Amateur Radio Operators to Assist in an Emergency:

MOULTRIE, Ga. -- "When all else fails\& Amateur Radio" is the motto of the Amateur Radio Relay League and, with this in mind, the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support emergency communications within the county. The MOU was signed by Colquitt County Sheriff Rod Howell and Colquitt County ARES Emergency Coordinator Andy Clark on Friday in the sheriff's office. "We do this service so that the community can be better prepared in a disaster," Clark said. The MOU serves as a working agreement between these agencies in the event of an emergency where the existing communications infrastructure is compromised because of natural or manmade disasters. These guidelines are adopted and revised periodically when necessary to reflect current and community needs and practice. The guidelines are based on best practices and reflect efforts by the sheriff's office and ARES to ensure the community is protected during time of need. "Colquitt County Sheriff Rod Howell sees the benefits in having a trained communications service ready if a disaster strikes within his jurisdiction," said Clark. The local ARES group provides emergency backup communications for the county when communications are restricted. The ARES members are all volunteers and part of the national organization, Amateur Radio Relay League, which has be in existence since April 1914. The ARES volunteers provide their own equipment and are constantly training and applying their skills in case they are needed.

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