Ham Radio Saves the Day Again - Yukon Canada
Last Sunday September 21, 2014, at approx. 21:00hrs PST, VY1MAP (Terry Hauff) called on the local 2 meter repeater -146.880- looking for VY1RF (Ray Fugard).
Terry VY1MAP wanted Ray VY1RF to make a phone call for him as he was not in cell phone range. The situation was that Terry is a member of the local S.A.R. team and they were on an active search for a missing teenager. The command center they had setup was approx 35kms north of Whitehorse YK at Lake Laberge. The satellite phone that they were to use was not functioning so they had no way to call for assistance, additional resources or send status reports.
Thats where, once again, amateur radio comes in. Terry, being a ham, goes out to his vehicle and makes contact with Whitehorse via 2 meter amateur radio with VY1RF and VY1RM (Ron McFadyen). They were able to pass important traffic to/from the command center.
The missing young man was found and all ended well.
This is the second time in as many months that amateur radio and in particular Y.A.R.A.'s members and infrastructure proved invaluable in an emergency situation.
"Whether it's a natural disaster, major weather event, planned community event, missing person search, we (at RAC) receive numerous reports of amateur radio interventions when traditional communication systems fail. Ham radio is most certainly still relevant and provides a crucial communications back-up option, often in challenging/dire situations." - says Vincent Charron VE3XU, Director of Communications RAC.
(Thanks to Mark Bowers VY1MAB for submitting information)
