Central California Hams Respond to Earthquake

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 24, 2003--About two dozen Amateur Radio operators aided the American Red Cross in San Luis Obispo County, California, providing radio links between shelters and the ARC San Luis Obispo Chapter office after an earthquake struck Central California on December 22.

"San Luis Obispo ARES/RACES operators were activated by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services to help man the county-wide Emergency Operations Center and to provide backup communications support to the Red Cross when the cellular phones proved unreliable following the initial quake at 11:15 AM," said Santa Barbara Section Manager Robert Griffin, K6YR.

Griffin said the American Red Cross quickly established three shelters: one in hard-hit Paso Robles, another in Morro Bay and a third shelter in the southern part of the county. Hams maintained Emergency Coordination Center stations at the shelters, providing 2 meter links with the ARC San Luis Obispo Chapter office. "About 24 operators were involved. By 10 PM Monday night, the primary ARC communication resources were again reliable, and the ARES net secured," Griffin said.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was a magnitude 6.5 event. Two people were killed in the town of Paso Robles, about 25 miles from the epicenter. Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger, after touring the area December 23, declared a local state of emergency for the county.

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