WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Amateur Radio Operators Preparing for Emergencies

Amateur Radio Operators Preparing for Emergencies

This weekend, two local amateur radio clubs are hard at work in a nation-wide event.  The Columbus Amateur Radio Club and the Russell County Radio Club are testing their skills to prepare for a crisis situation.

Operating on nothing but generators, radios and antennae, the amateur radio operators are communicating digitally and vocally. Some, like John Laney, are even using Morse Code.

"Right now the best signals are from South Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia," said Laney, a Columbus resident.

The point of this exercise is to make as many contacts around the nation as possible. Although many ham radio operators consider this a hobby, they have a big responsibility to the public when a crisis strikes. They're licensed by the Federal Communications Commisison, and volunteer their time and equipment anytime normal communications are down, such as during severe weather.

"We have ham radio operators that will operate any time there's a severe thunderstorm warning, they'll relay information to the National Weather Service. Any time the sirens go off, ham radio operators are probably talking to the National Weather Service," said Bill Watt, with the Columbus Amateur Radio Club.

Ham radio operators are also needed after the storm, to help coordinate efforts with emergency management agencies. That was the case during and after Hurricane Katrina.

"There wasn't any more cell phone communication so there was a big need with Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana, for months and months they were sending ham radio operators over there," John Laney said.

In the last 24 hours, our local amateur radio operators have made contacts in nearly all 50 states and Canada, to make sure we'll be prepared for the next big emergency.

To learn more about amateur radio operations, visit these websites.

Columbus Amateur Radio Club

National Association for Amateur Radio