During most disasters local communications fail. The Red Cross needs to be able to communicate with Government officials, volunteers, other chapters and the National Red Cross to provide the expected relief that the Red Cross has been known for. To do that we use volunteer Amateur Radio operators.
‘We always experience some loss of communication during some of the disasters that occurred in our region.” said Mike Zabko, Chief Executive Office Southern Maryland Chapter. “Currently we have a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations [ARC & SMARC] which has a very positive impact in our ability to provide disaster communications to the Southern Maryland Community. We need to continually train new radio operators and prepare together for disasters that is why we are coordinating a new operators course” He continued.
This is a 5 week course, one night a week.
Dates: July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2
Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: $5.00
Location: American Red Cross Southern Maryland chapter headquarters
9255 W & W Industrial Drive, La Plata, MD
RSVP at ka3pox(at)verizon.net
Upon completion of the course, you will get the opportunity to take the exam. For those that are successful and obtain their license, you will be given a portable VHF HT radio free of charge to get started communicating. The radios are being donated by LDG Electronics a local Southern Maryland company.
As a trained Red Cross emergency responder the volunteers of the Southern MD Radio Club will have the ability to ensure communications are not interrupted during times of disaster,” said Ken LaCapria, President of the SMARC organization. “We will be working together with the Southern Maryland Chapter to supply trained emergency communicators to further the Homeland Security preparedness that the Red Cross has been involved in both locally and nationally." He continued.
‘We always experience some loss of communication during some of the disasters that occurred in our region.” said Mike Zabko, Chief Executive Office Southern Maryland Chapter. “Currently we have a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations [ARC & SMARC] which has a very positive impact in our ability to provide disaster communications to the Southern Maryland Community. We need to continually train new radio operators and prepare together for disasters that is why we are coordinating a new operators course” He continued.
This is a 5 week course, one night a week.
Dates: July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2
Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: $5.00
Location: American Red Cross Southern Maryland chapter headquarters
9255 W & W Industrial Drive, La Plata, MD
RSVP at ka3pox(at)verizon.net
Upon completion of the course, you will get the opportunity to take the exam. For those that are successful and obtain their license, you will be given a portable VHF HT radio free of charge to get started communicating. The radios are being donated by LDG Electronics a local Southern Maryland company.
As a trained Red Cross emergency responder the volunteers of the Southern MD Radio Club will have the ability to ensure communications are not interrupted during times of disaster,” said Ken LaCapria, President of the SMARC organization. “We will be working together with the Southern Maryland Chapter to supply trained emergency communicators to further the Homeland Security preparedness that the Red Cross has been involved in both locally and nationally." He continued.