‰ NOW 30 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM OCTOBER 2018 QST PAGE 87 ‰ PUBLIC EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, FOR EXAMPLES. IN MAY, RADIO AMATEURS PROVIDED RESPONSE/ RELIEF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CYCLONE MEKUNU DISASTER, DESCRIBED AS THE MOST INTENSE STORM TO STRIKE THE ARABIAN PENINSULA IN RECORDED HISTORY. YOUNIS AL BALUSHI, A41MA, REPORTED THAT HE AND OTHER AMATEURS IN OMAN WERE ABLE TO CONNECT CUT OFF AREAS WITH THE COMMAND CENTER IN SALALAH, WHEN NO OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS EXISTED. MICHAL WILCZYNSKI, SP9XWM, AND KRZYSZTOF GAUDNIK, SP7WME, SPOKE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SP EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CLUB SPEC, A MEMBER OF THE POLISH RADIO AMATEUR UNION PZK. BETWEEN 2016 AND 2018 SPEC CONDUCTED SIX NATIONAL WEATHER CATASTROPHE READINESS EXERCISES, AND IN MAY 2017, THEY WORKED WITH THE DEUTSCHER FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE, DUBBED LIGHTNING 2017. STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO ARRL AND THE US ARES PROGRAM, SPEC HAS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND HAS RESPONDED TO MANY INCIDENTS AND EVENTS. HERBERT KOBLMILLER, OE3KJN, DISCUSSED MAYS EXERCISE SOLAR FLARE THAT TESTED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WITH GOOD COOPERATION AMONG AUSTRIAN RADIO AMATEURS, THE MILITARY, AND TELECOM SERVICE PROVIDERS. ‰ END OF 30 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ