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2006 Releases
- 7/7/06
REACT Supports SOS Emergency Strategy
REACT International has linked with Midland Radio, D-CERN and NationalSOS to encourage grassroots neighborhood radio safety networks using inexpensive FRS radios.
Millions of the tiny, handy radios already in homes give people a means of communicating with neighbors when phones go out in major storms. SOS encourages neighbourhoods to create their own FRS emergency radio network in advance. It can be particularly helpful to seniors and the disabled in emergencies.
REACT recognized early on the potential of FRS to save lives, and has been proven right on a number of occasions. REACT advocated FRS-1(no tone) as an unofficial FRS distress channel. Midland later developed its 'Midland-1' program that encouraged operators to monitor FRS-1 as a call channel. D-CERN applied these ideas to create an effective emergency radio network in the Washington, DC area.
REACT Teams are being urged to include FRS-1(no tone) in their monitoring. Many REACT Teams use more powerful, licensed GMRS radios which can communicate with FRS radios to give greater range in emergencies. Ham radio and scanner operators extend the program's reach further.
"NationalSOS is a logical extension of REACT Teams' monitoring capabilities and expertise," REACT Executive Vice-President Ed Greany commented. "Using radio to help others is our mission and FRS-1(no tone) is a perfect fit."
The first SOS test using FRS-1(no tone) occurred in Connecticut on June 17, 2006 and was a major success. Similar tests in other states, particularly those susceptible to severe weather events, are at the planning stage.
Efforts are underway to make the program as widely known as possible before this year's hurricanes begin. Katrina's devastation of Gulf Coast communications last year prompted the creation of NationalSOS (www.NationalSOS.com) to prevent a repeat scenario.