HAMS HELP STAFF COLOMBIAN RELIEF CALL CENTER
Amateur Radio operators are helping to staff a Miami telephone call center for those seeking to get in touch with family and friends in the earthquake-stricken region of Colombia. A quake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck January 25 in west-central Colombia's mountainous coffee-growing region. The quake killed upwards of 1000 people, injured thousands of others, and wreaked extensive damage.
Many of those staffing the call center are affiliated with the Sociedad Internacional de Radio Aficionados (Society of International Radio Amateurs). SIRA also helped mobilize Amateur Radio assistance in the wake of Hurricane Mitch, which devastated parts of Central America.
David Rosen, K2GM, of the Radio Readiness Group says continued spotty telephone service to the region has kept the call center busy since it started up February 2. Much of the traffic is directed to the city of Armenia, in the state of Quindio. Rosen said the center resulted from an AT&T request to the Radio Readiness Group and SIRA for help in furnishing information about the affected region to callers unable to get through by telephone.
Rosen credits SIRA President Rafael Estevez, WA4ZZG, with the idea of setting up a single location to receive incoming calls. With the assistance of AT&T, BellSouth of Florida, and the Florida Public Service Commission, twelve incoming lines were set up to the Colombian Information Center, available by calling 305-805-5550. Callers on AT&T who can't get through to the affected region in Colombia automatically get a recorded message referring them to the Colombian Information Center number.
SIRA volunteers are being assisted by members of the Kiwanis Club of Colombia, students from the University of Miami, the Colombia Disaster Fund, and the Radio Readiness Group.
Rosen said the center is getting dozens of calls seeking information about family and friends in the stricken communities. Call center volunteers then seek to obtain the requested information using Amateur Radio, the Internet, and other resources, and pass it back to the callers. "We are trying to enlist contact with as many hams in the affected area as possible," Rosen said.
Rosen said Amateur Radio continues to play a role in earthquake relief activities. Disaster-related traffic relayed on 20 and 40 meters has involved many stations in Colombia and the US. Rosen says he has received approval from the FCC on behalf of the US stations involved in the relief effort to operate SSB on frequencies between 7.050 and 7.100 MHz to maintain direct contact with emergency nets operating in that part of the band. "Having the ability to communicate directly with the Colombian nets on their own frequencies is much more efficient than working the HK stations crossband," he said.
Those wishing to assist with the Colombian Information Center are invited to call the Center at 305-805-5550. For more information, contact SIRA, at sira@iscnet.net or Dave Rosen, k2gm@contesting.com.