Subj : Ham Radio Serving Southeast US Recovery Efforts
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Mon Oct 14 2024 10:48 pm

10/04/2024

ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio�[1] is tracking how amateur
radio is proving critical in areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene, especially in
North and South Carolina, portions of Tennessee, and beyond. In the hardest-hit
Asheville, North Carolina, area, homes and entire towns have been swept away by
flood waters and mudslides. Over 200 people have been killed, and many more are
still missing.

Widespread devastation has damaged the power grid and roads, and many residents
are without cell phone service and other utilities. For several days, radio
communications were the only means of passing information. Ham radio continues
to play a significant role in this situation.

In North Carolina, all official emergency radio communications are done through
NC AUXCOMM. NC Division of Emergency Management Senior External Affairs
Specialist Brian Haines says hams are deployed. "Amateur radio operators are
working side by side with first responder communications personnel all over
Western North Carolina. Needless to say, we are interested in highlighting all
they are doing but at this point they are heavily involved in response efforts,
which is where we need to focus," he said.

Winlink, which provides email over amateur radio, has been used significantly
in the recovery. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV,
says the recent FCC removal of symbol rate restrictions has allowed a
streamlined response using modern technology.� "Winlink is an example of how
modern tools work well within the Amateur Radio Service. Not having to petition
the FCC for a waiver of the old rules allowed Winlink to be used immediately
during this emergency," he said. ARRL had advocated for the change, which was
implemented in 2023[2].

Significant stories of the response from individual hams is emerging,
particularly from those who have created pop-up nets to pass health and welfare
traffic. Using mountaintop repeaters that have robust power backups, HF
frequencies, and Winlink, ham radio operators are putting in their time,
talents, and personal gear to good use.

The local news media in affected areas has connected with several radio
amateurs to highlight their work. CBS 17 in Raleigh reported on Van Lee, KM4TC,
who helped families[3] trying to get information on loved ones. In Charlotte,
Queen City News told the story of Dan Gitro, K2DMG, who has been providing
information to hams about current conditions[4] as well as passing along
messages to loved ones.

Countless other hams have stepped up by passing traffic and providing
information. ARRL seeks to tell those stories of selfless service as the
operators find time.

Amateur radio has been serving communities even before the storm hit. The
Hurricane Watch Net, VoIP Hurricane Net, and WX4NHC, the amateur radio station
at the National Hurricane Center, were all active as the storm churned towards
Florida. In the 25 hours that the net was active, hams passed along over 100
surface reports that were used by forecasters to make more informed decisions
about the storm.

Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, on the evening of Thursday,
September 26, as a Category 4 storm. With winds of 140 miles per hour, it was
the strongest hurricane on record to slam into Florida's Big Bend.

In Florida, Amateur Radio Emergency Service� (ARES�)[5] volunteers were
embedded with county officials and at the State Emergency Operations Center.

As the storm moved north, the worst impacts were felt. Officials have
classified the rainfall near Asheville as a 1,000-year event. The impact
started to emerge over the weekend of September 28-29.

ARRL leadership was in touch with field organization volunteers in the impacted
area throughout the weekend. On Monday, a call was held to see what resources
may be needed. A clear challenge of logistics emerged. Entire road networks are
unpassable. General aviation pilots have been working, as they do during major
disasters, to use donated aircraft to ferry in relief supplies. Ham radio
operators have been working with Operation Airdrop and other volunteer groups
to help provide communications support. Dozens of private helicopters have been
flying in supplies, as have military assets.

In Tennessee, hams have rallied to return repeaters impacted by the storm to
service. Section Manager of the ARRL Tennessee Section David Thomas, KM4NYI,
reports that a request for help on the TN ARES net resulted in batteries being
donated and delivered to return the W4KEV repeater system to service, including
the 145.410 machine located on Viking Mountain in Greene County, Tennessee,
which covers much of the area in North Carolina and Tennessee that was
decimated.

As connectivity via phone and data networks continues to return, ARRL expects
more stories of amateur radio serving communities will emerge.�

While commercial communications networks and utilities are increasingly more
resilient, Hurricane Helene has demonstrated that amateur radio is a critical
partner that works When All Else Fails�.

Related Media Coverage:�

Asheville�

https://thecitizen.com/2024/09/29/how-to-stay-in-touch-when-the-grid-goes-down/
[6]��

Charlotte

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ham-radio-operators-help-reunite-loved-ones-a
fter-helene/ar-AA1rBGPg[7]��

https://www.qcnews.com/severe-weather/how-old-tech-is-being-used-to-remotely-he
lp-in-wake-of-helene/[8]��

https://www.wbtv.com/2024/10/01/times-devastation-many-turn-old-school-tech-kee
p-communication-lines-open/[9]��

Raleigh

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article293361644.html[10
]��

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/triangle-families-desperate-to-reach-love
d-ones-missing-after-helene-ham-radio-operators-help-relay-messages/[11]


[1] http://www.arrl.org
[2] https://www.arrl.org/news/bandwidth-limits-replace-symbol-rates-on-the-hf-bands-other-bands-open-for-comment
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk2FLaetmY8
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jXb9zwnO70
[5] http://www.arrl.org/ares
[6] https://thecitizen.com/2024/09/29/how-to-stay-in-touch-when-the-grid-goes-down/
[7] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ham-radio-operators-help-reunite-loved-ones-after-helene/ar-AA1rBGPg
[8] https://www.qcnews.com/severe-weather/how-old-tech-is-being-used-to-remotely-help-in-wake-of-helene/
[9] https://www.wbtv.com/2024/10/01/times-devastation-many-turn-old-school-tech-keep-communication-lines-open/
[10] https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article293361644.html
[11] https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/triangle-families-desperate-to-reach-loved-ones-missing-after-helene-ham-radio-operators-help-relay-messages/

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