Harris Provides Critical Communications and Coordination- on January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the island nation of Haiti 16 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince. Approximately 300,000 people were injured, one million were left homeless and an estimated 230,000 perished in the devastation. Critical infrastructure, including electrical networks, hospitals and communications systems, were severely damaged in the quake, and hundreds of relief organizations from around the world rushed to Haiti to aid in the recovery. Harris Corporation responded by sending a team equipped with communications equipment whose mission was to deploy an EDACS (Enhanced Digital Access Communication System) Xtreme LMR System and distribute hundreds of handheld radios to provide critical communications for delegations from the United Nations, CHF (Cooperative Housing Federation) International, USAID, the Federal Aviation Authority, Immigration and Customization Enforcement, NetHope and other emergency responders and relief teams.

A True Team Effort Every division of Harris Corporation was involved with the Haitian relief efforts. The Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD) deployed Jimmy Sheppard, Adam Brown and Sleighton Meyer, who blogged daily from relief sites. The FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) group lent the expertise of Scott Hehner, while Microwave Communications Systems (MCS) sent Roger Maier. Brett Blankenship represented the Broadcast Communications Division (BCD), while Sean Fitzpatrick and Sean Munjal led the contingent sent by the RF Communications and Public Safety and Professional Communications business. All of these individuals volunteered for this mission.

Radio Communications and More Beyond providing radio communications for the U.N., government and relief agencies, the Harris team established satellite communications to enable phone lines, the Internet and backhaul data connectivity for the FAA and Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, as well as at the St. Francois de Sales Hospital which was in desperate need of a reliable communications system. "Every time we'd visit the hospital, we saw people die," said Sean Fitzpatrick.

"The first time was a man who passed away while in diabetic shock…all he needed was an insulin shot, but the hospital didn't have any left. We set the hospital up with a satellite system giving it Internet and phone access. It turns out that supplies, like insulin, were just a short distance away at the airport. However, without a request for the medicine, officials with the U.N. didn't know what the hospital needed. Our satellite system allowed the hospital to request supplies needed, and communicate with the outside world."

Harris equipped CHF International with two satellite systems to assist in its mainland backhaul, Internet connectivity, and long-distance phone communications at its headquarters. An additional satellite terminal was also added at a remote CHF International aid station in Petit Goave.

A Never Ending Mission Harris is continuing to provide the expertise Haiti needs in restoring the country's communications infrastructure. Teams of Harris volunteers have traveled to Haiti to sustain the efforts. Harris will continue to work in conjunction with CHF International, which was able to respond immediately to the earthquake with 170 staff already in the country when the earthquake struck.

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