Amateur Radio Part of the 2006 Alabama EMA and Alabama-Mississippi Hurricane Conference

ARRL Alabama SM Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, at the recent Conference of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers in Mobile.

Aug 8, 2006 -- Emergency Managers from all over Alabama and Mississippi assembled for the 2006 Alabama Association of Emergency Managers conference in Mobile. The VIP list for the July 24-28 conference was impressive: Alabama Governor Bob Riley; Alabama and Mississippi State EMA Directors; Max Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Center; past FEMA Director James Lee Witt, and the current FEMA Director, R. David Paulison.

Presentations, meetings and breakout sessions included a broad range of emergency management, hurricane disaster, Incident Command System (ICS) and lessons-learned topics. This type of conference is a "must attend" event for Section Managers and SECs who plan to work in emergency and disaster operations. We met dozens of emergency management personnel and have started building relationships with them -- before the next disaster.

W4OZK was on the emergency communications breakout session panel alongside FEMA, State EMA and industry representatives. He spoke about the ARRL and Amateur Radio's involvement in EMCOMM and how Amateur Radio has assisted, and can continue to assist during disasters.

There was a two day vendor show-and-tell, providing the opportunity for W4OZK and Alabama SEC Jay Isbell, KA4KUN, to show off Amateur Radio. We showed dozens of emergency management personnel the ARRL Ham-Aid "Go Kits" and the newest digital technology, D-Star equipment.

W4OZK met with and discussed Amateur Radio with FEMA Director Paulison, who now knows more about the emergency communications side of Amateur Radio. The conference was a very informative for us and greatly beneficial to the emergency managers. We found many people interested in what Amateur Radio can do. We held a VE test session and tested nine EMA personnel. -- Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Alabama Section Manager

Previous: The "Trio Bob" Welcomes You to ARRL Headquarters!

Next: Greek Space Campers Converse via Ham Radio with German Astronaut