The Paulding County Ohio Amateur Radio Club in conjunction with Haviland Drainage products now has an emergency communications power panel. The panel will be able to provide power even when the electric grid is down.
The power panel was installed at the digester at Haviland Drainage Products. The digester operates independent of the grid and will be able to provide power for an extended period of time even when the grid is offline.
The radio club was gifted a recreational trailer which they are converting into an emergency communications trailer. The trailer when finished will be able to provide potential lifesaving communications to the proper authorities when conventional means of communication are not available.
Radio club members refine their skills regularly and can play a quiet but significant role during an emergency. Most counties have amateur radio clubs. According to Fred Pieper, club president, “Although club members view their involvement as a hobby (they reach out and talk to fellow amateur radio operators from their community, around the state, nation and internationally), most are also available upon request to provide communication services during emergencies and at community events.”
Amateur radio clubs have partnerships with such agencies as the American Red Cross, National Hurricane Center, National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, Department of Homeland Security Citizen Corps, Salvation Army and Civil Air Patrol and the National Weather Service.
For more information about this project or Amateur Radio, email Fred Pieper at fredpiep@bright.net.
