SB QST @ ARL $ARLB096 ARLB096 Amateur Radio provides lifeline in Central America ZCZC AG96 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 96 ARLB096 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT November 5, 1998 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB096 ARLB096 Amateur Radio provides lifeline in Central America Ham radio is playing a major role in rescue and relief efforts in storm-ravaged Central America. Media reports from the US indicate that hams in the Southern US are active in handling health-and-welfare traffic to and from Honduras and Nicaragua, both of which suffered death and destruction at the hands of Hurricane Mitch. Hams in Nicaragua who are still on the air also have been using Amateur Radio to coordinate rescue and relief efforts there. ARRL radio gear that saw service several years ago in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Hugo and in Hawaii after Hurricane Iniki now is on its way to Honduras. ARRL Field Services Manager Rick Palm, K1CE, reports that five 2-meter hand-held transceivers and two 2-meter mobile units have been shipped to Omar Paredes, HR1OP, via his sister, Lidice Paredes, HR1LPS/W4, in Miami. Omar Paredes is affiliated with the Club de Radio Aficionados Central de Honduras in Tegucigalpa. Responding to a request that came through the Hurricane Watch Net, Palm says a 2-meter repeater also will be sent to missionary Kenton Brown, KC8CXW/HR3, for a club in La Ceiba. The repeater will facilitate mainland communication with the islands of Roatan and Guanaja. The equipment, part of the League's disaster communications inventory, will be on its way Friday on a Honduran World Foundation relief flight. The League also has made arrangements with WACOM in Texas to purchase a duplexer at a reduced cost. The duplexer and an antenna for the repeater will be shipped next week. Lidice Paredes, HR1LPS, has been in touch with her brother on a regular 20-meter schedule. ''Every day is worse,'' she said November 5 of the news she's been getting from home via ham radio. ''The city is in complete devastation.'' Lidice Paredes said her brother, a pharmacist, has told her that there is only enough drinking water available for another two or three days. Flooding and mudslides have isolated some residents. Others are still awaiting rescue from trees and rooftops. ''A lot of ham radio operators lost their homes, their equipment,'' she said, but hams like her brother who are still on the air have been attempting to coordinate their disaster response activities. ''It has not been very easy. It's taking a long time,'' she said. As her brother indicates a need, she's been helping from the US to obtain and ship necessary medicine and supplies. Lidice Paredes also has been working with Miami-area TV stations to relay news from the disaster area. Media reports also indicate that the Texas Baptist Men relief group is coordinating its efforts via ham radio in Nicaragua and Honduras. The organization has sent a planeload of supplies to Central America. While the Hurricane Watch Net stood down after Mitch was downgraded to a tropical storm last week, other Amateur Radio nets have continued to be active. The Mexican Hurricane Net was active on 7055 kHz. A Central America Emergency Net also has been active on 7090 kHz. Octavio Miranda, TI2OHL, in Costa Rica reports the only contact is via ham radio, with limited help from some military helicopters. The Salvation Army SATERN Net on HF has been assisting with emergency, logistical, and health-and-welfare traffic. The unofficial death toll is approaching 10,000, and another 13,000 people are still missing. The remnants of Mitch hit the southwest Florida coast November 5 but was reported to be less of a danger this afternoon. NNNN /EX