[KYHAM] Amateur Radio has a history of helping in a disaster

[NB4K]

Thanks to  KE4KWR for seeing this article and passing it on to me. 


Amateur Radio has a history of helping in a disaster
By Dan Scanlan
HomelandDefenseRadio.com
September 16, 2004


When you hear "ham" radio what probably comes to mind is an old picture of a very old vacuum tube radio sitting on a clunky old desk with a man holding his hand over a teletype key or speaking into a microphone the size of a cantaloupe. Enter Mary Hobart, Chief Development officer for the American Radio Relay League.

"I think many people have heard about amateur radio or"ham" radio as its called and they think of it as old technology.  In fact its cutting edge technology.  We have many inventers and tinkerers who have contributed to electronics education, electronics across the board.  We are now working with the development of software to find radios with digital modes--with, believe it or not, internet delivery of messages for emergency communications by email.  Their really a dedicated group of volunteers who just happen to love radio and everything it can do."

Mary Hobart tells Homeland Security Watch ham operators have a long history of helping first responders when natural disasters occur and they put that expertise to work after the 9/11 attack.

"The ARRL activity after 9-11 is really built on decades of public service by volunteer radio amateurs across the country.  There are close to 700,000 and a core of them were very active in New York City, in Pennsylvania and outside of Washington after the terrorist attacks of 9-11.  It has considerably raised the visibility of amature radio and what it can do for Homeland Security." 

That ham radio operator visibility will be raised even more thanks to a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. A Community Education Project joining ARRL and Citizen Corps will bring home to a dozen communities, nationwide, what it is that amateur radio operators do and just how they impact safety and security during emergencies. 

73


John D. Meyers, NB4K
Kentucky Section Manager
District Emergency Coordinator Area 7
218 Cory Lane
Butler, Kentucky 41006-8995
Home 859-472-6690
Cell 859-512-9598