TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.30 DATE: July 26, 2009
SUBJECT: AMATEURS AND THE RED CROSS
Why does the Red Cross need to use Amateur Radio communications operators during emergencies or disasters, when they have their own radio system?
Most of the vehicles in Red Cross fleet are equipped with a Low Band radio operating on 47.42 MHz. They have some portable base stations they can set up when they are at a large event and need to talk to their vehicles.
If the event is large enough, the Red Cross may have to set up several evacuation shelters which may, or may not have telephone service, and Cellular Telephone service may not be available.
The radios in the Red Cross vehicles can't be taken out, and there is very few, if any, Hand Held or Portable radios at their disposal. That's where Amateur Radio comes into play.
Communications may be needed to coordinate the activation of shelters for displaced people, keeping track of food and clothing. Without landline telephone or cellular telephone service these jobs would be hard or impossible without the use of Amateur Radio.
Don't forget The Red Cross Officials need to coordinate their volunteers, supplies, and feeding. There's also the transporting of supplies, and coordinating safe routes between shelters and other locations, none of which can be done if there's no telephone service.
The Red Cross also needs to communicate with other agencies such as Air National Guard, Department of Transportation, Fire Departments, Police, State Office of Emergency services, damage evaluators and Hospitals.
As you can see, in a disaster, Amateur Radio can play an very important role with the Red Cross and other organizations which might not have their own communications.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator