader of the RRT until his untimely death. Goodall continues to remain active as a consultant and supporter. His mentoring of the organization's leadership and the individual members continues.
You guys are awesome! You let cops be cops by completely taking over and handling the bus traffic management. Thanks for your group's great work! Local Police Department noting how RRT offloads part of their responsibilities at a large event
The original idea for the RRT was that it would be a mutual aid group that was professional, trained, equipped and ready to provide communications support for major incidents such as a wide spread earthquake. When Dave Collins, KC6YNC, took over the leadership he added the support of public service events which further enhanced the RRT members experience and communications expertise. Art Goodall, W0KG
I think that there is a tendency because we have done so much to build infrastructure and resiliency in all our other systems, we have tended to dismiss that role 'When Everything Else Fails.' Amateur Radio oftentimes is our last line of defense. Craig Fugate - Adminstrator FEMA
Members with specific skills, equipment and availability can be dispatched to assist with communication needs.
We are amateurs who have passed a series of federally mandated and suggested tests.
We have purchased our own equipment that permits us to provide needed communications when other systems (internet, cell phone, governmental radio and land line) have all failed.
Our group is prepared to be self-sustaining in terms of personal needs (food, clothing, water, shelter, etc.) for a period of time until a crisis subsides.