Do you ever wonder what you would do during a disaster without electricity? What about without your cell phone? How do emergency personell communicate to help those in need? During disasters like the tornadoes in Alabama and Joplin, power lines and cell phone towers are taken out in a matter of seconds leaving members of the community without normal means of communication. When this happens, our friends in Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) step in and help provide emergency communications for the affected areas free of charge.
On June 25 & 26 amateur radio operators around the world are participating in the American Radio Relay League’s (ARRL) Field Day. The event will test response efforts by amateur radio operations and their local clubs during a disaster or emergency that impacts the communications infrastructure.
To participate, operators must support communications off of emergency power from 2 p.m. EST on June 25 through 2 p.m. on June 26. The American Red Cross Radio Club (W4ARC) will be set up at the Buffalo Trace Red Cross, 7477 State Road 64, Georgetown, IN from 1—10 p.m. June 25 and from 7 a.m.—1 p.m. June 26. Other radio clubs participating will be at the Pioneer Village City Hall in Northern Bullitt County, as well as locations in Nelson, Hardin, Shelby and Breckenridge Counties.
All clubs are competing for points, so if you have time, please stop by one of the locations to sign in. Additionally, sites will have a radio station set up as a “Get On The Air” station where visitors can test out their commentator skills on air! Extra points are awarded for visitors who have never operated an amateur radio.
For details on the location nearest to you, please visit www.arrl.org.
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