The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) is asking amateurs worldwide to keep 7.030 MHz and surrounding frequencies clear for disaster communications in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan a week ago today.
In a statement on its website, JARL says its headquarters station, JA1RL, is maintaining contact with stations in the affected area to help with disaster relief efforts. It says the operation is mainly on 7.030 MHz and primarily between 2100 and 1100 UTC daily, but is asking hams to keep 7.030 clear around the clock until further notice.In other developments, Southgate Amateur Radio News is reporting that IARU Region 3 Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, says power is being gradually restored in less-damaged areas and that local radio amateurs are starting to establish stations at shelters. Most of these operations are on UHF repeaters.
“According to reports from the shelters," said Yamamoto, there are "shortages of food, drinking water, fuel and medical goods. This is mainly due to difficulty of transportation because of road situation and staff shortage.”