RRI: Hurricane Harvey Emergency Communications Guidance

Post date: Aug 25, 2017 11:48:05 PM

25 August 2017

(251930Z AUG 2017)

BULLETIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HURRICANE HARVEY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GUIDANCE

The latest forecasts indicate that Hurricane Harvey could bring unprecedented flooding to Southeast Texas and surrounding areas. With maximum rainfall exceeding 30 inches in some locations, it is quite possible that significant disruptions to both power distribution and telecommunications infrastructure could occur.

Radio Relay International networks are available to support local and statewide operations in the affected areas of the Gulf Coast. In keeping with our standard policy, any net manager or emergency communications program manager may request activation of Radio Relay International networks to support statewide, regional or national communications functions. The primary and secondary points of contact for activation are, respectively:

Steve Phillips (K6JT)

Central Area Coordinator

637 Oakdale Ave.

Plano, TX. 75025

214-208-8900

James Wades (WB8SIW)

National Emergency Communications Coordinator

810 Skyline Dr.

Marion, IL. 62959

269-650-0215

All that is necessary is to get a message to either the primary and secondary contact to arrange support operations. The Radio Relay International Digital Traffic Network (DTN) remains available 24 hours a day for emergency communications support. Likewise, assigned watch frequencies can be assigned for voice or CW operation based on our National Emergency Communications Response Plan.

National SOS Radio Network:

RRI’s National SOS Radio Network may prove of value in this emergency. This program leverages the ubiquitous Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkie as an emergency communications tool during situations in which regular cellular or terrestrial telecommunications services are unavailable.

Radio amateurs are encouraged to monitor FRS channel 1 using a suitable UHF-FM transceiver tuned to 462.5625 mHz for emergency calls from citizens isolated by flood waters or other disaster conditions. A citizen can insert a few fresh AA batteries in an FRS walkie-talkie, tune to channel one, move to the highest possible location and call for assistance. The radio amateur then responds and relays his message to emergency services or, in the case of a disaster welfare message, transfers that message to RRI networks for routing and delivery.

National SOS Radio Network Public Service Announcement (PSA) files are available at our web page for distribution to news media, such as radio and television stations. Simply download the file or provide the link for broadcast purposes. A thirty and sixty second spot are available at:

http://radio-relay.org/emcomm/national-sos-radio-network/

Search and rescue teams, local EMCOMM groups and similar units equipped with Amateur Radio Service communications are encouraged to monitor FRS channel one (462.5625 mHz) to support and relay possible local distress calls.

More information about Radio Relay International and the National SOS Radio Network is available at our web page: www.radio-relay.org

END