December 4th, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Hams provide emergency communications
Typhoon Bopha (local name Pablo) has hit The Philippines uprooting trees,
downing power lines, sparking landslides and making 40,000 people head for shelters.
It was the strongest of about 20 typhoons to affect the country this year with
its heavy rain and wind gusting up to 210km/h as it came ashore at Mindanao.
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) had its ham emergency
radio operations (HERO) working when the typhoon struck the southern Philippines.
PARA is using all available means of communication like HF radio (7.095 MHz) VHF radio
(144.740 MHz), the internet and social media (Facebook, email, echolink) to monitor the
situation and give updates to all concerned.
Ham emergency radio operators have been assisting in the communication needs of
these cities (as reported by DW5JMJ, DU5AOK and DU8BGA).
RADNET 5, a local club of amateur radio operators in Tacloban City, is very active in helping
provide the city with vital communications link.
It is in constant coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
(CDRRMC). So far, 5,700 families have been evacuated from Saint Bernard.
RADNET 5 is also assisting the Red Cross in Tacloban and Saint Bernard. The City
Government of Tacloban City has used the Tacloban Convention Centre as one of its
evacuation centres.
The casualties have been minimal, due to preparations, the cooperation of evacuees and the
mammoth response and recovery. efforts.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chair of the IARU Region 3, Disaster Communications Committee, with
PARA Chief Operating Officer Eddie Valdez DU1EV).
Tags: 2012, international, Philippines
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November 22nd, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
The rescue and relief work in San Marcos, Guatemala, a mountainous region
bordering Mexico that was hit by a 7.4 scale earthquake claiming the lives
of at least 52 people earlier this month, was aided by emergency communications
provided by radio amateurs.
International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Emergency Communication Coordinator,
Cesar Pio Santos HR2P said he was very proud of the work done during and
after the earthquake on November 8, despite the difficult times.
Cesar HR2P thanked the members of the Club de Radioficionados de Guatemala
(CRAG) for their outstanding efforts. He was responding to a report from
Marco Aurelio TG8AMP, who was in charge of the emergency network in the affected
area.
About 10,000 houses have been affected by the earthquake with authorities
setting up 11 rescue centres for the homeless.
It was the worst to hit Guatemala since 1976, when a 7.5 magnitude earthquake
caused the deaths of about 23,000 people in one of the worst natural disasters
of the time, again helped by the work of amateur radio.
- Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications with Cesar
Pio Santos HR2P EMCOR IARU R2
Tags: 2012, Guatemala, international
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August 4th, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
In the world's worst blackout in recent times power was cut to 700 million
people in India.
Jayu Bhide VU2JAU reports that the North-East grid failed due to a fault
in the plant and 20 states were affected by the power failure. Work to restore
the power was in progress.
National Coordinator for Disaster Communication in India, Jayu VU2JAU said
that New Delhi had its power cut for 12 hours yesterday.
He said in the evening power was restored to some parts of Delhi and the
surrounding areas. The work to restore was still in progress.
"Hams in and around the affected areas were ready for the emergency communication
required during power cuts," said Jayu VU2JAU.
They provided emergency communications during the outage, all voice repeaters
were in order and did not fail despite the heavy duty back-up power needed.
He said, "Hams will still be on their toes until complete power is restored."
Further reports on the crisis are expected later. Luckily, said Jayu VU2JAU,
"Everything went well and no major casualty was reported".
Up to 20 of India's 28 states were plunged into darkness as suppliers failed
to meet the growing demand caused by air-conditioning units, flat-screen
TVs and other gadgets.
Hundreds of trains failed, traffic lights were out, surgical operations cancelled,
and underground miners were trapped when their lifts broke down. The blackout
raised concern about India's infrastructure.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee
and Jayu Bhide VU2JAU, National Coordinator for Disaster Communication in
India)
Tags: 2012, blackout, India, international
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May 29th, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Two additional earthquakes have struck Italy this afternoon.
At the moment there are around 15 deaths reported.
Following a request from the Italian Civil Protection department
RNRE have immediately sent one Mobile Unit with 5 radioamateurs
to the area and two more units are ready to go when requested.
The HF frequency 7060kHz is in use by IQ1HQ (headquarter RNRE)
and IQ0TK. ( Civil Protection Department in Rome). VHF links are
currently on 145.200MHz.
Tags: 2012, earthquake, international, Italy
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May 21st, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Italian Radio Amateurs respond to Emilia Romagna region Earthquake
At 0200UTC 20th May 2012 an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck the Emilia Romagna region of Northern Italy. At the time of writing this report six people are known to have died in the quake with 50 injured. A number of strong aftershocks continue to affect the area.
The Italian Civil Protection authorities are putting a response structure into place capable of dealing with >1000 people. The voluntary group RNRE ( Raggruppamento Nazionale Radiocomunicazioni Emergenza ) report that communications in the area are currently good but due to the continuing seismic activity have been requested to make one or two mobile units available to respond if needed until late Monday evening.
No HF frequencies are in use at this time.
Tags: 2012, earthquake, international, Italy
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February 7th, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Effects continue across the central Philippines after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck triggering landslides with dozens of people killed and many trapped in toppled homes.
Chief Operating Officer for IARU society PARA, Eddie Valdez DU1EV said ham radio operators are now active in communications assistance.
Eddie DU1EV said those near the epicentre of the earthquake in the DU7 and DU6 call areas are active. They have chosen to use the VHF band for communications.
Their services included message handling with phone communications cut, widespread power outages, bridges and other infrastructure damaged.
The earthquake in a narrow strait between the heavily populated island provinces of Negros and Cebu hit around lunchtime on Monday.
There had been more than 200 aftershocks, some nearly as strong, causing further panic.
This came after typhoon storms swept the Southern Philippines on December 16 to 18 with a heavy loss of lives and radio amateurs helping out.
Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3, Disaster Communication Committee.
Tags: 2012, earthquake, international, Phillippines
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February 7th, 2012
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Communications have been set up on HF as the emergency activity of amateur radio becomes established in the earthquake and landslide hit areas.
Chief Operating Officer for IARU society PARA, Eddie Valdez DU1EV said that Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HEROs) has activated the emergency frequencies of 144.740 MHz and 7.095 MHz.
Eddie DU1EV said “They have established their command centre on board the Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue vessel BRP Davao del Norte. HEROs have been busy forwarding traffic from the disaster areas to Cebu and Manila.”
Rescue workers are searching for survivors after the 6.7-magnitude quake earthquake killed dozens of people. The death toll is 43 but rescuers are still searching for missing people in the rubble and landslides.
It struck just before noon local time on Monday in the heavily populated islands of Negros and Cebu in the country’s central region.
Eddie DU1EV said that the traffic handled included mainly responding to overseas inquiries for persons looking for information about their family and friends in the earthquake areas.
He said “As land lines and cellular phones have been erratic, amateur radio has provided a vital link. Among the active HEROs are RJ DU7RJA, Roy DU7DDJ, DW7XKS and, DW7RDX.
“Alvin DU1AJ/7 has set up his station so that it could act as relay for the HEROs at the earthquake stricken areas. He receives and sends traffic via HF, VHF, echolink and Facebook.
“In Manila, HEROs operatives Butch DU1RP and Lito DU1PA have set up camp at the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) under the Department of Defence.”
They are active on HF and they act as liaison between the disaster area and the NDRRMC command centre in Manila, reported Eddie DU1EV.
Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3, Disaster Communication Committee.
Tags: 2012, earthquake, international, Phillippines
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January 31st, 2012
We look forward to meeting everyone in Lough Derg House, Dromineer, this coming weekend for a training and social event.
Could those attending please confirm with Conor, EI4JN, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Tags: 2012, activities, training
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November 9th, 2011
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
The use of HF frequencies by RNRE in Italy for the flooding in the North West of their country and TRAC for the Earthquake in Van province of Turkey has finished. There is no further need to take care when operating around 3.643, 3.760MHz, 7.045-7.060 and 7.092-7.095 MHz.
Thanks to all amateurs who kept the frequencies clear for emergency traffic.
Tags: 2011, earthquake, international, Turkey
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November 5th, 2011
Received from Greg Mossop, G0DUB IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:
Following flash flooding in the Liguria and Tuscany regions of North
West Italy last week which killed 10 people, further heavy rain has
struck the region killing more people in flooding. The Amateur Radio
Voluntary communications group RNRE has been asked by their government
to provide additional radio communications in the affected areas from
Friday 4th November until at least Monday 7th November.
HF Frequencies which may be used in Italy are 3.760MHz, 3643MHz and
7.045-7.060MHz. Amateurs are asked to listen carefully before using
these frequencies to avoid causing QRM to emergency nets.
Tags: 2011, flooding, international, Italy
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