These hobbyists will show how their gear and skills can help when typical communication methods are down because of storms, disasters or accidents. Amateur radio has consistently been able to provide backup communication for the American Red Cross, FEMA, and even the International Space Station.
At the Annual Amateur Radio "Field Day" in Murray, the Murray State University Amateur Radio Club will be giving a 24-hour demonstration at the “Schoolhouse” pavilion (and adjacent parking area) in Murray-Calloway County’s Central Park, Saturday, June 22nd beginning at 1 pm.
Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and backyards around the country. Their slogan, "When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works” is more than just words to hams, as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis.
"The fastest way to turn a crisis into a total disaster is to lose communications,” said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. “From the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to tornadoes in Oklahoma & Missouri, ham radio provided the most reliable communication networks in the first critical hours of the events. Because ham radios are not dependent on the Internet, cell towers or other infrastructure, they work when nothing else is available. We need nothing between us but air.”
When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio’s people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. This weekend, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with operators from the Murray State University Amateur Radio Club and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about.
The club invites the public to come see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.
To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org.
To honor the efforts of ham radio operators, a joint proclamation was made by the City of Murray and Calloway County for Amateur Radio Week, June 17-23, 2013. Here is their proclamation:
Whereas, Amateur Radio operators are celebrating over a century of the miracle of the human voice broadcast over the airwaves; and
Whereas, Amateur Radio has continued to provide a bridge between peoples, societies and countries by creating friendships and the sharing of ideas; and
Whereas, Amateur Radio Operators have also provided countless hours of community services throughout these decades; and
Whereas, these Amateur Radio’s services are provided wholly uncompensated; and
Whereas, the state also recognizes the services Amateur Radio’s people also provide to our many Emergency Response organizations, including unprecedented assistance provided by members of the Murray State University Amateur Radio Club to the efforts of the Red Cross, and other relief organizations during the 2009 Ice Storm and other natural disasters; and
Whereas, these same individuals have further demonstrated their value in public assistance by providing free radio communications for local parades, bike races, fairs, Polar Plunge(s) and other charitable public events; and
Whereas, the City of Murray and Calloway County, Kentucky recognizes and appreciates the diligence of these “hams” who also serve as weather spotters in the Skywarn program of the US Government’s National Weather Service; and
Whereas, Amateur Radio once again proved its undisputed relevance in the modern world in 2012 by providing emergency communications when other systems failed in the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in the USA and in Tsunami/Earthquake catastrophes overseas; and
Whereas, the ARRL is the leading organization for Amateur Radio in the USA; and
Whereas, the ARRL Amateur Radio Field Day exercise will take place on June 22-23, 2013 and is a 24 hour emergency preparedness exercise and demonstration of the Radio Amateurs’ skills and readiness to provide self-supporting communications without further infrastructure being required; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all citizens of Murray and Calloway County Kentucky proclaim June 17-23, 2013 as Amateur Radio Week.
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Bill Wells, Mayor
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Larry Elkins, Judge Executive
