Israel Amateur Radio Club Hams in emergency



Radio amateurs in Israel participate in communication networks during times of crisis or emergency. Israeli hams participated in activities where only they could set up an active network in short times and thus proven their professional knowledge and technical abilities, and acted as a valuable asset for the community.

Among activities of helping the community at times of need, we can count:

• Maintaining permanent contact with Israeli embassies in Mexico after the earthquake.
• Membership in the support parties to Armenia and Turkey.
• Hams which are members in the national rescue units.
• Communication between our troops during the 1st Lebanon war and their families back home.
• Etc.

Radio amateurs in Israel are active partners in passing vital information to parties such as Home Front Command, the police, Magen-David Adom (the Israeli Red-Cross body), the national emergency authority, and more.

At the time of the Haiti earthquake, radio amateurs in the world and in Israel have been a channel for transferring vital information, until governments have managed to set up permanent contact array. Critical information was relayed to the office of foreign affairs, and to Magen-David Adom, as little as few minutes following the quake. This information was used during the assembly of the Israeli rescue party that left for the disaster area a few days later.

Currently, IRESC has members in at least 38 countries and it continues to grow. Most members are also affiliated with their respective national organizations; for example, the International Red Cross, the Magen David Adom, the Salvation Army, RAYNET, local ARES and RACES groups, along with many others.

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External links:

1. Emergency nets activities during the Haiti earthquake:
   • http://cbs4.com/national/ham.radio.haiti.2.1427147.html
   • http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2010/iresc_haiti_report.htm
   • http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-ham-radio-operators-100124,0,6014184.story
   • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqaKzIkyBug&feature=player_embedded
   • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuCw0onPZ-0&feature=player_embedded
   • http://hamchatforum.lefora.com/2010/01/18/haiti-ham-radio-in-the-news
2. A link from the International Red-Cross website on radio amateurs in its support:
   • http://redcrossnw.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/amateur-radio-provides-lifeline-during-disaster/
3. Publication at the International Red-Cross - equipment for emergency:
   • http://procurement.ifrc.org/catalogue/overview.aspx?volume=1&groupcode=104&page=introduction
4. Cooperation treaties amongst amateur radio associations and the International Red-Cross, examples from several countries:
   • http://www.reliefweb.int/telecoms/iaru/html_folder/memo_ifrc.html
   • http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-red-cross-sign-memorandum-of-understanding
   • http://www.rac.ca/fieldorg/redcross.htm
5. Additional articles about amateur radio in the world and emergency nets:
   • http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2006/mud_slide.htm
   • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_emergency_communications
   • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z9136_Nhh4&feature=player_embedded
   • http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/104418/Ham_radio_volunteers_help_re_establish_communications_after_Katrina