Ham: WICEN involvement in flooding

The great flood disaster in the Australian state of Queensland continues, but as it begins its big clean-up and recovery phase, a picture of emergency communications provided by radio amateurs is starting to emerge.

Initial reports from Ewan McLeod VK4ERM, the WIA National WICEN Coordinator, are that HF links were requested by Queensland's Water Police from Brisbane to Cairns.

Other WICEN help was given to the Townsville and Rockhampton regions pending repair of Telstra of its fibre optic cables to north. 

Widespread power and communication disruption will take a number of days work by repair crews. 

No more is immediately known about WICEN and its emergency role, but this should be learnt in coming days.

At least six people have died in Queensland. Others are missing.

Many thousands are homeless and sheltering in relief centres, while some towns remain inundated and isolated. 

The weather system, ex-tropical cyclone Oswald that caused record flooding in many areas, has moved south to affect many parts of New South Wales.

Jim Linton VK3PC,

Chairman IARU Regon 3 Disaster Communications Committee (Via Southgate Amateur Radio News)