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Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
By: Addison Verger
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+Disaster Strikes
When traditional forms of communication fail (wireline, cell phones, etc.), Amateur radio is often used
Such crises include natural disasters (severe storms, etc.), tragedies (national crises), and public service events Hurricane Katrina September 11 attacks 2003 North American Blackout
+Amateur Radio Usefulness
Amateur radio is not as dependent on “terrestrial facilities” (choke points) that can fail
Amateur radio equipment can be powered more simply (automobile battery)
Antennas and power sources can be easily improvised/set-up
Operators are prepared for such events (annual field days)
Hundreds of available frequencies to make communications
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+Organization
In the United States, there are two major groups for organizing emergency amateur radio communications
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Organization of amateur operators sponsored by the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Register with local ARRL Emergency Coordinator Units are autonomous and operate locally
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Standby replacement radio service regulated by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Requires preregistration with a local civil defense
organization
+ARES
Activated before, during, and after an emergency
Handles all emergency messages, including those between government emergency management officials
May communicate with any amateur station
+RACES
Almost never starts before an emergency, active only during the emergency and during the immediate aftermath (if government emergency management offices need communications support) Normally shut down shortly after emergency has cleared
May communicate with: RACES station licensed to local civil defense organization Other RACES licensees Certain amateur stations registered with civil defense
organizations Certain US government stations authorized by the responsible
agency to communicate with RACES stations Stations in a service regulated by FCC (when authorized by FCC)
+RACES
May transmit only messages related to: Impending danger to the public or affecting national
defense during emergencies The immediate safety of individuals, the immediate
protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and combating armed attack and sabotage
The dissemination of information to the public from a local civil defense organization or other government or relief organization
Communications during RACES drills
+Hurricane Katrina
The largest disaster response by U.S. amateur radio operators
Coordinated by the ARRL, some 1000 Amateur Radio volunteers served in hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast communities and at evacuee centers there and in other states
Hams in the Gulf Coast region, among out of state volunteers, provided emergency communications while other systems were being repaired
Hundreds more aided right from their homes by relaying messages to families around the country (informing families about people trapped in the area)
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+Hurricane Katrina
As early as the Monday following the storm, hams throughout the hurricane zone were putting emergency stations on the air, including: WX4NHC, the amateur radio station at the National Hurricane
Center, the Hurricane Watch Net, the Waterway Net, Skywarn, and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
The rescue of 15 people stranded by floodwaters on the roof of a house in New Orleans was facilitated by ham radios Using that Red Cross chapter’s amateur radio station, Ben Joplin,
WB5VST, was able to relay a request for help on the SATERN network via Russ Fillinger, W7LXR, in Oregon, and Rick Cain, W7KB, in Utah back to Louisiana, where emergency personnel were alerted
+Hurricane Katrina
Communications: High Frequency (HF) amateur radio stations were set up in various
towns to communicate out of the area to Montgomery and the outside world
A communications network connecting every Red Cross facility in a town on a local short range radio frequency was also set up
The network included fixed and mobile disaster vehicle stations
Congressional hearings highlighted the Amateur Radio response as one of the few examples of what went right in the disaster relief effort Brought up further discussion on future of ham (threat of
broadband over power lines interference)
+REFERENCES
http://www.arrl.org/ares-races-faq
http://electronicdesign.com/boards/katrinas-wake-ham-radio-triumphs
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9228945/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/t/ham-radio-operators-rescue-after-katrina/#.UWx8YY7bF0o
http://www.qsl.net/gm3zdh/emergency-communications/hurricane-katrina.htm
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