Larry Dale of the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub (P.A.R.K.) and Kenny Harris of Wood County Emergency Communications (WCEC) appeared Monday before the Wood County Commission to talk about the importance of Amateur Radio (also known as ham radio) to the area and to emergency communications. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission has declared this week as “Amateur Radio Week” in the county, culminating with the annual American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day nationwide event this weekend.

Larry Dale of the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub (P.A.R.K.) and Kenny Harris of Wood County Emergency Communications (WCEC) appeared Monday before the commission to talk about the importance of Amateur Radio (also known as ham radio) to the area and to emergency communications.

In the commission’s resolution, officials highlighted their understanding of the importance and reliability of ham radio to provide backup emergency communications during natural disasters and other emergencies.

“…the Wood County Commission understands the significance of having qualified Federally-licensed ham operators who commit, volunteer and serve,” the resolution said.

Officials talked about how ham radio operators have always acted as a backup for emergency communications.

In talking about amateur radio, Dale said there is a saying “when all else fails, it always gets through.”

The observance of “Amateur Radio Week” is combined with The American Radio Relay League Field Day event, a national exercise of preparedness, that is always conducted on the Saturday and Sunday of the fourth full weekend of June.

The P.A.R.K. and WCEC will be operating from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday this weekend with public displays of equipment, antennas, and alternate power sources. The public can participate “live on-the-air” with ham radio operators at Fort Boreman Park, 1042 Fort Boreman Dr., Parkersburg, and from Hendershot Farm, 163 Hendershot Farm Drive, Walker.

Dale said there will be 40,000 ham radio operators on the air nationwide during the field day.

Harris encouraged the elected officials to come out to one of the sites and see what was happening.

Both men said they have received radio messages for all 50 states and Dale said he was communicating via Morse Code earlier this year with someone in France.

“This is a demonstration of our readiness to provide backup communications,” Dale said.

He talked about how Fort Boreman Park provides a good location to transmit from.

“It is important in radio to have elevation,” Dale said.

The county is also providing space at the new Wood County 911 Center for amateur radio operators to help out in emergency situations.

Dale has been involved with amateur radio for over 60 years and remains proficient in Morse Code which has seen a decline in qualified people over the years.

Amateur radio operators have been utilized to help out as recently as the flooding that occurred in Ohio County and have worked with the American Red Cross.

“Ham radio is the kind of thing where we can come in with a satchel and set up communications,” Dale said. “There are no trucks necessary, no generators necessary. We use batteries, wires and radios.”

Officials remember amateur radio operators helping out during the Belleville tornado years ago.

Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.

“We understand the significance of having qualified federally licensed ham radio operators who commit, volunteer and serve,” Commission President Blair Couch said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.