HAMNET Haiti Call Out

HAMNET is a voluntary group of South African radio amateurs who make their unique communication skills available to assist and help others in distress during and after disasters.
HAMNET is represented on the sub-committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation. Hamnet is also affiliated to IRESC.

With the South African contingent on Haiti, helping with the search for survivors and retrieving bodies from the rubble, the thought crossed my mind that there may be a call for assistance, especially from a radio communication point of view.

The reason why we considered this and having read the IRESC report on the activities on the Island, radio communication from the Island was pretty sparse.

We learnt afterwards that “Rescue South Africa” consisted mainly of people involved in post disaster assistance and retrieval of dead and injured people. The involvement of ORRU, was to assist that team with radio communication. They have worked together before and had the experience.

H.F. communication was taken with and was used by Bruce ZR6BDH, who is not just a Hamnet member, but also the liaison officer between ORRU and Hamnet. Their main objective was to assist with radio communications on the ground!

At this stage, the United Nations was fast getting their act together! Should it become necessary to assist with radio communication, we sent out a call for possible volunteers to assist in Haiti. At that point the necessity of such a team was purely a preparedness exercise.

The response was excellent and we wish to thank the following people for responding to the call:-

ZS2SJE – Serge
ZR6TDI - Trudi
ZS3OBE – Carel
ZS1MJJ - Matt
ZS1KOE – Willie
ZS1ZL - Deon
ZR6DAN – Devan
ZS6JFS - Strauss

We also had a very positive commitment from the Gauteng South Team who also volunteered their mobile unit to be flown out should the request come for assistance.

In the end, it was not necessary for yet another contingent to be flown out as congestion at the airport made it almost impossible for landing and take-off of aircraft.

However, it is good to note the willingness and enthusiasm among Hamnet members to not only meet such a challenge but also to assist and work with the Off Road Rescue Unit.

Francois Botha – ZS6BUU

Listen to this report from Hamnet's Bruce Hepburn ZR6BDH who has just returned from Haiti as part of the SA Rescue Team
http://www.amateurradio.org.za/ZR6BDH.mp3

Hamnet website
The South African Radio League