The Philip­pine Ama­teur Radio Asso­ci­a­tion (PARA) was ready for JOTA last week­end but also kept a watch on Typhoon Shari­ka with its winds and rain­fall pos­ing a threat. 

The Jam­boree On The Air event had a group of 35 hams to sup­port the open­ing cer­e­mo­ny, as adverse weath­er appeared. Dur­ing the ini­tial dra­ma the fre­quen­cy of 7.110 MHz was used as Typhoon Shari­ka with its winds and rain­fall made its pres­ence known in the area of Luzon Island. 

No soon­er had its passed to be replaced by Haima, that increased in inten­si­ty with winds gust­ing to over 300 kph. Rober­to Vicen­cio DU1VHY reports that HERO was ready as Super Typhoon Haima smashed into the north­ern Philip­pines forc­ing thou­sands to flee. 

HERO net had 130 sta­tions giv­ing weath­er, pow­er and flood­ing reports. Oth­er ham groups like the Unit­ed Methodist Ama­teur Radio Club sent mem­bers led by DV1YIN, to trav­el north to the province of Isabela. 

The team of DV1YIN, DW1YMJ and DV1XWK made it to San­ti­a­go City, Isabela after an eight hour dri­ve and estab­lished HF radio con­tact. They advised that pow­er had been cut and phone cov­er­age intermittent. 

Super Typhoon Haima smashed into the north­ern Philip­pines with fero­cious wind and rains, flood­ing towns and forced thou­sands to flee. It killed at least sev­en people. 

There were res­cues with thou­sands of vil­lagers moved to emer­gency shel­ters. Haima is the 12th typhoon to hit the Philip­pines this year. 

— Jim Lin­ton VK3PC, Chair­man IARU Region 3 Dis­as­ter Com­mu­ni­ca­tions Committee.