In Devastated Dominica, 'Hams' Become Vital Communications Link

A report from NPR,

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...ominica-hams-become-vital-communications-link

"When Hurricane Maria smashed into the tiny island of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean earlier this week, phone service went down, virtually cutting off the island. But within hours, amateur radio operators got on the air and have been providing a vital link to the outside world ever since. ... One of the two cellphone providers on the island has reportedly managed to restore service in some areas, but customers are being asked to use text only to keep from overwhelming the still-fragile network. For the moment, anyway, Dominica's ham radio is more reliable."

Elsewhere I noted that Brian WB6RQN, the ham / aviator who recently circumnavigated the globe (Project Amelia Earhart) has been busy putting that same aircraft to use with hurricane relief, first in TX with Harvey, and now planning to make runs down to J7. See more on the FB page and/or the funding web site he has established.

https://www.facebook.com/AmeliaEarhart80/

https://fundly.com/dominica-airlift-angels-to-eden?ft_pid=dhozbazh

I imagine the situation in KP2 / KP4 is not much better, except for the greater resources of the US government, and am curious as to what the amateur radio response and role has been.

73 de John - WØPV

 

I see now that the ARRL posted their own news item which featured links to the NPR article and other info too, and gives more details about the Caribbean Emergency Weather Network operations.

http://www.arrl.org/news/caribbean-...rk-handling-high-volume-of-post-storm-traffic

The most troubling report though is, "On September 21, the net experienced what (AI6YR) described as deliberate interference."

Glad it's NOT the CQWW SSB contest weekend.

John - WØPV

 

WP3R , Angel, is one of the key ops, in NW PR. He is having generator problems. Because of the DQRM, I will NOT divulge his freq or schedule, other than to say that if and when he is able to operate more, he is expecting to get more H&W traffic out.

Right now the main issue in NW PR is getting gasoline and generators.

There are some substantial ham efforts afoot to send equipment and operators. IF that does not become public in a couple of days, I will post the info here.

We should expect the volunteer effort into PR--BY hams-- will be potentially unprecedented.

Prayers also for the good people of Dominica.

 

Could someone send me the frequency they would be using in the KP4 Puerto Rico & US Virgin IS.
We at the Louisville, KY Red Cross have some Volunteers at both sites. Just please email me the
information at; ray.tillman@redcross.org
thanks.

 

Yes, am sending.

 

Thanks.

 

When he's not heroically flying solo around the world or relief supplies to victims of natural disasters, WB6RQN is keeping up with eQSL'ing! Received mine for a aeronautical mobile QSO during Project Amelia Earhart yesterday,



Thanks Brian and 73 de John - WØPV

PS - If you missed it on the FaceBook link, this is a awesome video by him too,

 

I'm IN, and staged, if they want me.

John, WØPV
-----------

Mon 9/25/2017 6:23 PM

Thank you. Your form for consideration as an American Red Cross
volunteer for deployment in Puerto Rico has been submitted to ARRL.

Please DO NOT expect a response unless you are advanced for additional
consideration for deployment.

73

Mike Corey, KI1U
ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager

 

Same here. Been through it before. In a diaster of this magnitude it will take a few days for the volunteers to even begin to sort through the other volunteers, and to get them cleared and registered. Without any local infrastructure remaining it makes the problem even a lot more difficult.

Ken
K8KJG

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 22:40, National Association for Amateur Radio
<ki1u@arrl.org> wrote:
Thank you. Your form for consideration as an American Red Cross
volunteer for deployment in Puerto Rico has been submitted to ARRL.
Please DO NOT expect a response unless you are advanced for additional
consideration for deployment.
73
Mike Corey, KI1U
ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager

 

Now public....

http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-s-force-of-fifty-answers-the-red-cross-call-in-puerto-rico

 

Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together??

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

 

Angels' generator is dead. I have a new gen right here waiting to be sent--trying to get a slot of stuff on one of the C130's.

An additional effort coordinating with the Arecibo Observatory(personnel) is happening. A little nudge got Arecibo designated as a FEMA emergency center. Science is not the order of the day.

Humanitarian efforts are primary.

 

W1YW, well done. Hope it makes a flight soon.
More info on nets at cewn.org
And a shout out to Kumar, J85K, Saint Vincent who, among others, has been doing a great job on both the friendly net and cewn net.

 

Website cewn.org
Oops, dup