RIMPAC 2024: The Role of Amateur Radio in Supporting Hawaii Healthcare Groups with Emergency Communications
In the world’s largest international military maritime exercise, 26 Amateur Radio operators from Hawaii volunteered, showcasing the indispensable value of Amateur Radio in emergency preparedness and response. The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 brings together 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and over 25,000 personnel.
In this year's May Semi-Annual Drill, titled "Carrington Event," our team at EmComm Training Organization faced significant real-world challenges that tested the adaptability of our Amateur Radio Operators and communication technologies. Originally designed to assess the impact of geomagnetic storms on high-frequency radio communications, the scenario quickly reflected actual solar activities that globally disrupted communications.
HAMS can now contribute to a more robust delivery mechanism for critical seismic intensity reports after major earthquakes through the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Did You Feel It? (DYFI) system.