RRI BULLETIN – UPDATE HURRICANE MARIA – CARIBBEAN DISASTER ZONE

Post date: Sep 24, 2017 12:44:12 PM

23 September 2017

(231246Z SEP 2017)

BULLETIN – UPDATE

HURRICANE MARIA – CARIBBEAN DISASTER ZONE

Please distribute to all traffic nets and EMCOMM organizations

As disaster response activities continue within the areas affected by Hurricane Maria, a quantity of outgoing health and welfare message traffic is beginning to emerge from the disaster zone.

It should be noted that the ability to deliver disaster welfare inquiries within the affected areas is extremely limited. The lack of power and local telecommunications, the security situation in some areas and the condition of roads combined with the fact that many individuals are displaced is such that locating specific individuals within the disaster area is very problematic.

As with any disaster, it is best for responding radio operators within the disaster zone to originate outgoing welfare messages. These operators may access any available RRI net or communications circuit to inject this traffic, which will be routed to its destination address for delivery.

Disaster Welfare Inquiries:

On page two of this document, one will find a list of common-denominator voice networks, which may be able to accept disaster welfare inquiries. This list was compiled by Jo Ann Keith (KA5AZK), manager of the 7290 Traffic Network.

Radio Relay International Activation:

RRI networks are operating on schedule and, as always, the RRI Digital Traffic Network operates 24/7/365. These resources remain available for outgoing welfare message traffic. Requests from net managers or EMCOMM coordinators for specialized communications circuits or additional network cycles to support either operational or welfare message traffic should be directed to:

James Wades

Radio Relay International

National Emergency Communications Coordinator

269-650-0215

END