Subj : Newsline Part 2
To : ALL
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Jun 30 2016 07:59 pm
HAMS ON STANDBY IN WEST VIRGINIA FLOODS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in flood-ravaged West Virginia, hams awaited word
of an emergency activation, but at press time, there was still no need.
We hear from Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW.
JIM: Severe storms on June 23 caused unprecedented flooding in West
Virginia, resulting in 24 deaths with homes, businesses - entire towns -
being destroyed. Gov. Earl Ray Tomlin declared a state of emergency in
44 of West Virginia's 55 counties. The President made a federal disaster
declaration in eight West Virginia counties. Amateur radio operators have
been ready and willing to assist, but so far communications channels
remain open. ARRL West Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Jim
Stephenson WV8JS explains:
JIM STEPHENSON: Even with the amazing amount of flooding that has
happened in the state, the wired telephone systems and the cellphone
systems have remained mostly operational; even in these areas where the
severe flooding was. So, we have had, and still have no communications
emergency in WV, and for that reason, the ARES/RACES groups within the
state have not been activated, or called out to do anything with
emergency communications.
JIM DAMRON: Earlier this week, WV8JS and Kanawha County ARRL Emergency
Coordinator Jason Means W8KTM helped install an HF and VHF amateur radio
station in the National Guard Charleston headquarters...to be ready to
provide any emergency communications which may be needed in coming days.
JIM STEPHENSON: They want a failsafe system, and of course, we all know
that the only failsafe system that we know about is amateur radio.
JIM DAMRON: The National Guard has hundreds of its members deployed
throughout the flood-stricken areas, providing flood relief and
communications. I also talked with Phil Groves N8SFO, ARRL WV Section
Manager, who has been on the front lines.
PHIL GROVES: Some of the local ARES groups, we had them on standby for
any help needed, and some of us delivered food, and some other
essentials; stuff like that to help out. Just hope that people will
reach out any way they can, and help out any way they can. We need to
help our neighbor.
JIM DAMRON: Phil also advised me that as far as he knows, no Field Day
activities were canceled in WV due to the flooding. In fact, here in
flood-ravaged Kanawha County, the Kanawha Amateur Radio Club was able
to proceed with their planned Field Day.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, reporting from
Charleston, West Virginia.
**
CYPRUS HAMS RESPOND TO ALL-CONSUMING FIRES
PAUL/ANCHOR: We should note that the wildfire crisis and amateur response
hasn't just been limited this season to the American west. The
Mediterranean island of Cyprus recently had one of its most dramatic
struggles in a long time. Amateur Radio Newsline's John Williams, VK4JJW,
has those details.
JOHN: The largest forest fires to ever strike the Solea region on the
Island of Cyprus are finally over, and the Cyprus Amateur Radio Society
has cleared the area's two VHF repeaters for general use again. Cyprus
hams employed both club repeaters as well as APRS, with support also
provided by stations from the capital city of Nicosia. Firefighters
worked on the ground, as well as a team of international aircraft,
battling the blazes in high wind conditions and in soaring temperatures.
The deadly pine forest fires were historic for that region, considered
to be the largest part of the Mediterranean island. The raging fires
also resulted in what is believed to be the first firefighter deaths in
the line of duty in at least a decade, claiming two lives.
With the four-day emergency over, Nestor, 5B4AHZ, president of the Cyprus
Amateur Radio Society, declared the repeaters returned to general use on
the club website on Saturday 25 June.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(WASHINGTON POST, SOUTHGATE, CYPRUS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)
**
POPE IN POLAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: When Pope Francis arrives in Poland toward the end of this
month, it will mark his first visit to that country. He will be there
for World Youth Days, a biannual event created by Pope John Paul II that
draws young Catholics from all corners of the world.
The youth-oriented program isn't the only high profile activity taking
place in Krakow, however: Amateur radio's special event station
H-F-ZERO-F will be on the air in that city, to coincide with the Pope's
visit, and will operate from July 25 to July 31st. QSL cards should be
sent to SP9BRP.
Pope Francis' visit comes 10 years after Pope Benedict's four-day trip
to Poland in May 2006.
(QRZ.COM, SOUTHGATE, POPE2016.COM)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including WA9RDF, the
Mid-State Amateur Radio Club repeater on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.
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