At this time, there are no reports of amateur radio involvement in the disaster response. Even so, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Coordinator Greg Mossop, GØDUB, has asked that extra care be taken so as to not interfere with any emergency traffic.
The IARU Region III Emergency Center of Activity frequencies are 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz. Other suggested emergency frequencies being reported by amateur radio operators from Japan include 7.130, 14.230 and 21.230 MHz.
Icko Suzuki, JA1BPA, of Tokyo, told the ARRL that telephone lines and the Internet are “okay for the JA1 (Tokyo) area, but the Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate prefectures (JA7 area) are hard hit and I cannot reach my brother who lives there.” Suzuki said that in Japan, emergency communications activities and support normally occur on 40 meters and on VHF, “so normal DX bands should not be affected.”
In Hawaii, Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, told the ARRL that his state is preparing for a tsunami: “The water level at Kahului Harbor - the main harbor on the Island of Maui - dropped 5 feet at 3:54 this morning HST (1354 UTC).” A quake measuring 4.5 was felt in Hawaii, 150 minutes following the Japan tremor. (TNX, ARRL)
