Portophones and mobilophones proved invaluable.
The radio transmitter of the vessel which ran
aground off the island of Schouwen during the
night of the disaster broadcast the first news
concerning the predicament in which the inhabit
ants of the island found themselves on account
of the floods.
26
Telecommunications undoubtedly play
ed a leading part in rescue work and
in initial relief work. The work in this
sphere was perhaps not so spectacular
as in others, but it was performed
with great efficiency and speed! Those
responsible might well have chosen as
their motto: Bis dat qui cito dat".
The mobilophone especially proved to
be very valuable under the except
ional conditions during and after the
disaster. It was a happy circumstance
that the Netherlands has its own
telecommunication industry, viz. N.V.
Philips' Telecommunicatie Industrie,
Hilversum.
A number of amateur transmitting stations
work in directing Iifesaving operations, often
districts.
did excellent
in completely
