ARDC grant will expand emergency response capabilities in Haiti and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2021-11-25 11:17:11 By : Ms. Ivy Zhuang

The funding of amateur radio digital communications (ARDC) will benefit the amateur radio emergency communications networks in Haiti and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

The $14,864 grant to the Haitian International Friendship Amateur Radio Club (HIFARC) will enable the club to establish a high-frequency radio network to provide emergency communications to remote areas cut off by the August 2021 earthquake. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake indicates an urgent need for better emergency communications. The earthquake completely cut off communications with certain parts of the country, leaving emergency responders unable to obtain information about the extent of the damage and what materials and equipment are needed. The lack of communication skills hinders the responders’ ability to respond to humanitarian crises.

In coordination with the Haitian Radio Club, HIFARC plans to establish a high-frequency emergency communications network. Haiti amateurs have identified six potential sites, and HIFARC plans to provide equipment and personnel to build them. The funds allocated will allow HIFARC to equip each station with a small generator, an HF transceiver, a power supply and a wired antenna.

HIFARC works closely with the Haitian Radio Club to help train new hams and strengthen the emergency communications network there.

USVI’s St. Croix Amateur Radio Club (STXARC) will use its ARDC grant to enhance the repeater infrastructure in the region, enabling it to purchase spare repeaters, increase repeater coverage, and train and equip new amateurs Radio enthusiasts.

In 2017, when two Category 5 hurricanes-Irma and Maria-hit USVI, the hams gathered to help. These two huge storms caused a mess of power grids and communications infrastructure, and 95% of the poles and antenna structures on St. Croix were demolished. The USVI government's primary land mobile radio (LMR) trunking radio system basically did not work, and the Army National Guard could not be heard on any radio frequency for a week after the storm.

The Amateur Radio Club of the Northern Territory began operations, using the skills learned in hundreds of hours of training. The St. Croix ham operator quickly established a daily HF network to support first responders. A surviving ham repeater provided limited communication between the islands. These links provide important information and communications for government and non-government agencies, as well as local emergency managers and law enforcement agencies.

The $27,955 ARDC grant will enable USVI amateurs to strengthen the amateur radio infrastructure and train new operators to improve the ability of amateur radio to respond to future disasters. The funding will allow the Virgin Islands Amateur Radio Group (VIARG)-a group formed after the 2017 hurricane-to purchase spare repeaters, more flexible antennas and training materials that will also expand coverage.

Fred Kleber K9VV/NP2X, ARRL U.S. Virgin Islands Division Manager and VIARG President, commented: "The generous ARDC grant will enable VIARG to improve and strengthen the region’s critical amateur relay system, and the addition of digital communication capabilities marks a new and A new chapter in the future for territorial amateurs."

ARDC funds projects and organizations that follow the tradition of amateur radio practices and technical experiments in amateur radio and digital communications science and technology.  

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