From our Whitley News Network partner, Talk of the Town

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

If there was a disaster and many forms of emergency communication were knocked out, how would emergency personnel be notified or communicate?
Fortunately, amateur radio operators have the technology, equipment and skills to help – and they’ll be testing those skills this Saturday.

The Whitley County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) will be conducting a Simulated Emergency Test (SET). The safety drill is preformed annually in the fall and it enables local amateur radio enthusiasts to determine whether, if called upon, they’d be prepared to help in a disaster situation.

“This year we will be performing SET on Nov. 7, 2009,” said Edward Scott, Whitley County ARES emergency coordinator. Scott said this year’s scenario will be a possible contamination of Churubusco’s water system.

Topping Scott’s concerns this week are making sure members of the community know this: it’s just a test. He doesn’t want to see pandemonium or frantic people ala “War of the Worlds” – but he does want to assess the readiness of local residents to react and perform if normally reliable forms of communication were unavailable.

According to Scott, there are 3 main purposes for SET.

“First, to find out the strengths and weaknesses of ARES, NTS (National Traffic System), RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) and other groups in providing emergency communications,” he said.

“Second, to provide a public demonstration to served agencies such as the American Red Cross, the emergency management agency and through the news media of the value to the public that Amateur Radio provides, particularly in time of need,” he added. “Finally, to help radio amateurs gain experience in communications using standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated-emergency conditions.”

Saturday’s SET will be starting around 10 a.m. The drill is expected to last no longer than 4-5 hours.

“The public will need to understand that this is a drill only,” Scott said. “Amateurs will be set-up all through the county, but primarily in Churubusco and Columbia City.”

Scott is working hard to inform the public about the test and make sure people understand what they’re doing in advance.

For more information on the Whitley County Amateur Radio Emergency Services, contact Edward Scott at k9ejs@arrl.net