ARLA/CLUSTER: Radioamadores preparados para responder a emergências no Alasca

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Radio hams ready to respond in Alaska

TV broadcaster KTUU reports a hobby that helped save Alaskans during the
1964 earthquake is still keeping communications online when natural
disasters shut them down

Ham amateur radio operators function as first responders relaying crucial
information to emergency management officials in disaster situations.

Channel 2 talked with a man who has spent nearly his entire life with a
radio in his hand. He talked about his passion for ham amateur radio, and
why it's so important to keep the amateur radio emergency capability alive.

*Don Bush KL7JFT* is the district emergency coordinator for the Ham Amateur
Radio Group in the Mat-Su Borough. For him, Ham is more than a hobby, it's
part of who he is.

"It all goes back to where a lot of this started was the '64 earthquake,�
Bush said. “I was in high school at that time. That's when I got involved."

When the 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Prince William Sound, communities
hundreds of miles apart were left without power or communications. Radio
was the only technology capable of relaying information, and ham operators
were quick to provide the outside world with the extent of the damage so
emergency responders could develop a plan.

"The critical link in any major disaster is the flow of information,� Bush
said as he talked about the ’64 earthquake. “Getting the status of a
particular area that's in trouble back to the people that can help."

During emergency situations, Bush pools all amateur radio operators in the
area onto one radio frequency, called a 'net.'

"We all meet there and say, 'Okay, what's the situation in Knik, what's the
situation in Palmer?' And I start collecting this information in," Bush
said.

Once the Hams determine the severity of the emergency, Bush relays that
information to people who can help.

Ham amateur radio might be a hobby, but it's also a crucial lifeline for
emergency management officials in disaster situations.

Watch the TV news report at
https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Ham-amateur-radio-operators-ready-to-respond-in-Alaska-497299581.html
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