— Submitted photo Juan Trujillo IA N0PSF, second from right, stands with members of the American Relay Radio League in the Red Cross Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The group worked to re-establish communications on the island following the hurricane.

Wednesday, April 18 marks World Amateur Radio Day, celebrating the many contributions of amateur radio operators to society.

The International Amateur Radio Union was founded in Paris in 1925. In the U.S., American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

IARU President Tim Ellam said on the group’s website that for years amateur radio has proven to the public the ability to provide communications in times of crisis.

That may not be more evident than the aid provided during the devastating hurricanes of 2017.

Juan Trujillo, Webster City, was one of the amateur radio operator who was dispatched to Texas with the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in September 2017. Later in September, he traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico where amateur radio operators were one of the few sources of communication following Hurricane Maria.

In one emergency situation, Trujillo was able to coordinate with the medical director at Menonita Hospital in Caguas and another ham operator to evacuate four critical patients to a hospital that had a generator.

Trujillo worked for a month in Puerto Rico, providing communications via ham radio. He returned to Iowa on Oct. 27.

Trujillo said he hopes more local people will discover amateur radio.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said, “and it does provide a valuable service in times of crisis.”