Southern Crescent Amateur Radio Club

For Immediate Release

“Radio Hams” from Henry County join in national deployment
Public Demo of Emergency Communications June 26 – 27

Stockbridge, GA June 26, 2010 – Henry County “hams” will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham Radio” – was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio’s people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 26 – 27, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Henry County ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called “Field Day” is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and backyards around the country. Their slogan, “When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

“We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather’s radio anymore,” said Allen Pitts, W1AGP, of the ARRL. “The communications that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives when other systems failed or were overloaded. And besides that – it’s fun!”

In the Henry County area, the Southern Crescent Amatuer Radio Club will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at Henry Medical Center on June 26, 2010. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

There are over 650,000 Amateur Radio licensees in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services program, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies, all for free.

To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to www.southerncrescentradio.org & www.emergency-radio.org. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can even help you get on the air!

This page is where you will find important documents related to the club, band plans, net scripts, etc…

SCARC / CARES Band Plan

SCARC / CARES Net Script

Meeting Minutes:

CARES Meeting Minutes 01-26-10
CARES Meeting Minutes 02-23-10
CARES Meeting Minutes 03-23-10

As some of you may have notice we had some problems with forum spam again. The offending post has been removed and I have implemented a couple of changes to prevent spammers for registering for an account.

If anyone sees any new spam on the forums please contact me and let me know. We may have to go to a stricter standard for registration.

December 12, 2009 we will have the ARRL ECC 01 & 02 classes at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church. Classes will start at 9:00AM. If you wish to begin studying, you can download the slideshows listed below.

ARECC_Level 1 Part 1
ARECC_Level 1 Part 2

First a reminder that tonight’s net will have a simplex net immediately following the normal Monday night net. The simplex net will take place on 146.530MHz simplex. Everyone is encouraged to participate, we need all the relays we can get.

Stacy Kirkwood forwarded the following information from GEMA.

GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Situation Awareness Statement #1

Tropical Storm Ida: Monday, November 9, 2008
Hurricane OPCON 4 – SOC Level 3 (Monitoring)

Map 1: Tropical Storm Ida forecast track valid November 9, 2008 at 10:00 am EST.

Overview:

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Ida which has sustained winds of 70 mph and is weakening. Ida is currently located at 26.5º N Latitude and 88.3º W Longitude or about 285 miles south-southwest of Pensacola, Fl. Ida is moving toward the north-northwest at 17 mph and may make landfall on the central Gulf coast sometime before sunrise Tuesday morning. Following landfall, Ida will make a turn toward the east and move along / near the southern Georgia / northern Florida border.

Threat to Georgia:

Rainfall and Flooding:

Map 2: Hydrometeorological Prediction Center rainfall prediction valid from 8:00 am EST today through 8:00 am EST Wednesday.

Rainfall totals from Ida are forecast to be sufficient to produce some flooding in northern and central Georgia. The current two-day rainfall totals – which will mostly fall between 7:00 am Tuesday and 1:00 am Wednesday – range from four to six inches with isolated higher totals. The rainfall totals expected from Ida have prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue a Flash Flood Watch for northern and central Georgia that is valid from late tonight through early Wednesday. The watch area is generally north of a line from Columbus to Macon to Warrenton. The highest rainfall totals are anticipated from Carrollton to metro Atlanta to Gainesville. Lesser amounts (1″ – 2″) are forecast for southern portions of the state.

The rainfall from Ida will cause creeks and streams to rapidly rise Tuesday producing minor flooding. Minor flooding along main-stem rivers is possible. Areas most likely to experience flooding include the mountainous areas of the north and metro Atlanta. No major or widespread significant flooding is anticipated at this time, however all are urged to maintain a close watch on flood prone areas and monitor the system’s progress via their local NWS office.

Winds:

Tropical Storm Ida will be making landfall along the Gulf coast tomorrow morning and moving eastward toward southwest and southern Georgia on Tuesday and through the state on Wednesday. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) the highest probabilities for tropical storm force winds (winds between 39 and 73 mph) exist in southwest Georgia where probabilities range from 50% to 60%. Accordingly, the NWS has issued a Tropical Storm Wind Watch for portion of southwest Georgia.

At this time, no major long-term sustained wind event is anticipated in Georgia; however, low-end tropical storm force winds will be possible on Tuesday which may produce sporadic power outages and potentially downed trees.

Tornadoes:

As Tropical Storm Ida moves eastward into southern Georgia on Tuesday and Wednesday, a minor chance for some isolated / weak / brief tornadoes exists. The most likely location for potential tornadoes will be far southern Georgia from the Georgia-Alabama border to the Georgia coast. At this time, the Storm Prediction Center has NOT issued a slight or higher risk for severe thunderstorms.

Summary:

Heavy rain will affect most of central and north Georgia Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Local emergency management officials should monitor flood prone areas for problems, although widespread major flooding is unlikely. The State Operations Center is partially activated as of 5:00 AM Tuesday and Emergency Support Functions are on alert if needed. The State is monitoring any potential fuel supply issues as well, no major disruptions are expected.

Follow-up Awareness Statements will be issued as deemed appropriate.