Amateur Radio Field Day Training for Disaster
JACKSON, Tenn. – Dozens of West Tennessee amateur radio operators gathered to practice emergency procedures over the open airwaves with emergency management teams on Saturday. Local emergency management officials said Amateur Radio Field Day is the single most popular “on-the-air” event held annually in the U.S. and Canada each year. This year radio operators across West Tennessee met to construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and backyards to sharpen their radio skills by using only emergency power supplies to connect to other amateur operators nationwide. “Today, I’ve talked to people in Washington DC, Georgia, and South Carolina,” said participant Lee Towater. “In the event of an emergency, every family should be prepared and know what to do.” Residents are training on how to successfully connect over the open radio air waves to government agencies like National Guard, FEMA and The Red Cross without the use of internet or cell phone reception. Officials said amateur radio operators are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communication when disaster strikes a community. “It doesn’t require any connection; just open airwaves to communicate with somebody during disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and things like that,” said Jimmy Floyd, Jackson Madison Co. EMA Operations Manager. The Hams step in and offer communication support to emergency management, state and federal agencies.” Residents said they believe having a plan in place will save lives. They are making sure residents will have a voice if a desperate situation were to suddenly arise. “It’s very important, being able to take care of yourself and family you know at a moments notice when something does happen,” said Towater. “It makes me feel good to know that there is someone there to take care of other people. When the time arrives and we’re needed, we will be ready.” There are currently more than 700 thousand amateur radio licenses in the U.S and more than 2.5 million around the world. To learn how you can become licensed or more about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org.
