![]() In the late 1970s, a series of storms hit Carroll County and radio club members were there. ![]() The members have worked with county emergency officials to provide communications when necessary ever since. The Carroll County Amateur Radio Club was formed in 1976. Amateur radios have been used in the county since at least 1935, when several enthusiasts in and around Westminster became licensed. The portable radio unit can easily be moved from one spot to the next. Ham radios are not reliant on current infrastructure, thanks to portable antennas. During a few powerful hurricanes, including Category 2 Hurricane Frances in 2004, ham radios were necessary tools for communication because cellphone communications were severely hampered by wind damage. Andy Leeds, the club's president, previously lived in Melbourne, Fla., where he saw firsthand how useful ham radios can be in times of natural disasters. They are well versed in how to set up communications in emergency situations should cellphone towers and phone lines be somehow rendered useless. on the second Sunday of each month at the Carroll County Fire Training Center off Kate Wagner Road in Westminster. "We're here to help in any way we can," Hoge said in October while manning his communications post at Winters Mill. At least one radio operator, usually two, were positioned at the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center in Westminster for the duration of the storm. During Sandy, ham radio operators were located at Winters Mill and Century high schools, the two sites designated as shelters by the county. The Carroll County Amateur Radio Club is always ready to provide communication options during emergencies if other options that are reliant on the current infrastructure fall through. But even if they hadn't, ham radio operators like Hoge would have been able to keep communication lines open. Peak winds in the area were roughly 60 mph. The county was spared the worst from Sandy. He was surrounded by a car battery, an antenna and a ham radio at Winters Mill, which was serving as one of the county's two official shelters while Sandy moved through. One day after Superstorm Sandy pushed ashore in late October, John Hoge was positioned inside the Winters Mill High School attendance office in Westminster.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |