[ARRL-OK] Hams help in Tsunami disaster

[Eddie Manley]

Our Thanks to Larry for sending this to me ... Eddie - K5EMS
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Eddie, I got this from a friend whose brother is a ham and he sent it to her.  Thought you might like to distribute it around the net.
Larry Brewer/K5VVD
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Subject: Hams help in Tsunami disaster

THE HINDU India's National Newspaper Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

VU4RBI AND VU4NRO TO THE RESCUE
Hams lend a helping hand Amateur ham radio enthusiasts are playing an unusual but important role in tsunami relief work, reports SHONALI MUTHALALY.
When four amateur radio operators headed to the Andaman and Nicobar islands a few weeks ago, armed with only basic equipment, backpacks and sun blocks, they had no idea that their fun hobby would soon become the islands' only lifeline.  "They went because it's a `high value' country for hams (amateur radio operators) since you need special permission from the Government to operate there," says Gopal Madhavan, an avid ham and one of the members of the governing council of the Amateur Radio Society of India. "The last time a ham operated in the Andamans was about 25 years ago."
The team, which came from across India, left Chennai on December 3 on their `DXpedition' (basically ham slang for an expedition to any foreign country). "They met here for a cup of tea before they left... There was a great amount of enthusiasm," says Gopal, carefully tuning his buzzing radio, alive with their voices crackling all the way from the islands. "They went to Port Blair, set up the equipment - all DXpeditions carry radios and dismantled antennas, which can be set up later with guy ropes - and contacted about 35,000 hams across the world."  Then, the earthquake began, followed by tidal waves, which swept over the small islands.  "They were actually in operation when the tremors began. Bharthi, the team leader, was talking to an Australian on the radio. He says her voice suddenly rose by a few octaves and she yelled tremor'.
Then, her radio went dead."  The islands were devastated by the quake and crashing waves. Phones died, the electricity went out and life in Andaman and Nicobar came to a stunned halt. On the airwaves too, there was a loud silence, as hams across the world held their breath, wondering whether the team had survived.  However, about two hours later, unbelievably, they were back on the air. "Every other form of communication was down. They were the only link from the Andamans to the mainland for several hours after the disaster," says Gopal, adding that the tsunamis had engulfed the island, paralysing all machinery and communication systems. The ham radio however, which was operating from a tower, was in working order, although the team did have to scavenge for batteries to get it operating again since it had been running on electricity.  In the tradition of hams, the team stayed on to help, the DXpedition was converted into an emergency
network and hams from across the world, especially India, swung into action.  Two more people headed to the islands to support the emergency network, and with help from the Indian Army, which is providing the hams with food, camping and batteries, the station on Port Blair continues to operate,  while another station has been set up at Car Nicobar, which has been
practically obliterated by the catastrophe.

From:
Larry Brewer k5vvd at arrl.net

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Eddie K5EMS 73
Asst Section Manager