Demonstration of Alternative Emergency Communication Methods
Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services, in concert with Williamson and Lee County offices of Emergency Communication, will conduct a demonstration of alternative communications methods. The joint demonstration will allow Lee County officials to evaluate the use of amateur radio to communicate with emergency services when normal communication methods are interrupted. Both voice and data communications will be demonstrated and will be conducted between Lee and Williamson County Emergency Operation Centers. The demonstration will be conducted at the Lee County Sheriff’s Complex, in Giddings, March 8and 9, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
Lee County officials are quoted: Delynn Pschke, Lee County Emergency Management Coordinator states, “Lee County is excited to have a joint communications exercise/demonstration with Williamson County, Williamson County ARES and Lee County ARES. This exercise/demonstration shows cooperation between all parties involved and will strengthen our response to emergencies.” Rodney Meyer, Lee County Sheriff sent a letter stating, “The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is excited to have the Williamson County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and Lee County ARES coming together for a demonstration on the capabilities to deploy and establish radio communications in Lee County and between Lee County EOC and Williamson County EOC and the State Operations Center . . . “.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) consists of Amateur Radio licensees who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. ARES is an official organization of the Amateur Radio Relay League, ARRL, and serves disaster related agencies.
The exercise was a great learning experience.
A joint demonstration between Williamson County Emergency Services and Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (WC-ARES) was held March 8-9, 2019 allowing Lee County officials to evaluate alternative communications. The “Giddings Times & News” and the “Lexington Leader” were on hand to view the operations March 8th resulting in published articles. These articles can be found by obtaining a copy of:
- “Giddings Times and News” dated March 14, 2019 … “Lee County officials evaluate alternative communication” on page 10.
- “Lexington Leader” dated March 13, 2019 … “Emergency Communication Methods Evaluated”.
For more information regarding the Lee County Amateur Radio Emergency Comminutions (ARES), please contact: Marida, KD5BJ, Lee County Emergency Coordinator for ARES, at ec.lee.kd5bj@gmail.com.