Amateur radio emergency test drill Sept. 30
The annual Simulated Emergency Test Drill will take place Sept. 30 at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center.
Members of the Monroe County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps have planned several on-air emergency preparedness activities. The event is held in conjunction with Monroe County Emergency Management, Southeast Michigan Incident Management Team, and local fire and law enforcement agencies. Amateur radio operators will also participate with surrounding counties and Windsor/Essex, Ontario.
“The primary goal of the Simulated Emergency Test is to test communications facilities among amateur radio operators, county emergency operations centers and counterparts nationwide," Monroe County emergency coordinator Lance Charter said. "The SET drill is an opportunity designed to test operators’ abilities and skills in passing messages between served agencies and the local communities, which will be the backbone of our drill in conjunction with the county tabletop exercise. This will be a great opportunity for both sides to learn how to work together seamlessly, should a large event ever occur in the county. We want the community to know that in the event of an emergency, amateur radio is there 'when all else fails.'”
“While people often think that cellphones or other communications technologies have replaced ham radio, we can provide an important communications service that others can’t," Charter said. "As we see yearly in areas hit by large hurricanes, loss of communication infrastructure is a critical hindrance in rescue and recovery efforts. In these and other situations, ham radio still works when cell, internet and public safety communications don’t. Amateur radio is not dependent on a 'backbone' type system or even commercial infrastructure, such as commercial power. An operator with the proper radio and a wire antenna strung between two trees can hook up to a car battery and be communicating across town or around the earth in short order when no one else is able."
The ham radio operators provide emergency communications for various relief agencies – Department of Homeland Security, Citizens’ Corps, FEMA, Red Cross, state and local agencies, and other organizations – in disasters. They also provide supplemental communications when normal systems are rendered inoperable or overloaded. They assist the National Weather Service as trained storm spotters through the Skywarn program
Amateur radio volunteer operators from across the country respond to calls for aid when needed. They provide their services and equipment freely to their communities.
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"They are 'amateurs' only in that they are not paid, but their service in a crisis can be priceless," Charter said.
Today there are more than 700,000 amateur radio operators in the U.S. and more than 2.5 million worldwide. To learn more, contact Monroe County ARPSC at KE8BYC@yahoo.com or visit arrl.org/newham and MCARPSC.org.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Amateur radio emergency test drill Sept. 30
