[mvarbb] ARRL Receives Grant to Help Support "Ham Aid"

[Fred Stone W8LLY]

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From: Misek David W Civ AFRL/SNZW <David.Misek at wpafb.af.mil>
To: Fred Stone W8LLY <w8lly at arrl.net>
Subject: EMCOMM Grant
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 19:32:28 -0400


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Harrison, Rosa" <<mailto:RHarriso at cns.gov>RHarriso at cns.gov >
To: "AmeriCorps Listserv" <<mailto:aclist at lists.etr.org>aclist at lists.etr.org>
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 09:36:46 -0400
Subject: [aclist] Volunteer Ham Radio Operators to Receive Grant to Enhance 
Emergency Communications in Hurricane Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                CONTACT:  SANDY SCOTT
September 2, 2005
202-606-6724, <mailto:sscott at cns.gov>sscott at cns.gov


Volunteer Ham Radio Operators to Receive Grant
To Enhance Emergency Communications in Hurricane Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Corporation for National and Community Service today 
announced a supplemental grant of $100,000 to the American Radio Relay 
League (ARRL) to support volunteer emergency communication operators who 
are helping out in Gulf Coast states affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"With the breakdown of regular communication channels caused by the storm, 
the services provided by volunteer ham radio operators is vitally 
important, both to organizations and to individuals seeking to connect with 
loved ones," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation. "We're pleased to 
be able to provide this extra assistance at this critical time."

The grant will support ARRL's "Ham Aid" program, which was established with 
a grant from the Corporation in 2002 to increase emergency certification 
training for ham radio operators.  Corporation funds may also be used to 
help rebuild the emergency communications capabilities in Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Alabama.

Since the storm hit, amateur radio operators with ARRL have been working 
side by side with volunteers from the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and 
other relief organizations to help coordinate those groups' emergency 
communications activities.  In the run-up to the Katrina's hitting the U.S. 
mainland, volunteer amateur radio operators also worked with the National 
Hurricane Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
monitor the storm and to help prepare the Gulf Coast for its arrival.

Approximately 500 ham operators currently are deployed in the Gulf area, 
and hundreds more are expected to arrive in teams over the next several 
weeks.  Many currently are awaiting permission to enter the disaster areas 
to set up communications systems to transmit and receive messages both for 
relief organizations and for individuals wishing to get messages out to 
concerned families. While in the region, the radio operators will also be 
developing new relationships with local community groups, including 
faith-based organizations, food banks, and shelters.

The Ham Aid program was developed by ARRL, based in Newington, Conn., under 
a 2002 training grant from the Corporation. The three-year grant was one of 
18 Special Volunteer Program Homeland Security Grants awarded by the agency 
in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks to engage volunteers in 
public safety, public health, and disaster preparedness and response 
activities.  Thus far, the grant has enabled ARRL to provide certification 
in emergency communications protocols to more than 5,400 volunteer amateur 
radio operators.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities 
for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and 
country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and 
Serve America. Together with USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working 
to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. 
For more information, visit 
<http://www.nationalservice.gov>http://www.nationalservice.gov.