Ham radio is once again proving
to be a vital communications resource in disasters, with amateurs supporting
relief efforts for both Australia's wildfires and the series of earthquakes
that rocked Puerto Rico in January. The ARRL Letter reports that hams in
Australia were working with the New South Wales Volunteer Rescue Association in
support of the Rural Fire Service. In addition, the Wireless Institute of
Australia reports that most of the amateur repeater network in the state of
Victoria is off the air, due to a combination of power outages and direct fire
damage.
In Puerto Rico, hams are working
with the American Red Cross, primarily on the southern part of the island,
which has suffered the greatest earthquake damage. In addition, the ARRL
reported that it was shipping six VHF/UHF repeater antennas and six 50-foot
rolls of LMR-400 coax to help re-establish reliable communications.
At press
time, the earthquakes and aftershocks in Puerto Rico were continuing, as were
the massive wildfires in Australia.
