Amateur Radio Emergency Service - W4ACA

Proudly using the Oak Ridge ARC (W4SKH) Repeaters & W4ACA APRS Digipeater

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Amateur radio operators step up when needed to keep county in touch with the world.

By KARA HANSEN

The Daily Astorian


When twin storms hammered the coast Sunday through Monday with hurricane-force winds, snapping tree limbs like twigs and cutting power to thousands in Clatsop County, amateur radio operators didn't just bolster efforts at the county Emergency Operations Center.

They were the heart of the response.

"Really, it's ham radio operators that are the backbone, because we operate on power," said Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin. "They are a godsend when it comes to emergencies."

When phone service is cut, 9-1-1 lines are down, power is out and major highways are blocked, ham radio still works. Early this week, amateur operators' signals provided the only route for sending messages across or outside Clatsop County.

"When communications went out, I couldn't get ahold of anybody," said Sgt. Mark Whisler as he worked in the emergency center's communications room on Friday. "It all fell to them."

As efforts move on from disaster response to recovery from ruin, volunteers can expect to go home soon.

Since the beginning of the storm, 42 amateur radio operators have held strategic posts from Arch Cape and Cannon Beach to the Seaside and Warrenton fire departments, Rilea Armed Forces Training Center, local dispatch centers and hospitals, the Knappa-Svensen sheriff's office substation and the American Red Cross.

"The first day, we had one guy talking nonstop," said Frank Van Winkle, of Astoria, the local assistant emergency coordinator for amateur radio. At one point, traffic was so heavy over the lines that a radio gave out, he said.

Many on the North Coast belong to Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club, whose communications bus also supported storm operations when the county generator temporarily shut down.

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Anderson County ARES Information

The Anderson County ARES net meets every Tuesday Night at 7PM local time.
We use the the W4SKH Oak Ridge ARC repeaters.

The main repeater is: 146.880 PL Tone 88.5 (Currently Online)
The current back up is: 146.970 (Currently Online)

The ARES Nation Simplex Frequency is 147.420 and will used if required.

The net preamble for the Anderson County ARES net can be found here.
NET PREAMBLE

Net Control Station Manual

New FCC BAND PLAN (pdf) Updated Version with a different layout HF Band Plan Vertical (pdf) Courtesy of KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

If you would like to join Anderson County ARES please complete the application form and submit it by email to Jeff or Moe.


Emergency Coordinator and Staff

Jeff Yawn K4IK Emergency Coordinator (865)567-2577
Jim Bogard - KY4L Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Larry Hensley - KB4ITS Asst Emergency Coordinator / Net Manager
Steve Lothridge - KI4RGN Net Manager
Moe Brewer - N4CQW Asst Emergency Coordinator / Webmaster

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