FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ham radio operators train for Disaster Emergency Communications.

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Wayne Gronlund, Section Emergency Coordinator addressing Amateur Radio Operators
at the Guilford Fire Dept. headquarters on Saturday, 2/18/2012 (Photo: Sid Gale)

Amateur Radio Emergency Service® - Region 2 conducted the second training session in its series “Getting the Message Across” on Saturday, February 18th at the Guilford Fire Department headquarters.

This month’s training session was on “Meeting the needs of our served agencies in the Digital Age.” In attendance were 27 members from towns across Region 2 (Milford to Meriden to Old Saybrook) and four other Connecticut communities.

ARES® is a specialized program of the American Radio Relay League®. It is dedicated to organizing amateur radio operators to provide back-up radio communications to state and local communities in times of emergency. Its motto: “When All Else Fails®”, speaks to its mission of being the last line of emergency communication support when all other regular communication systems are disabled or overloaded. Federally licensed amateur radio operators, known more commonly as ‘Hams’, provide this service as volunteers to their communities.

ARES® Section Emergency Coordinator Wayne Gronlund gave an overview of packet radio data communication technology and its use in emergency communication scenarios. He then led a hands-on workshop for the participants using WinLInk AirMail communications software for over-the-air transmission.

Bill Covey gave a presentation on the many features and applications of the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), and its creative use in managing and visualizing communication and control activities across a broad geographic area in tactical support operations.

Program organizer and ARES® District Emergency Coordinator Douglas Sharafanowich commented, “These technologies have been in use for several years and are the forerunners of today’s familiar Twitter and Instant Messaging. But, unlike Amateur Radio, commercial services require a functioning sophisticated communication structure to work.”

In addition to disaster emergency communications, ARES® members assist in public service events for not-for-profit agencies where networked communication capability can help organizers to manage events more effectively.

Amateur radio operators who want to know more about ARES® or about attending the next training session are encouraged to contact Mr. Sharafanowich at: [email protected] and to visit the ARES® Region 2 website at www.ctaresregion2.org