City of Newport asks residents to get radio-ready in event of cellphone outage because convenience does not trump disasters

Hurricane season began June 1st and with residents increasingly reliant on cellular and WiFi networks, Newport’s Emergency Management Team wants to find out just how prepared Newport is to withstand a widespread communications outage by asking the question: What happens when the cell towers go down?

The exercise is part of the City’s ongoing emergency management training and aims to engage directly with the community to simulate what could one day become a real-world scenario.

Playing a central role in the effort will be the volunteer members of the Newport County Radio Club, which since 1945 has been educating the community and training “ham” radio operators throughout Newport County.

During the exercise on June 29 from noon to 2 p.m., radio operators from the Newport County Radio Club will staff a 2-meter VHF station at Firehouse 1, where incoming transmissions from across the City will be received from a network of ham relay operators strategically positioned across the city.

This happens in cities all around the world and even if you don't have an amateur radio license even a handheld walkie-talkie would go a long way to tuning into what is happening during such an event.

#amateurradio #hamradio #disaster

See #^http://www.thenewportbuzz.com/city-asks-residents-to-get-radio-ready-in-event-of-cell-phone-outage/18903
#^City asks residents to get Radio Ready in event of cell phone outage

Hurricane season began June 1st and with residents increasingly reliant on cellular and WiFi networks, Newport’s Emergency Management Team wants to find out just how prepared Newport is to withstand a widespread communications outage by asking the question: What happens when the cell towers go down? On Saturday, June 29, 2019, members of the Newport Fire…

source https://gadgeteer.co.za/node/3297