Hams have been part of the response to widespread
flooding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. According to the
ARRL
Letter and International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (representing Europe, Africa and the Middle East), the flooding was caused by unprecedented heavy rainfall and has been
responsible for at least 120 deaths. Amateur radio emergency groups in all
three countries have a mutual aid arrangement and have been coordinating with
each other.
Hams in Belgium were asked to provide a backup VHF link between the
emergency call center in the capital city of Brussels and the hard-hit province
of Hainaut. Other groups have been on standby to respond as needed, although it
was pointed out that many hams in the affected areas were flood victims as
well.
