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<H1 class=articleGraf>'Hams' honored for heroics in
emergencies</H1></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>
<DIV class=bylineText>
<DIV class=bylineExtra><FONT
face=Verdana></FONT></DIV><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Verdana>"Keep up
the good work." Essentially, that was Gov. Ted Kulongoski's message when the
state provided the <STRONG>Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)</STRONG>
organization with a special allocation of $250,000 earlier this
year.</FONT></DIV>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>According to Don Montgomery, coordinator
of the Jackson County chapter of ARES, the organization is using the money to
purchase digital communication equipment for ARES chapters in each Oregon
county.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>"ARES operators in coastal communities
really saved the day in providing backup communications during the winter storms
last December," says Montgomery. "The governor realized this and directed the
Legislature to allocate the money."</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>Those storms, some of the worst in
decades, knocked out both landline and cellular phone service for several days.
One town — the tiny community of Vernonia — was entirely cut off from the rest
of Oregon by flooding and landslides. Overall, a state of emergency existed in
four Oregon counties. Radio amateurs directed rescue crews to residents stranded
in these counties, while informing hospitals that patients were on the
way.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>Their role would be much the same should
a disaster occur in Jackson County.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>In an emergency, ARES members would tune
their radios to a designated frequency and listen for deployment instructions,
Montgomery says. "Overall, we have established some 20 ARES stations throughout
the county," he adds. "Plus, Mercy Flights recently donated a retired ambulance,
which is in the process of being converted into an emergency communication
vehicle with a full complement of radio equipment."</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>If needed, radio operators would rush to
these stations — located in all hospitals, as well as in some fire stations and
government buildings — and set up support service for fire, medical and rescue
personnel.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>With only about 20 ARES members to man
these stations, Montgomery is constantly seeking new recruits. Because Jackson
County has been lucky in avoiding the kinds of disasters that disable regular
communications, he finds it hard to convince some people that ARES is
necessary.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>Indeed, Montgomery himself has never
dealt with an emergency within Jackson County, though he has supported crews
fighting wildfires in Josephine County.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>Still, wildfires and earthquakes are
real concerns in our county, he insists, adding that ARES has trained with the
Bureau of Reclamation on what to do if a dam breaches.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>A radio operating license and a clean
criminal background are required for ARES membership. Another essential, says
Montgomery, is "a commitment to community service."</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>"Membership involves a fair amount of
time," he explains. "You must be willing to study and take some courses, which
can be done online. Then you must attend a certain number of training sessions
each year. You're taught how to handle messages properly and how to perform
under stressful conditions."</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>According to Montgomery, ARES offers
licensing classes two or three times a year for folks who would like to join the
organization but aren't yet licensed radio operators.</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>"I love to use my radio to communicate
with foreign operators all over the world," says Montgomery. "When I do that,
I'm a hobbyist. But that's not what ARES is about."</FONT></P>
<P class=articleGraf><FONT face=Verdana>Contact Montgomery at 482-2222 if you
are interested in putting your radio operating skills to serious use as an ARES
member.</FONT></P>
<DIV class=bylineText><FONT face=Verdana>Paul Hadella</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=bylineExtra><FONT face=Verdana>The Mail
Tribune</FONT></DIV></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>
<P><A
href="http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS/806230320"
target=_blank><FONT
face=Verdana>http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS/806230320</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Fonte: </FONT><FONT face=Verdana>Southgate
News.</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>