Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Who to call  (Read 339 times)

AF6D

  • Member
  • Posts: 530
    • AF6D
Who to call
« on: January 13, 2023, 04:25:41 AM »

I am curious about what I should have done. I was working I believe it was 40 m during the daytime right after South America had experienced an extremely powerful earthquake. I answered the call of a priest in a small village that needed help. I ascertained the number of injured and the basic info. Before we could go any further the band shifted and the priest disappeared completely. I don't know if they'd experienced an aftershock. I didn't get to do anything more.

But it dawns on me these years later that I didn't know who to call with the information. As I recall it occurred in 2013 or so in Chile and was a magnitude 7.8ish. As I stated this was a small village that had relatively nothing and it had experienced major damage. The priest was the only one that had communications outside and that was me. Who would I relay the information to? The American Red Cross? The State Department? Hopefully the answer that comes back will be useful to many of us that work HF. I've actually worked quite a few emergencies but nothing like this.
Logged

N1IG

  • Posts: 102
    • HomeURL
Re: Who to call
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2023, 08:09:33 AM »

I think your idea of the ARC and State Dept are a good place to start.  Maybe also to the Chilean Embassy in DC?
Logged

KA4WJA

  • Posts: 1601
    • HomeURL
Re: Who to call
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2023, 01:49:18 PM »

AF6D (Robert),
Came across your query here sorta by accident....clicked on the wrong page....was going to click on "Elmers"....
But, by good luck, I actually have the answers for you.  :)

1)  If you speak Spanish (fluently), you should contact the Chilean National MCC  (Mission Coordination Center) directly, their telephone is manned 24/7:

Tel: +56 2 253 05941

chmcc@fach.cl
Fax:  +56 2 253 05972

In case of National Emergency, it very possible they / their phones would be over whelmed, so trying the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) might get you through better...

Chilean National MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Center) telephone manned 24/7:
Tel: +56 3 222 08637
mrccchile@directemar.cl


Also, their Maritime Authority Emergency Telephone Contact (24/7):
+56 3 222 08638 and +56 3 222 08639

And, their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) registration and information office:
+56 3 222 08694 and +56 3 222 08648

Of course, there is also the Civilian Aeronautical Authority Office / Emergency Telephone Contact:
+56 2 297 64042 and +56 2 243 92000

{if you had the region/county of the village or its approx. Lat/Lon, you could contact the regional MRCC that covers that area....there are 6 in Chile....but best to contact the National MCC, and if no joy there, try the National MRCC, but if no joy there, then try these other numbers, where you'll notice they are consecutive from the main number, so why the switchboard maybe jammed, perhaps someone will answer these?}


2)  But, if you do not speak Spanish, (and/or the priest is a US citizen) then contacting US authorities would be helpful...
And, while I've known some wonderful dedicated employees of USAID and I'm sure there are folks at the State Dept. that are good, I also know the layers of bureaucracy in D.C. could (at best) seriously delay your information....(and, at worst, it could get lost among the shuffle of passing the info from office to office?)

So, the first contact for you, could be the US Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center (USCG RCC) - Pacific.
Their 24/7 contact number is 510-437-3701
  or 510-437-3700

rccalameda1@uscg.mil

Of course, the USCG themselves aren't going to fly down there to rescue the priest directly....although, if the priest was a US citizen the USCG would work with the US Air Force (and US Navy), under direction of the US MCC, to arrange/coordinate his rescue (and probably actually go and rescue him, directly....once coordinated through the State Dept.)....But...

But, the USCG RCC will be able to easily / quickly contact the MCC in Chile and/or the proscribed regional Chilean RCC, to get them the info...as well as possibly offer assistance in coordination (although that "assistance" would need to be cleared via State Dept).

Or, you could try the US National Mission Coordination Center (run my NOAA), at 301 457-5678


{BTW, if this event was in say Brazil, etc., on the Atlantic, you'd try to contact USCG RCC on the east coast....the USCG RCC- Atlantic at 757-398-6231 or  757-398-6390}



3)  My comments about whether the priest is a US citizen are NOT in any way meant to imply I (or anyone) think less of him if he is not, nor do I think his life would be any less critical to save...no, not at all!  It's just that the US Gov't will go a LONG ways to help US citizens in foreign countries, or on the high-seas, etc., and while this may seem crass or selfish, it is a fact of the US Gov't....but/and...

AND....

And, also my personal observations are, all the men and women serving in the USCG are some of the most selfless, dedicated, and generous folks you will ever meet!  They risk their lives everyday to save sailors, etc. from all over the world, without thought nor hesitation....

So, calling the USCG first is always a good idea!
  :)


BTW, I had all the USCG numbers stored in my phone....but, I did need to pull up a pdf in my docs files, to get the Chilean numbers, and they are from 2018, and I assume they are still good, but before my next sail off shore, I will check 'em....they are all public information.

I hope this helps?

73,
John,  KA4WJA
Logged

N5CM

  • Member
  • Posts: 895
Re: Who to call
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2023, 04:28:30 AM »

If you were in communication with a priest, you could contact a church affiliated with his faith in your area.  Leadership of the local church could communicate up its chain of command to get the word out to church and government officials.

My denomination has a significant number of international missionaries and infrastructure to support them.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2023, 04:32:04 AM by N5CM »
Logged

KA4WJA

  • Posts: 1601
    • HomeURL
Re: Who to call
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2023, 06:44:48 PM »

Tm,
While your idea does sound good, and if this wasn't an emergent situation, etc. (earthquake, many injuries, small village, assume rural area), then I'd agree that going through normal contact channels would be fine....but, in my opinion, in this situation that may add significant delay in contacting the appropriate authorities.

Also, since the AF6D isn't clear on the details here, it's possible this is more of a "what if" type of question?

Remember, that in 2013 we were approaching the peak of solar cycle 24 (we had solar fluxes of 125 - 150 that year), and S. California to Chile is 5500 - 6500 mile path, on 40m daytime?  With that high solar flux, D-layer absorption on 40m would be quite high, so this path on 40m daytime seem unlikely (although anything is possible and signals could have disappeared quickly) and since 40m daytime comms (especially during high solar activity) are generally just a few hundred miles, I suspect that the priest was looking for someone local (in Chile) for assistance, and I assume he did find them.

So, I stand by the contact info I posted....and, again these numbers are all public domain, and I confirmed today they can be easily found with a quick Google search.
:)

73,

John,  KA4WJA
Logged

AF6D

  • Member
  • Posts: 530
    • AF6D
Re: Who to call
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2023, 05:31:46 AM »

Also, since the AF6D isn't clear on the details here, it's possible this is more of a "what if" type of question?

Remember, that in 2013 we were approaching the peak of solar cycle 24 (we had solar fluxes of 125 - 150 that year), and S. California to Chile is 5500 - 6500 mile path, on 40m daytime?  With that high solar flux, D-layer absorption on 40m would be quite high, so this path on 40m daytime seem unlikely (although anything is possible and signals could have disappeared quickly) and since 40m daytime comms (especially during high solar activity) are generally just a few hundred miles, I suspect that the priest was looking for someone local (in Chile) for assistance, and I assume he did find them.

You shouldn't make assumptions. It's also inappropriate to try and make somebody look like an idiot when you reply in an attempt to make yourself look better. This event occurred on Jan. 30, 2013 at 1715 CLDT Santiago which would have been 1215 PT. The quick measured a 6.8. I did not need a book on how to contact Chilean authorities. It WAS a what if question. I believe that was pretty well clear since this is 2023. The assumption as to whether or not the band conditions would have been sufficient for communications to take place was unnecessary on your part especially since I stated in my original message that the band conditions changed quickly and truncated our conversation to the extent that I really had no usable information at that time to pass on to authorities anyway. So yes, my question lacked information. It was a general question as to where to start who calling when working an international emergency on HF. It could be very well the same for a maritime emergency which I have worked and spoke with the Coast Guard. You made the assumption that I don't know anything when the truth of the matter is that I've been in law enforcement since 1976 and have handled too many real world emergencies to count. After leaving law enforcement I was also a volunteer firefighter. I could wallpaper by operating position with FEMA certificates. I'm a certified Nationwide FEMA responder as well. Like you, I own and operate several repeaters at high altitude locations above Southern California. I am not a technical neophyte. As an amateur radio operator working ECS/ARES, I also have plenty of experience working local emergencies on VHF or UHF. The only variable here was HF and who to contact. Long range communications. I have worked HF too. One was a maritime rescue and the other was this earthquake in 2013 which measured a 6.8. Look it up. It was a priest in a small village and he spoke fluent English with no accent leading me to believe he was american. That point that you raised was worthless. Another assumption on your part that is that I don't speak any Spanish which hampered my communications. You don't know that. You pulled this on me last time when I posted technical questions on choosing an amplifier and you wrote me an extremely long book whittling it down to the fact that you thought I was just one of those CBer mentalities looking for power, Scotty power! I can't give her any more Captain! Gee, what was the best amplifier I should buy? That wasn't my question then at all. But that's what you turned it into. Just another amateur amateur radio operator wanting to know what the best to buy is. Knock off your assumptions because all they do in the long run is embarrass you. Well maybe not since you're so well entrenched here everybody bows before you. I'm not one of them. You and your I know everything snobbish mentality and I will teach everything to these young amateur radio operators whether they like it or not doesn't need to be here. I was first licensed in 1976 and I didn't get my extra class ticket out of a box of Cracker Jacks. I earned it complete with code. I took some time off for military service and when I got out I was right back to my original life except I added learning how to fly as well. Next time you want to take me on do it directly to me and not expressing it as assumptions to another reader.
Logged

KA4WJA

  • Posts: 1601
    • HomeURL
Re: Who to call
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2023, 09:23:28 AM »

AF6D, Robert,
I am sorry that I have offended you.  It was not my intention at all. 
And, to show my sincerity I will not engage in "arguing" a point, etc.....but rather offer you my apology (and brief explanation).

I came upon your query by accident, and addressed you politely by name....stating this right up front:

AF6D (Robert),
Came across your query here sorta by accident....clicked on the wrong page....was going to click on "Elmers"....
But, by good luck, I actually have the answers for you.  :)

I even used a nice smiley face to show my friendly helpful attitude!

I thought it was cool that not only did I happen upon your query by accident, but it as a nice coincidence that I not only had some of the phone numbers in my phone that hams could use, I also knew where to look for the other contact numbers?  Perhaps, you do not see how "cool" this was?  But, this couldn't be the impetus of an issue here, as this is a very minor thing.  So, I think I see the issue is my misunderstanding of something and running full-speed-ahead.  And, in addition to being sorry for offending you, I also regret my all too literal reading of your questions and my "full-speed-ahead" approach here, to you.  :(   


The real nuts-n-bolts here is that I interpreted your questions too literally....I thought you were asking for this info in order to help other hams ---- to be posted here so that anyone else facing this situation may be able to better pass on this critical, life-saving information.  And, since the number two issue in the initial stage of international relief/rescue coordination is language (number one being actual hard communications / information of the incident), and with my Spanish being very poor (High School Spanish Class was a long time ago!), I thought it best to highlight the language issues.

I am curious about what I should have done.
I was working I believe it was 40 m during the daytime right after South America had experienced an extremely powerful earthquake. I answered the call of a priest in a small village that needed help. I ascertained the number of injured and the basic info. Before we could go any further the band shifted and the priest disappeared completely. I don't know if they'd experienced an aftershock. I didn't get to do anything more.

But it dawns on me these years later that I didn't know who to call with the information.
As I recall it occurred in 2013 or so in Chile and was a magnitude 7.8ish. As I stated this was a small village that had relatively nothing and it had experienced major damage. The priest was the only one that had communications outside and that was me.
Who would I relay the information to? The American Red Cross? The State Department? Hopefully the answer that comes back will be useful to many of us that work HF. I've actually worked quite a few emergencies but nothing like this.

So, again, I do apologize for offending you.

And, if you wish to see recent (today / this week) examples of my long-winded answers to questions here on eham, and the gratitude of those asking the questions, please have a look here....it might just show you that I am sincere in my intention to help my fellow hams and am not interested in showing off.

Topic: "Random Questions"

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,138052.msg1283785.html#msg1283785

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,138052.msg1283821.html#msg1283821


Topic: "Buried in Noise"

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,137960.msg1282663.html#msg1282663

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,137960.msg1282816.html#msg1282816

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,137960.msg1282937.html#msg1282937


And, even when I get something wrong / misunderstand something....and find another ham has given a better answer, I say so!
Such as right here:

Topic: "2x Radios, in tx how does one not kill the other?"

https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,138029.msg1283408.html#msg1283408


73,
John,  KA4WJA
« Last Edit: January 17, 2023, 09:37:49 AM by KA4WJA »
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up