A Case study by Activehams & Ault Innovations for Cyclone Gaja

Disaster Management & Ham Radio Operators as CRV supported by Technology Systems A STUDY BASED ON Cyclone Gaja 2018 CASESTUDY ID : CS-AARS-2018-08-GAJ Topic : Disaster Management & Ham Radio - Cyclone Gaja By Biju Gopi Thilaka, <VU2HBI> CEO IOTNIK UK LTD, AULT INNOVATION INDIA Pvt Ltd. Founder & VP ACTIVEHAMS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY A CASE STUDY BY ACTIVEHAMS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY AARS-KL IN ASSOCAITION WITH AULT INNOVATIONS INDIA PVT LTD. DURING THE CYCLONE GAJA COMMUNICATION SUPPORT AS TRAINED COMMUNITY RESCUE VOLUNTEER .

Case ID : CS-AARS-2018-08-GAJ Abstract : How AARS-KL managed to handle an Emergency Communication 500 Miles away from our Location,How We managed to Handle and Emergency Radio Communication and be a part of an Inter-State Disaster Mitigation Plan By Government of Tamil Nadu. The first inter state disaster mitigation operation by active Ham amateur radio society as per the request from Cuddalore district collector, and authorities from Chidambaram. We are capable to mobilize our team within planned time. Congrats to the brave heroes of active hams. Amid concerns over Cyclone Gaja, Ham radio communication was set up at the Cuddlore district collectorate. It was set up by Active Hams Amateur Radio Society, which has carried out several rescue efforts, including the Kerala flood rescue mission earlier this year. A group of eight ham radio operators from AARS-KL reached Cuddlore on Thursday to handle emergency communications that might be required during Cyclone Gaja as per request from Cuddalore district authorities.All are well-experienced Community Rescue Volunteers (CRV), having handled critical emergency situations in the past.As usual the AARS-KL local Coordination was done by Nishanth , VU3MOE. How AARS-KL managed to handle an Emergency Communication 500 Miles away from our Location. How We managed to Handle and Emergency Radio Communication and be a part of an Inter-State Disaster Mitigation Plan By Government of Tamil Nadu 2018 November 15th afternoon we have received a mobile message requesting Ham radio backup communication support required for neighbouring state related to Cyclone Gaja, there was couple of mobile contact numbers was in that message. One of the Active

Ham was forwarded this message to the Vice President. after reading this message and VU2HBI analysis the current weather alters and other bulletin of cyclone Gaja. During this time Biju (VU2HBI along with the Secretory of Active Hams Nishanth , had some telephone calls with the given number, One among the number belongs to Thahasildar ( District magistrate ) of Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin, the official name until 2018) is a port city and a municipal corporation and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.The district administration were very happy to hear the support from neighbouring state ham radio operators. There was another parallel discussion was going on in our local communication channel, VU3ROO the Iron man of Active Hams was heading the planing of emergency communication for Gaja with the available hams. VU3CQC Thajudeen was busy with arranging the vehicle to commute to the destination , which is 600 Kilometer away from Active Hams Head Quarters in Kollam District. With in 1 hour we have formed a group of 10 Active Hams, are willing to move to the location. The next 2-3 hour was quite busy by setting up the go-box, emergency kit, select the right tough vehicle to cross unexpected terrain and hard weather. VU2HBI Vice President of AARS was in Hyderabad that time, he was making telephone call to the Thoothukudi , Cuddalore District authorities especially Anmbuselvan, IAS – Collector and District Magistrate Cuddlore to ensure the collect the correct requirement of district authorities. There was another group of senior radio amateurs from Banglore was heading towards Tuticorin. VU2HBI, Biju had couple of phone calls to these groups also. VU3CQC Thaju, Alan , Roy and the Veteran VU2MTU Mathew was ready to move with their go-box and tools, Power-banks, Back-Up power supply. At 14:00 IST the Emergency communication team started their journey from Kollm to Cuddlore. To cover this 600 Kilometre in Night time ,Unknown Indian Road, in many ares the average speed was 40-50 Kilometers only, that was a risky drive, apart from this the Cyclone warning alerts was in radio and TV was going on. But none of this alerts was an issue for our brave teams Whatever problems we have, our courageous people decided to go forward.During the whole journey HBI MOE and other

fellow hams were calling the rescue mission people. after many hours of journey they have reached Cuddlore next morning. By that time the authorities had managed to setup the control room in Collectorate with the help of Bangalore Team. The authorities at Cuddlore had manage the evacuation in a better way and setting up the shelters in safe place. This is the time to setup their stations in Shelters as well as connecting to control room. Cuddlore is coastline are and VHF communication must have some issues. The team has separated and moved to their assigned shelter location and control room. Most of the shelter location was 20-40 Km apart. The First Issue due to Obstacles in Geographical Terrain and in Radio Propagation Due to the different altitude terrain of the affected areas, Control room and the shelters are not suitable for a proper VHF radio propagation. There was no or limited telephone/mobile signals in those areas. VU3ROO Roy, station was really in a VHF gray area. All of the station’s GPS locations was mapped by VU2HBI , Biju and with custom designed software , those systems are really done a great job to map the terrains of all stations as well as the control stations in district headquarters. The Radio propagation path was identified the obstacles in between communication stations, so we can easily find out the right position of antennas for communication. This Technology has helped AARS-KL team to setup an effective communication using Technology. This software platform was developed by Biju , VU2HBI. How CRV training Helped AASR-KL teams to manage critical Situations. A (CRV) Training Program from Fire & Rescue Office to the Active Hams has helped the Active Hams members to manage any medical emergencies along with their Radio Communications Skills.This training was really helped to solve many issues in Cyclone Gaja Operation. Lessons Learned, Solutions and Suggestions from Active Hams Amateur Radio Society and Associated Groups  Establishment of multichannel all mode Communication, Activate alternative communication equipment i.e. satellite phones,HF/VHF sets, Ham radio, VSAT in State EOC and ERCs, DEOCs and Taluk control rooms

 Establish communication links with ERCs and Search & Rescue Teams in all Municipal Corporations and alert them to be in stage of readiness.  Establish communication links with villages likely to be affected as per the contact details available.  On receiving an initial disaster warning, District authorities are provided with satellite phones and a Ham radios to maintain effective communication, even if terrestrial and cellphone communication fails.  Registering the contact details of active ham radio operators details with district authorities , who are ready to volunteer their time and skills during an emergency situation, will help to mobilize the Radio team effectively.  Here we are developing a mobile application will provide the current location of ham radio operators and district authorities can send alert to the operators directly with this application. This was under development under Biju Gopi Thilaka (Call sign : VU2HBI),A ham radio operator and a software expert.  Every Panchayat should have a communication centre equipped with well maintained Ham Radio Equipment,Wireless repeaters, communication antennas & cables. We suggest to every district , panchayat administration must have couple of hand-held, portable communication radio, or Go-box (radio communication devices and power supply packed in a box). Suggestions What we found that even if we have an expert Ham radio Operator who is trained to manage disasters and first aid, there would be no sufficient communication equipment. In all the time ham radio operators use their expensive radio equipment during hard weather conditions.We suggest every district headquarters or panchayat must have a secure room equipped with communication equipment. Due to the restriction and stringent laws are reduced the number of wireless equipment import from abroad.As well as high import tax is an another problem , At least if the authorities will reduce this tax for Amateur radio equipment will help the ham radio community in India.

References, External Links and Media Coverage for Ham Radio Support for Cyclone Gaja Machinery in place to take on Cyclone Gaja in Ramnad 2.All arrangements in place to tackle Cyclone Gaja 3.Kerala Regional News Channel, Kollam (YouTube Link) 4.Ham radio operators tune in (The Hindu News) 5.The Importance of HAM Radio During a Storm 6.Disaster and Emergency Planning for Preparedness

VU3ROO , VU3MOE CRV Training Session at Kollam Fire & VU2MTU Mathew ,VU3CQC Thajudeen and other Team Rescue Office at Cuddalore Tamilnadu (Cyclone Gaja) VU3ROO Roy was very active during Flood (most of the The team work always work, AARS Team with Oddissa active hams were on ground to handle rescue operations - fire & rescue team after the Joint rescue Operation that make us different from other communication groups) during Kerala flood 2018 VU3CQC and all the team were awarded after the Gaja VU3ROO Roy in Mock Drill conducted by Indian Oil Cyclone Support. Cuddalore district collector Handover the Corporation , Parippali Kollam certificates AARS-KL ACTIVITIES IN

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