Emergency Communications

Montreal Amateur Radio Club Emergency Co-ordinator James R. Hay, VE2VE (514)-697-7205

Montreal Amateur Radio Club Assistant Emergency Co-ordinator Vernon Erle Ikeda, VE2MBS (514)-684-7944

Amateur Radio has built up a tradition of public service.    An important way by which amateur radio operators can serve their community is to provide communications during emergencies.

The club supports this tradition and encourages its members to help out whereever possible.    To this end we assist the Covey Hill Amateur Radio Club with the Emergex series of exercises which are designed to help operators develop their ability to pass messages during an emergency.    We are also working with the West Island Amateur Radio Club in areas of mutual interest concerning emergency communications.

During the Ice Storm of 1998 the club was one of many asked to help with communications.  ;  We were asked to provide operators for a station at the Red Cross Quebec Division office on Nun's Island in Verdun.    Since then the Club has been asked by RAQI and the Reseau d'Urgence to be responsible for the operation of this station.

In addition to the Ice Storm,  the Montreal Amateur Radio Club also assisted in providing operators on the evening of December 31, 1999 on behalf of the Red Cross.

With the move of the VE2BG repeater the club has agreed to assist the City of Pointe Claire with communications should the occasion arise.

Little did we expect that on August 15, 1999 the City would hold an emergency exercise and Amateur Radio would be involved.    The scenario was that of a tanker loaded with 23,000 litres of liquid oxygen hits a Hydro transformer beside the Lakeshore General Hospital.    The first call to the fire department was at 07h00 and by 07h20 the emergency measures plan was put into effect.    The Club received a call at 08h04 to set up three stations;  one at the scene,  one at John Rennie High School which was the evacuation centre and one at City Hall.

Within 30 minutes of the call all three stations were in operation and within 45 minutes of the call each station was staffed with two operators and several more operators were standing by should their services be required.

As time marches forward we expect to become involved in the emergency communications plans of several west-end municipalities.

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