Tuesday, January 30, 2018

ARRL Humanitarian Award Goes to All Hams in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands


The 4096 licensed amateurs in Puerto Rico and 204 hams in the US Virgin Islands (as of 12/31/17, per AH0A.org) will all share the ARRL's 2018 International Humanitarian Award. According to the ARRL Letter, the League's board of directors made the unusual decision based on the fact that the entire amateur populations of the U.S. territories were "pressed into immediate before and during the devastating storms" of the 2017 hurricane season, and noted that local hams "continue to support relief and recovery efforts even now."

The board also recognized the work of all amateurs involved in hurricane response efforts last year, in Texas and Florida as well as the Caribbean, for their "outstanding work and service."