Note: Photo included.
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/now/49346652.html
“Amateur Radio Operators Prepare for Emergencies in Granby”
By CBS 3 Springfield
Story Published: Jun 27, 2009 at 7:05 PM EDT
Story Updated: Jun 27, 2009 at 7:05 PM EDT
SNIPPET: “The event is practice for a national disaster drill.
It simulates a massive emergency, like Hurricane Katrina, that puts conventional forms of communication out of commission.
“In the event of an actual emergency, we can get antennas and towers up as quickly as possible and have auxiliary communications in the event civil communications go down,” said event organizer Richard Stewart.”
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705313380,00.html
“Amateur radio operators ham it up in Utah County”
By Amy Joi O’Donoghue
Deseret News
Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009 1:32 p.m. MDT
SPANISH FORK —
SNIPPET: “It’s not all fun and games. The communication device that first debuted back in the ‘30s has proven itself invaluable in real-life emergencies.
“In a disaster, the first communication to go is a cell phone, and the last to be restored is a cell phone,” Williams said. “With all this instant messaging with parents, our spouse, our kids, our friends — we are spoiled, quite frankly.”
Using emergency power, hams assembled emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and even backyards around the country. In Utah, the favorite place to set up a remote station is on a mountaintop.
There are 660,000 amateur radio operators in the country and more than 2.5 million around the world. Years ago, most hams were radio technicians or engineers. Today, many hams joined the hobby as a way to prepare for emergencies, but they also make great friendships along the way.”