Convoy of Hope recently embarked on a campaign to network with ham radio operators as a way to improve response to crises.
Because many commercial means of communication are unavailable during a natural disaster, several staff members and volunteers obtained a first-level technician class amateur radio license, which allows for local area transmission. The Federal Communications Commission has authorized the organization to form a national ham radio club called the Convoy of Hope Amateur Radio Response Service (CARRS).
Through CARRS, volunteer ham operators in the vicinity of a disaster will be able to relay initial damage assessment information to help Convoy better use resources as well as speed up response time.
