RESCUE RADIO: FEMA AND ARRL ANNOUNCE NEW COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
The ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have announced a new Memorandum of Agreement. One that is destined to enhance cooperation between the League and FEMA in the area of disaster communication.
Calling radio one of the most resilient communications technologies we have, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, penned his name to a Memorandum of Agreement with the American Radio Relay League. This to further mutual cooperation in times of disaster and preparing for such emergencies.
The new agreement will allow FEMA and the ARRL to work together to provide resources, services and personnel to fortify the relief agency’s capacity in certain areas. These include emergency communications, disaster preparedness along with response and recovery assistance. It will also task the two with jointly raising public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety resource.
The agreement also outlines the ways in which the two organizations will cooperate to carry out their individual responsibilities with respect to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery operations. This, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
The signing ceremony took place on July 18th at the ARRL’s Centenary Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, with League President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signing the document for the League. This agreement takes the United States Amateur Radio service yet another step forward in becoming a vital communications resource when disaster strikes and especially in those instances when all other means of communications fail.
And to quote FEMA Administrator Fugate: Amateur Radio is taking that hobby and turning it into saving lives.