Ham radios in disaster preparedness
The Coachella Valley is prone to potential natural disasters like earthquakes which could knock out many lines of communication. If that happens ham radios can be the key in sending essential information.
A radio is being tuned as this ham radio operator works from his Cathedral City home searching for people to talk to. For him it’s something he loves to do.
“There’s probably 50 radios all dating from the late 1920s, through the 1950s,” Glenn Morrison said.
He’s the president of the Desert R.A.T.S., an amateur radio club in Palm Springs. He’s worked with ham radios since he was 18.
“It’s a hobby and it’s open to just all sorts of different things,” Morrison said.
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Like communicating with just about anyone all over the world and even being able to send pictures and texting in code, something he describes as being similar to social media before the internet.
According to Morrison, there are about 1,000 licensed ham radio operators in the Coachella Valley. At his particular location, conversations have been made in places like Canada, Belize, and even Antarctica.
Conversations that become essential in emergency situations, like an earthquake that could rock the Coachella Valley and knock out communications. Ham radio operators can become a lifeline for many coping with the disaster.
“Some go through our neighborhoods and are CERT members to give disaster reports to the local emergency communication center,” Morrison said.
He said the ham radios can relay information locally with the help of signal repeaters up on Edom Hill, and some radios just require the use of a 12 volt battery..
“A 5 watt walkie talkie for a hundred bucks, you can communicate down to Brawley and every place in the valley because of this repeater up on the hill,” Morrison said.
Whether it’s for fun or providing live saving information, ham radios will remain an important tool in this age of technology.
Operating a ham radio requires a license. The Desert R.A.T.S. will be holding classes to obtain one. If you’re interested, we have the details available here.
