EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Last month, we mentioned very briefly in our news column that the ARRL had hired South Texas Section Manager Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW, as its first full-time Director of Emergency Management. While emergency communications has been one of the League’s primary missions since its founding in 1914, this appointment marks the next step in a growing commitment to have a cohesive, nationwide, emergency response capability. Let’s take a closer look.

Traditionally, the Amateur of ARES and NTS) and Section Emergency Coordinator. ARRL staff input from Newington was basically advisory and policies varied from section to section, and from Section Manager to Section Manager. While this permitted flexibility in meeting varying local needs, it impeded a coordinated response to large-scale emergencies and disasters. This started to emerge as an issue in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the growing number of natural disasters that cover wide areas and require amateur radio resources from multiple ARRL sections.