 Jim White - Amateur Radio/Skywarn/Net Control Volunteer Local Amateur Radio
Organizations Within Steuben County there
is a local
organization of volunteer radio operators that assist the County Office
of
Emergency Services with emergency radio communications and severe
weather
spotting. The Keuka Lake Amateur Radio
Association
(KLARA) works under federal guidelines established in the
mid-1930’s to
provide
radio communications for State and Local governments in times of
emergency. Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES) was created in 1952
primarily to
serve in civil defense emergencies. RACES
provides essential communications and warning links to
supplement State and Local government during emergencies and disasters.
Amateur
Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) is
an independent program sponsored by the American Radio Relay League,
(ARRL) Inc.
This program provides emergency communications to Federal, State,
County, Local
governments, as well as non-profit organizations. This pool of
organized
operators provides reliable primary or secondary communications links
for
governmental agencies and/or non-profit organizations when needed. The
agency
provides organized back-up links to overloaded or disrupted
communications.
This agency also provides organizations with public service
communications
during events though out the County such as the Dansville Balloon
Festival and
the Wineglass Marathon. By providing this service ARES makes events
within
Steuben County safer more efficient. During disasters or emergency
situations
FCC licensed amateur radio operators from KLARA, assist Steuben County
Emergency
Services with sever weather notification, damage reports, provide links
to
other emergency service providers, and jurisdictions throughout the
State. The
primary responsibility for each member is to participate in training
sessions,
develop strong backgrounds in emergency procedures, be knowledgeable of
FCC
rules and Regulations, and network procedures. By
being a member of the KLARA organization, each member
is signing on
to be available when the County requires emergency communications. These members prove themselves as an
invaluable resource during severe weather events and organized
exercises. Click
on the images below to go to their sites.
updated 03/03/08 jenn |
