'Ham' Operators Play Role in Emergency Response:

Amateur radio operators -- called hams -- are always ready to spring into action to provide a vital communications link under the worst conditions, including when electricity and phones are out, and even for fun events, such as rallies and concerts. The American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio operators, describes amateur radio -- which is known as ham radio, although the reason why remains a mystery even though there are several plausible explanations -- as "a mix of fun, public service and experimentation." Locally, members of the Marion County Emergency Radio Communication Team are an example of the contributions of ham operators in times of emergency. Marion County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lauren Lettelier said amateur radio operators on the team allow for a "proactive support method" to provide back-up communications where needed during events such as shelter activation, tropical storms or hurricanes, political rallies, concerts, parades and wildfires.

from Ham Radio Times http://ift.tt/2sB9aKH
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