Ham radio operators take to airwaves for Wood County field day
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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub (P.A.R.K.) and the Wood County Emergency Communications (WCEC) held an annual Winter Field Day Saturday at the Parkersburg City Park in a local, regional and national emergency preparedness exercise.
Ham Radio Operators, or radio amateurs, prepare this exercise to prove, in the case of a weather-related or catastrophic event where cell towers would no longer be available for usage, that they can establish reliable forms of communication and verify message traffic into or out of an affected area. The radio amateurs operate under less than ideal conditions according to Wood County Emergency Communications radio amateur Kenny Harris. Harris, along with others who participated in Saturday's event, have been amateurs for almost 60 years.
"We're only holding this Winter Field Day for six hours, where during the annual field day during June, we'll be holding the exercise for twenty-four hours," said Harris. "Today we have about 1,100 communicating all over, and in June, with the American Radio Relay League, we'll have 4,000 to 5,000 participating."
Harris says that in the case of an emergency, the radio amateurs would be able to communicate with those all over the United States and even those all over the world. The amateurs make contact for emergency responders like police and fire departments, EMS and 911 centers during a crisis. They use emergency power, batteries or generators only, while communicating. While practicing, the amateurs are correcting any errors on the fly as well as any repairs that they may need to make, according to Harris.
"Most of us start out with this as a hobby, but many of us just end up becoming professional communicators," Harris said. "During Hurricane Katrina, many radio amateurs sent out emails using these communications to let the world know what was going on and to ask for help. It was also used during 9/11."
Harris quotes a familiar amateur radio saying stating, 'When all else fails, Amateur Radio.' He says that when catastrophic events happen, they're the guys that are ready to communicate for those in need. While Harris and others have been radio amateurs for over 60 years, there is always a call for young, new amateurs and classes can be taken to obtain one's amateur radio license.
For more information regarding amateur radio or classes on amateur radio, visit the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub website at w8par.org or the Wood County Emergency Communications website at wc8ce.org.
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com