GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – It’s hurricane season, and that means an increased risk of long-term power outages. In times of emergency, amateur operators can help the community get in touch with first responders.
These radio operators are pivotal communicators that help keep families safe when power lines are down.
Sunday marks the last day of Amateur Radio Field Day, and the Clay County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Orange Park Amateur Radio Club (OPARC) are hosting a live demonstration to show the importance of amateur radio operations.
These amateur radio operators are pros at keeping communications open when power lines are down in times of crises.
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This weekend they’re showing the public what they’re capable of for Amateur Radio Field Day.
“So Field Day is the largest amateur radio gathering in the US. What we do is at the time of the year, where its hurricane season here in Florida. But we use that in preparation for hurricane season. We’ll set up our equipment, we’ll be working off of generators, solar panel batteries, things like that,” OPARC’s Public Information Officer Scott Roberts said.
Amateur radio, also known as HAM radio, is used as emergency communication to connect first responders to the public when power is out.
“So, we’ve worked through several hurricanes, in Duval County, Clay County,” Roberts said. “We have in Hurricane Irma, communications was disabled between the emergency operation center or the north part of the county and Keystone Heights south part of the county and our amateur radios were used.”
According to the CDC, seven million Floridians were impacted by Hurricane Irma, and amateur radio operators played a key role in keeping people safe.
People can learn for themselves how this system works and how they can get involved in becoming an operator.
The Clay ARES and the OPARC will run a live demonstration on the last day of Amateur Radio Day Sunday at Camp Chowenwaw Park in Green Cove Springs.
It is open to the public and runs all morning until noon.