Project: FIRST RESPONSE RADIO FOR DISASTERS

UNIDAD DE RADIO DE PRIMERA RESPUESTA

First Response Radio Unit

When disasters strike Communication is as crucial as Food, Water, Shelter and Medicine.

The project First Response Radio Unit empowers 2 way communication, via FM radio, with affected communities in the immediate aftermath of disasters.

First Response Radio Unit provides a trained team to travel to a disaster area, set up a portable FM radio station and broadcast essential information to the affected community.

When disasters happen in the affected community all is total chaos: people are desperately looking for their loved ones, for help, for water, for food, for medical care, for shelter, for aid supplies, and for register in the damage and injured listings, etc. They also want to send a message to their friends and family and inform about the situation in their location, etc.  All that key crisis information will be broadcasted to the rest of the affected community, heard by almost everyone including the emergency officials.

Trained teams have the confidence and ability to work in field conditions and record radio messages that help to provide critical information for a community that is recovering from a disaster/emergency.

Participants are taught about the phases of disaster, the effect it has on those affected, and making radio programmes specifically geared to disaster, They are trained in setting up and using the “FM Radio-in-a-Suitcase” equipment and advised about ways to stay safe in the field. The training is practical and hands-on, with daily homework and assignments where participants put into practice what they have learned. 
​
This is followed by a 3-day Field Trial when participants are taken to an area which has suffered a recent disaster. It is designed to provide students with an experience as close as possible to a real disaster, where they will produce live, disaster related radio broadcast for 72 hours.

Once a team has been trained and equipped, they are ready to deploy in the event of disaster in the country. They aim to be on air within 72 hours. The decision to deploy should happen within the first 24 hours, travel to the area during the second 24 hours and set-up in the third 24 hours.
The decision to deploy will be taken by each First Response Radio Unit team, in consultation with their partner organisations. 

​It will depend upon many factors, but these are some of the questions each team will ask:

Is there a significantly affected community without resources or lacking information? (How many displaced persons rather than how many deaths. Is it  more than 100,000?)

What is the level of chaos and local disruption?

Has the National Government asked for international/UN help?

What is the predicted recovery time?  More than 1-2 years?

Is the local power still on? How long till it is restored?

Are Radio/TV off air?  If stations are still broadcasting are they providing useful critical information?

Is there a deployable team of at least 3-4 people, not just trained but able to deploy in less than 24 hours?

Is the kit locally available? If not, can one be borrowed from another team?

Is there an available supply of radios for distribution?

Are there tents, supplies, local language speakers, drivers etc available?

Is there anyone – local or deploying partners – who can offer logistical support?

WHAT IS NEEDED?

Portable "FM Radio-in-a-Suitcase” equipment for the emergency broadcast station.
Cost: U$3500
Please DONATE

Power generator 2 kva
Cost: U$900
Please DONATE

Portable FM radio receivers to distribute for the people -either battery, wind-up or solar powered.
Quantity required: 1000 units

Mini FM radio receiver, battery operated
Cost U$5 per unit
Please DONATE

Three way self-charging FM radio receiver (wind-up dynamo, solar power, AAA battery)
Cost U$25 per unit
Please DONATE


HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. SPREAD THE WORD, SHARE, POST this project with all your friends, family and social networks, etc to make it reach as much people as possible able to help.

2. DONATE. As much as you can. Either money or the goods needed.

3. PARTICIPATING in the project as volunteer First Response Radio for Disasters team member, get the training and be ready for deployment when needed

All photos by First Response Radio

DONATIONS

BANK ACCOUNT DEPOSITS

BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU - BCP
On the name of Florencia Paredes Vila (director of U4x4A)

ACCOUNT IN U$ DOLLARS 
N° 193 306 965 201 84
Inter-banks code: 00219313069652018411

BANK DEPOSITS FROM ABROAD

SWIFT BANK TRANSFER 

Bank name: BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU - BCP
Bank Swift Code:  BCP LPEPL
IBAN CODE BCP-LPEPL193306965201 84
Bank phone: 51 1 4275600
Bank address: JIRON LAMPA 499 
Bank Zip Code: LIMA 01 
LIMA - PERU
Account number: 193 306 965 201 84


CONTACT US

Celular /whatsapp: +51 990128105
e-mail:  info@unidad4x4deayuda.org