When the state hurricane disaster preparedness exercise was held April 30, local ham radio operators played a role.

The recent disaster preparedness exercise was a joint drill of the state of Alabama and the Emergency Management Agency as a way to test preparedness for a hurricane or other similar emergency, according to Kevin Turley, ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service District Emergency Coordinator and Dale County Emergency Coordinator.

“Ham radio operators played a key role because they provide backup communications and other functions in times of emergency,” said Turley. “During the exercise ham radio operators activated across several radio bands throughout most of the day and practiced passing messages.”

Turley said that Alabama EMA reached out to the Alabama Section Amateur Radio Emergency Services®️ (ARES) Coordinator Mike Watkins (WX4AL) about two weeks before the exercise and asked that ARES play a critical role in the statewide exercise that began at 8 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

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Locally there was involvement with nets originating from Daleville, Dothan, Geneva, Enterprise, Opp, and Andalusia, said Turley. “Special thanks to the Daleville Area Amateur Radio Service (ARES), Enterprise Amateur Radio Society, Geneva Amateur Radio Society, and South Alabama Radio Club for allowing the use of their repeaters for this exercise.”

While some members of ARES set up at the National Guard armory in Montgomery, others set up at hospitals and other served agencies throughout the state. Others set up in their vehicles, homes, and even public areas on battery or solar power to simulate emergency conditions.

ARES members throughout the state conducted meetings over the air, called nets, which simulated ARES members reporting damage, weather updates, storm spotting. and reports of people in need of assistance. Messages between ARES members were sent over various radio bands via voice and data over the airwaves, which includes using an over the air email system called WinLink.

Ham radio operators also were available to provide valuable backup in case primary communications went down for services such as first responders, law enforcement, and utility workers, Turley explained. “Many ham radio operators only used batteries, solar power, and/or temporary antennas to further test their emergency capabilities.”

Amateur radio operators are volunteers from all walks of life who have studied and passed an examination to become FCC licensed, Turley said. ARES members are licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer their talent and radio equipment for use during emergencies or public events.

The Daleville Area Amateur Radio Service will operate an ARRL Field Day station at the Second Annual AMVETS Summer Fest June 22 at Culpepper Park in Daleville from 8 a.m. until noon. The event is free and open to the public.

The Daleville Area Amateur Radio Service will be operating a Special Event Station Dec. 22 for the Dale County Bicentennial Celebration. Members of the organization will be making radio contact with other amateur radio operators from across the United States of America and around the world. Upon successful contact, a card will be sent to the contact. “This is a great way to help put our community on the map and for others from around the world to learn more about Dale County,” Turley said.

For more information, contact Turley (K9ADE) who serves as the ARRL ARES District B Emergency Coordinator which covers Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Pike counties. He can be reached via the contact form at www.Daleville.us.

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