San Jose City Hall, 801 North First Street, Room 436, San Jose, CA 95110 (408)277-5131

Local HAM Radio Operators Prepare for Disaster
Worldwide Field Day Exercise Prepares Group in Assisting Community

San José, California – More than two dozen volunteer amateur radio operators will gather at the Berryessa Community Center park in San José on June 23rd and 24th to practice their radio contact skills in the event of a disaster. The San José RACES (Radio Amateurs in Emergency Services) group will use a variety of amateur radios, a forest of antennas, and alternative power – including bicycle generated and solar power – in an effort to reach other HAMS around the world. This exercise will prepare them to staff the radio room in the Emergency Operations Center for the City of San José during a local emergency, such as a flood or an earthquake.

“Each year, the group donates thousands of hours to the City by staffing a variety of exercises and actual emergency events,” said Frannie Edwards-Winslow, Director of Emergency Services for the City of San José. “During the Boulder fire last fall, RACES members provided vital communications links between the City’s Emergency Operations Center and affected areas of the community. In previous years, the group has also served as a critical link to American Red Cross shelters during flooding.”

A World War II communications vehicle, radios on three bands, a low power radio van, and 24-hour operations on emergency power will highlight the 2001 Field Day in San José. Information about amateur radio as a hobby, San Jose RACES as a volunteer opportunity, and emergency preparedness tips for the summer’s anticipated power outages will also be available at the Field Day radio demonstration area.

Amateur radio operators who are members of San Jose’s RACES group will set up antennas, radio gear and a public information table in the Berryessa Community Center from Saturday noon through Sunday noon, June 23 through 24. The public is encouraged to stop by to become better acquainted with amateur radio and the services provided to the residents of San José. Community members will be led to the event through the use of low band radio announcements. Signs along Capital Expressway and Berryessa Road will invite people to tune to the San José low band station, 1340 AM, for directions to the Berryessa Community Center and park, and information about Field Day events.

Field Day is a worldwide event, sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. About 35,000 ham operators annually participate in communities throughout the world. Last year, San José’s amateur radio operators made contacts in Europe, Japan, Mexico and Australia, as well as throughout the United States.

The 2001 RACES Field Day event in San José is free and open to the public.

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