SB QST @ ARL $ARLB006
ARLB006 Hams aid Japan relief
 
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ARRL Bulletin 6  ARLB006
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 24, 1995
To all radio amateurs 
 
SB QST ARL ARLB006
ARLB006 Hams aid Japan relief
 
Hams aid Japan relief
 
More than 200 amateurs are providing communication in the Kobe,
Japan area following an earthquake on January 16 that killed more
than 5000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
 
Amateur Radio is being used to connect relief centers and to
exchange information on road conditions and traffic; the health,
welfare, and whereabouts of residents; and the availability of water
and food, according to the Japan Amateur Radio League.
 
The JARL and the Japan Amateur Radio Equipment Industry Association
(JAIA) are conducting the effort, at the request of the Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications.  200 hand-held transceivers for 430
and 1260 MHz, as well as three repeater stations, were supplied by
JAIA member companies for the operation.  Each portable station has
been assigned a special call sign -- 8J3AAA, 8J3AAB and so on.
 
JA3YRL in Kobe serves as communication coordinator, while JA3RL, at
the JARL's Osaka office, monitors the activity.
 
400 of the 600 relief centers (with a total of 240,000 evacuees) are
not being served by this communication system, and the JARL is
considering equipping at least half of them with amateur stations.
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