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Storm disaster hits Southern Philippines
Date :
29 /
12 /
2011
Author :
Jim Linton - VK3PC
The death toll has reached 1,250 in the storms that swept the Southern Philippines on December 16 to 18 with many more still missing. Eddie Valdez DU1EV reports that Typhoon Sendong triggered massive flooding and has greatly affected the DU9 call district. He advises that prior to the Typhoon, the Ham Emergency Radio Operators (HEROs) activated the emergency frequencies on 40m and 2m. "The HEROs were assisting the local government units by providing communications until regular power could be restored," said Eddie DU1EZ.
"The local reservoir in Cagayan de Oro was damaged and drinking water was scarce. Not to worry, HEROs used their emergency back-up power at their home station to draw water from their deep wells and selflessly distributed drinking water for free." It was the training and preparedness that made all the difference for the HEROs who met their tasks as only radio amateurs can is such dire circumstances. Many were sleeping as the Typhoon caused rivers to burst their banks, leading to landslides and villages washed away.
Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3, Disaster Communication Committee
with PARA Chief Operations Officer, Eddie Valdez DU1EV.
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