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Amateur radios offer last hope for communication

BY ADAM TESTA, THE SOUTHERN

Sunday, May 4, 2008 12:36 PM CDT

Amateur radio operators in Jackson County maneuvered downed bridges and major flooding in an attempt to evaluate the situation after a major earthquake along the New Madrid Fault last summer.

While the situation served as a simulation exercise for members of the county's Amateur Radio Emergency Service, amateur radio operators recognize the reality of the threat and their role in the aftermath of disaster.

A high-magnitude earthquake would likely knock out most primary forms of communication, but those amateur radio operators with backup power and an antenna could collect and spread information on service disruptions, leaking gas lines and fallen structures.

"Amateur Radio Emergency Service, by mobilizing, could serve to help the first responders by gathering that kind of information so people can figure out how to get from here to there," said Bill Stevens, chief communications officer for the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency and emergency coordinator for Jackson County ARES.

David Williams, professor of technology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said ARES offers classes for amateur radio operators who want to learn how to aid in disaster preparedness.

Curriculum for the training prepares amateurs to handle emergency radio traffic and to facilitate communications, both locally and on a regional or national level if needed, Williams said.

"If people are a little eager or don't have the requisite skills, it may become a situation where we don't help but begin to hinder," he said.

Those ARES members who will participate in disaster efforts begin by formulating a plan, Williams said. The first step of the plan always involves the operators protecting themselves because "if you get hurt, you can't help."

After securing their own safety, amateur operators will begin coordinating with local, regional, state and sometimes federal officials on status reports and communication efforts. In Jackson County, ARES and the EMA have a strong relationship, credited largely to Stevens' volunteer roles with both organizations.

While most of amateur radio operators' duties during the aftermath of a disaster will be coordinated through other agencies, Stevens believes an event like an earthquake could lead to some self-motivation.

"If someone feels the ground shaking even more than this last 5.2 one, the amateur radio operators will probably activate themselves and scan the frequencies looking for where they're needed," Stevens said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com  

351-5031