Radio amateurs celebrate a century of disaster communications

6 February 2013 News

Radio amateurs worldwide will be dedicating this year’s World Amateur Radio Day on 18 April to disaster communication with the theme “Amateur Radio – entering its second century of disaster communications”.

The first record of the use of amateur radio supporting communications during a disaster dates back to 1913 during severe flooding in the USA’s midwest. South African radio amateurs also have a proud record of providing disaster communication, such as during the Westdene Bus disaster, the Laingsburg floods and Demonia, to mention just a few.

More recently, radio amateurs were involved in the search for a missing aircraft in Mozambique, providing communication links back to South Africa from where the search was coordinated. The Amateur Radio Maritime Mobile Network assists yachts with weather reports along the South African coastline and has on many occasions assisted yachts in trouble and has been involved in rescue operations.

“The SARL will be celebrating its first century of disaster communication support by radio amateurs from 2 February leading up the main event on 18 April 2013,” said Rassie Erasmus, President of the SARL (South African Radio League). “The aim of our campaign is to make South Africans more aware of the contribution that radio amateurs are making to the country and us as citizens.”

For more information visit www.sarl.org.za

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