Ham operators hosting Simulated Emergency Test Oct. 8
Local ham radio operators will share their skills with the public during its annual Simulated Emergency Test, set for Oct. 8 at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center. Tests will show what the operators can do in the event of an emergency.
Members of the Monroe County Amateur Radio Public Service Corp will take part in on-air emergency preparedness activities.
“Amateur Radio operators will also participate with surrounding counties and throughout Michigan and with the Michigan State Emergency Operations Center,” the local organization said.
The drill is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio.
“The primary goal of the Simulated Emergency Test is to test communications facilities between amateur radio operators, county emergency operations centers and counterparts nationwide. The SET drill is an opportunity designed to test operators’ abilities and skills in passing messages between served agencies and the local communities. We want the community to know that in the event of an emergency, amateur radio is there ‘when all else fails,’” Lance Charter, Monroe County Emergency coordinator, said.
“While people often think that cell phones or other communications technologies have replaced ham radio, we can provide an important communications service that others can’t,” Charter added. “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. These loss of power situations and communications overload will be the type of assistance operators will practice for on Oct. 8.”
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 storm spotters through the SKYWARN program.
Amateur radio volunteer operators are stationed across the country.
“They provide their services and equipment freely to their communities. 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 US and more than 2.5 million worldwide. To find out more about amateur radio or how to get started, contact Monroe County ARPSC at KE8BYC@yahoo.com or visit https://monroearpsc.wordpress.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ham operators hosting Simulated Emergency Test Oct. 8
