Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Jul 22 2021 19:33:16

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2282, for Friday, July 23, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2282 with a release date of Friday,
July 23, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ham radio at the ready in flooded parts of 
Europe. Radio responds to Cuba's humanitarian crisis - and the FCC OKs an 
experimental station on 40 MHz. All this and more, as Amateur Radio 
Newsline Report Number 2282 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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HAMS AT THE READY AFTER WESTERN EUROPE FLOODING

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Europe where nations in the 
western part of the continent have suffered disastrous flooding. As 
Newsline went to production, amateur radio operators were on alert and 
awaiting word on possible deployment. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us more.

ED: As record rainfall and some of the worst flooding in decades 
devastated an area in the west of Europe, amateur radio operators stood 
by to help. As the death toll rose and the search continued for those 
missing,Germany took the worst hit. Belgium, Luxembourg and the 
Netherlands suffered, with Belgium holding a national day of mourning on 
July 21st. In part of Belgium where water submerged an antenna vital for 
crisis communication, hams stepped up to volunteer in three provinces.

Meanwhile as the European Civil Protection mechanism was activated, the 
Dutch Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the Belgian Amateur Radio 
Emergency Service and the emergency communications unit of the DARC, 
awaited word as to whether additional communications help would be 
needed.

Greg Mossop, G0DUB, emergency communications coordinator in IARU Region 
1, told Newsline in a recent email that Germany's deployment of soldiers 
to assist in relief efforts bolstered the Technisches Hilfswerk, the 
nation's Civil Protection organisation which had thousands of volunteers 
working to remedy the physical damage. 

Greg told Newsline that the situation continued to evolve as bursting 
rivers damaged power and communications networks along with bridges. An 
update on the IARU Region 1 website said [quote] "This emergency will 
last for some time as infrastructure is repaired and the threat from 
damaged dams and more rainfall is reduced." [endquote] Meanwhile, in 
Germany's southeast, water flowing down from the Alps stirred mudslides 
and overflowing rivers, causing yet another disaster area. Casualties 
were reported to be less than those affected in the northwest.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(IARU REGION 1, GREG MOSSOP G0DUB, BBC)

**

INDIAN AMATEURS HELPING WITH DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING

PAUL/ANCHOR: In India, amateurs are helping train additional volunteers 
to respond to their region's disasters. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us 
up to date.

JOHN: A new educational partnership has been formed between civil defence 
officials in coastal West Bengal, India and amateurs in the West Bengal 
Radio Club. Hoping to improve communications and emergency response 
following intense cyclones and other disasters in remote regions, 
officials have asked for training from the Indian Academy of 
Communication, the ham club's educational wing. Going online with the 
Google Meet platform, hams will train a total of more than 90 civil 
defence volunteers. Posupoti Mondal, VU3ODQ, will lead the instruction 
under the guidance of the academy's secretary Rinku Nag Biswas, VU2JFB.

Officials decided that ham radio training is essential for civil defence 
volunteers after previous efforts by the West Bengal Club proved 
invaluable in earlier disasters.

West Bengal club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, said eventually 
there will be more than 90 students.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA, MILLENNIUM POST)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

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