SATERN Activated For Hurricane Matthew

NHQ SATERN (10/03/2016) – The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) is actively monitoring its’ frequency of 14.265 MHz for emergency, priority and health & welfare messages today [Monday, 03 October].  SATERN amateur radio operators are listening for any emergency communications coming from the Caribbean as a result of Hurricane Matthew.  The SATERN frequency will be monitored continuously until 9:00 PM (Eastern).  After 9:00 PM, SATERN operators will assist the Hurricane Watch Net on its night-time frequency of 7.268 MHz.

Any licensed amateur radio operator, regardless of nationality, is welcome to participate on the SATERN frequency to assist in monitoring for, or to send or receive, emergency, priority or health and welfare messages.

Although SATERN will be accepting emergency, priority and health and welfare messages out of the impacted area, it is not possible to send or deliver health and welfare inquiries into the impacted area.

National SATERN Liaison Bill Feist, WB8BZH, stated, “Because of Matthew’s forecasted track through numerous island nations in the Caribbean, SATERN will monitor these frequencies through Thursday.  Plans are being made to possibly continue doing this beyond Thursday if there are significant needs in the Caribbean for emergency communications or if The Salvation Army requests it as Hurricane Matthew re-enters the Atlantic and poses a potential threat to the East Coast of the United States.”

SATERN is working in coordination with a number of it’s partners in the amateur radio community including the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) which refers all health & welfare messages to the SATERN Network.  SATERN has also been in contact with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) and officials with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in the Caribbean.  SATERN has also been coordinating its’ activities with the Salvation Army World Services Organization (SAWSO) and USA National Headquarters for The Salvation Army.

SATERN is an international group of amateur radio operators who support The Salvation Army with emergency communications.  It was founded in June of 1988 by Major Patrick E. McPherson, WW9E, who led the group for the majority of its 28 year history.  SATERN’s very first international activation was for Hurricane Gilbert (September, 1988) which also impacted many of the island nations now being threatened by Hurricane Matthew.  Maj. McPherson  was unexpectedly Promoted to Glory (passed away) in May of 2016.  He was posthumously awarded the Exceptional Service Award by National Headquarters in June of 2016 for his creation and sustained commitment to SATERN which grew from 4 members in 1988 to over 4,300 members today.