SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio – When an emergency occurs, communication can be key.
Summit County’s emergency response team has a new partner to help them respond to everything from severe weather to disasters: amateur radio operators.
“I have my radio programmed with many different frequencies,” said Ken Dorsey, emergency coordinator for Summit County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
He says cell phones don’t always work in major emergencies, so he keeps a radio in his car just in case.
“We conduct emergency communications when there is a disaster or major event,” Dorsey said.
Dorsey says they are working with the Summit County EMA to provide radio communications.
“We would probably staff the new communications center in Tallmadge because we have the equipment there now. We could also set up in remote locations if necessary,” he said. “That would be a perfect example. Maybe the Red Cross is opening shelters and might want communication between the shelters or with the main Red Cross center.”
Ted Urbach set up a radio station at home. His father and father-in-law helped him become an amateur radio operator.
“My father-in-law gave me a handheld radio that I stored away for several years,” he said. “We dug it out and I thought, ‘Let’s see if I can get it to work.’ And it worked.”
This has now developed into a system that enables Urbach to speak to people on the other side of the world if necessary.
“These are mainly used for long-distance communication: Europe, Africa, basically all over the world,” said Urbach, pointing to a particular radio.
Dorsey, on the other hand, owns a portable Radio Go Box that allows him to take his radio with him wherever he goes.
“All the radio equipment is here. All you have to do is connect it to a battery,” he said. “That’s one of our battery packs. Then connect it to an antenna and you’re good to go.”
