This might prove a worthy task and something worth keeping an eye on. I saw this article and thought the information might be beneficial to share with the group(s)
Ham radio gets new life
Ham radio gets new life - 14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader
VANDERBURGH CO, IN (WFIE) - Ham radio operators already provide an invaluable communications link during disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and even right here at home after tornados ripped through the Tri State in 2005.
A new system though will help ham radio operators reach out even further the next time disaster strikes.
"We always say that ham radio talks where others fail," said ham radio operator Bob Pointer.
Pointer, better known to fellow amateur radio ops as N9XAW, gets excited to talk about his hobby over the airwaves.
"Just the other day I talked to a gentleman over in Tazmania, Australia just like he was across town," said Pointer.
It's partly that ability that is helping to breathe new life into ham radio, what some might consider an antiquated form of communication, left to people tinkering with electronics.
"It's a fail-proof type of system to have. A guy can pop the hood up on his car, hook it up to the battery and be operational," said Vanderburgh County EMA Director Sherman Greer. "They used it in Katrina. It was the only communications they had in Katrina."
After attending an emergency management conference discussing earthquake preparedness, Greer began thinking about using ham radio operators as a backup mode of communication should everything else fail.
"I don't think people really realize if we do have a 7.7 earthquake within this area here, how devastating that's going to be," said Greer. "Communications would probably be very sparse."
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has given Greer a $350,000 grant to setup a series of ham radio stations and repeaters throughout 12 different counties in southwestern Indiana.
If the system, set to be installed soon, meets expectations, the state plans to roll it out in every region.
"We've got to start communicating as quickly as possible. We've got to give them a quick damage assessment of what's going on and what our needs are," said Greer.
For Pointer and other ham radio ops, sending and receiving communications during disasters is a major component to their hobby.
There's a certain amount of pride in knowing you're helping your community. You may even save lives," said Pointer.
For ham radio operators out there, the Vanderburgh County EMA and the Tri State Amateur Radio Society wants to encourage use of their club frequency to make sure the system is always operational and ready for emergency radio traffic.
Ham radio gets new life
Ham radio gets new life - 14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader
VANDERBURGH CO, IN (WFIE) - Ham radio operators already provide an invaluable communications link during disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and even right here at home after tornados ripped through the Tri State in 2005.
A new system though will help ham radio operators reach out even further the next time disaster strikes.
"We always say that ham radio talks where others fail," said ham radio operator Bob Pointer.
Pointer, better known to fellow amateur radio ops as N9XAW, gets excited to talk about his hobby over the airwaves.
"Just the other day I talked to a gentleman over in Tazmania, Australia just like he was across town," said Pointer.
It's partly that ability that is helping to breathe new life into ham radio, what some might consider an antiquated form of communication, left to people tinkering with electronics.
"It's a fail-proof type of system to have. A guy can pop the hood up on his car, hook it up to the battery and be operational," said Vanderburgh County EMA Director Sherman Greer. "They used it in Katrina. It was the only communications they had in Katrina."
After attending an emergency management conference discussing earthquake preparedness, Greer began thinking about using ham radio operators as a backup mode of communication should everything else fail.
"I don't think people really realize if we do have a 7.7 earthquake within this area here, how devastating that's going to be," said Greer. "Communications would probably be very sparse."
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has given Greer a $350,000 grant to setup a series of ham radio stations and repeaters throughout 12 different counties in southwestern Indiana.
If the system, set to be installed soon, meets expectations, the state plans to roll it out in every region.
"We've got to start communicating as quickly as possible. We've got to give them a quick damage assessment of what's going on and what our needs are," said Greer.
For Pointer and other ham radio ops, sending and receiving communications during disasters is a major component to their hobby.
There's a certain amount of pride in knowing you're helping your community. You may even save lives," said Pointer.
For ham radio operators out there, the Vanderburgh County EMA and the Tri State Amateur Radio Society wants to encourage use of their club frequency to make sure the system is always operational and ready for emergency radio traffic.
I am going to put up an antenna next spring when I have the time. 
