Amateurs 'First of the First Responders,' DHS Official Says:

ARRL now is an official affiliate program of Citizen Corps http://www.citizencorps.gov, an initiative within the Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/ to enhance public preparedness and safety. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, signed the formal Statement of Affiliation between DHS and ARRL during the ARRL 2003 National Convention June 21. Chief Operating Officer of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate (FEMA) Ron Castleman represented Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael D. Brown at the signing. Citizen Corps Liaison to the White House Liz DiGregorio called ham radio operators the "first of the first responders."

"You are there. You are part of that very, very first response when it happens locally," especially in the initial stages of an emergency or disaster, DiGregorio told an overflow audience. She urged amateurs to explore ways to expand their role in the community beyond being the last resort when other communication systems fail. "You need to show your community that you're engaged," she said. "They need to know as a community that ARRL is there."

Castleman said his agency really needs Amateur Radio's help. "Hams have a long and distinguished history of assisting and cooperating with FEMA," he said. He said FEMA wants to continue to work with Amateur Radio operators as partners and expand hams' community safety role. "We also want to help prepare every citizen across our country before disaster strikes," Castleman said.

The League joins the National Safety Council, Points of Light Foundation, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection Association, Save A Life Foundation and The Jaycees as Citizen Corps affiliate programs.

The SoA calls on DHS and ARRL to raise public awareness of Amateur Radio as a safety resource. "That's what you are all about, and we need a safer America," DiGregorio said.

In addition, DHS and ARRL will cooperate in providing training and accreditation for Amateur Radio emergency communications. They also will work together to promote the formation of local Citizen Corps councils and assist them with education, training and volunteer service opportunities "that support first responders, disaster relief organizations and community safety efforts." As an affiliate, ARRL will be linked from the FEMA and Citizen Corps Web sites.

"We need you, and you need us, and we want to work together with you to make this all happen," DiGregorio concluded, "because we all share the same goal, and that goal is a better, stronger, more secure America."

The ARRL National Convention 2003 was held in conjunction with Ham-Com http://www.hamcom.org in Arlington, Texas. FEMA announced the SoA signing on its Web site http://www.fema.gov/nwz03/nwz03_138.shtm.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 26 June 27, 2003

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