Storm Boris is affecting many countries in Central Europe, currently including Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Austria. 18 people have sadly lost their lives with several thousand evacuated from their homes. 

As part of the response, Krzysztof SP5E, President of the Polish National Society PZK reports that Polish Radio Amateurs responding to the flooding are likely to use VHF/UHF for the primary response but they are also requesting that 3.760MHz, 7.110MHz, and 14.300MHz may also be used. All radio amateurs are asked to keep these Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies clear if needed for message handling. 

The effects of the flooding are also being felt along the river Danube with Slovakia and Hungary already seeing rising river levels. 

The rivers Danube, Elbe, Vistula and Oder all have catchments region, and river flooding may be seen more widely across parts of Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania over the coming days so again, please listen before transmitting in the area of any of the Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies listed above and avoid causing interference to any response activities. 

Hurricane Beryl is a Category 5 storm which has already claimed one life as it sweeps through the Carribean. IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC says that since 8:00 a.m. on June 30, the National Emergency Network of the Venezuelan Radio Club went to the Yellow Alert phase working together with the Civil Protection authorities. Likewise, Rafael Martinez, HI8KW confirmed their use of frequencies to link to the Emergency Operations Center of the Dominican Republic.

The American Hurricane Watch Net is also activated during the day on 14.325.00 MHz (USB) and 7.268.00 MHz (LSB) overnight.

Please be aware of this latest list of emergency voice frequencies of the countries in the region that may be active during this and future storms (all frequencies are in kHz):

Belize: 7177, 7060
Colombia: 3985, 7060, 7240, 7275, 14300, 18160, 21360, 146,520
Costa Rica: 3766, 3896, 7276, 7268, 14306, 14316, 21366, 21376
Cuba: 3720, 3740, 7110, 7120
Dominican Republic: 7065, 3780
Guatemala: 3750, 3725, 7120, 7240, 14 300, 18160, 21360
Haiti: 3750, 7150, 14330
Honduras: 3750, 7143, 7090 (Central American Emergency Network)
Jamaica: 3775, 7150
Mexico: 3720, 7060, 7128, 7095, 14120
Nicaragua: 3798 and 3898, 7098 and 7198, 14198 and 14,298
Panama: 7085
United States of America: 7268, 14 325 (NHC & HWN), 14 300 (Mobile Service Net),
14 265 (SATERN)
Venezuela: 7135

With improving Solar conditions, the possibility of QRM from outside the region is increased so please take steps to avoid these frequencies if possible. 

The Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters has communicated through its Emergency Coordinator, Zian Julio Aguirre Taboada, XE1ATZ, as well as Agustín López Guerrero, for the Association of Radio Amateurs of the Mexican Republic that due to the completion of emergency communications related to the effects caused by the hurricane Otis releases the following frequencies for which protection has been requested for regular use.

80m band: 3690 kHz
40m band: 7060 kHz, 7095 and 7120 kHz
20m band: 14120 kHz

We appreciate the support provided by colleagues from various countries and regions to guarantee these emergency communications in Mexico and we congratulate Mexican radio amateurs for the excellent work carried out.

Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC.
Emergency Coordinator, IARU R2.

The Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters requests through its Emergency Coordinator, Zian Julio Aguirre Taboada, XE1ATZ, additional protection of the 14 120 kHz frequency, 20 meter band, which they are using in emergency communications in response to damage caused by Hurricane Otis in the state of Guerrero. It should be noted that at 00:00 UTC on October 27, the SSB CQ WW contest will begin, so colleagues are asked to help so as not to affect these communications.

Summary of frequencies for which protection has been requested:

80m band: 3690 kHz
40m band: 7060 kHz and 7095 kHz
20m band: 14 120 kHz

We appreciate the help of colleagues from all regions in supporting emergency communications in Mexico.

Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC.
Emergency Coordinator, IARU R2.

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 has struck central Morocco near Marrakesh at 23:11 local time on 8^th September. The earthquake has caused severe damage in several areas with at least 1,000 people known to have died and many more injured. 

The Moroccan Amateur Radio Emergency Services ( part of ARRAM the Moroccan National Society ) normally operate on VHF/UHF and speaking to Hassan CN8HAN, their Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator on Saturday there was no indication of any HF frequencies in use to respond to the disaster. There are however a number of Search and Rescue teams from other countries heading to the area and some of them have Radio Amateurs as part of their teams. 

ARRAM has not asked for any HF frequencies to be kept clear but as the situation develops and SAR teams arrive it would be good for radio amateurs to take extra care around the HF Emergency Centres of Activity frequencies in case any SAR teams start to use frequencies to talk back to their home countries. See this page for frequency usage information in IARU Region 1.

As always, please avoid spreading any rumours about the disaster, pass any requests for assistance to your local authorities/Red Cross/Red Crescent and listen carefully before transmitting.

More information will be posted here if the situation changes.