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K4TNS Club Callsign -- Talk to us on freq. 146.670
Lowndes
County
Ham Radio
operators
participate in emergency
response test
Ham radio operators with the local Jim Bell Wireless Association participated in an emergency response exercise Saturday, Oct. 4 where a simulated Category 5 hurricane made landfall in the Mobile area and headed north into the Lowndes County area.
“This exercise was conducted by the American Radio Relay League and involved the Central Alabama Sky Warn Net, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and the Lowndes County Emergency Operations Center,” said Carole Edwards, emergency coordinator for Lowndes County.
The purpose of the exercise locally was to pass simulated emergency traffic back and forth across Lowndes County without the use of commercial power or repeaters. Statewide, the purpose was to communicate digitally with the state Emergency Management Agency in Clanton.
Participating ham radio operators are required to complete training courses and be certified to perform essential emergency duties with the Alabama ARES.
Edwards said the Central Alabama Sky Warn net was activated at 9 a.m. to handle storm spotting and provide on-scene damage reports with information relayed to the National Weather Service in Birmingham and affected county Emergency Management Agencies. The Emergency Operations Center in Hayneville was the hub of communications for Lowndes County.
“Volunteers were dispatched to various locations around the county and sent emergency simulated messages from areas in need of assistance including evacuations and transport, fire department and ambulance response, food, medicine and other health and welfare supplies,” explained Edwards.
Specific exercise scenarios included communicating shelter needs, requests for assistance due to downed power lines and structural fires, evacuation requests from flooded areas, and an ambulance request following a collapsed roof.
“All communication to appropriate agencies were successful without use an any commercial power,” said Edwards. “We wish to thank everyone who participated, especially the volunteer ham radio operators and the Fort Deposit and Hayneville volunteer fire departments whose support, along with others, would be critical in case of a natural disaster in our area.”
“Being able to respond quickly, even without power, can help save lives. Exercises like this help us to refine our skills and identify any weaknesses. Changes and improvements to our operations will be incorporated in the future so when the real thing happens, we’ll be prepared,” Edwards concluded.
Ham radio operators participated in a simulated natural disaster emergency response exercise Saturday, Oct. 4. Participants are (l-r) Spencer Edwards, J.W. Adams, Dan Therrien, Kim Gransden, Bob Overstreet, Amber Taylor, Bill Stabler, Roger Bault, Carole Edwards and Ransom Granik. Not pictured are: David Edwards, Eric Jackson, Dennis Carlson, Mike Mosley, and Bill McCallister.