EMERGENCY RESPONSE Military exercise brings radio operators together

An official said the exercise was 'a big success.'
SALEM -- Several local amateur radio operators in Columbiana and Summit counties broadcast emergency messages recently in a military exercise run by the Ohio Army Military Affiliate Radio System, or MARS.
The exercise at 9 a.m. Dec. 4 involved a hypothetical severe winter storm causing widespread power outages and damage to homes and buildings.
Michael Nelson, a local Salem amateur radio operator and the administrative officer for Ohio Army MARS, said that the purpose of the joint exercise was to see how military and civilian radio operators could work together in a disaster to enhance emergency communications across the state.
In the county, amateurs belonging to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service -- ARES -- are typically activated to provide communications support for the Emergency Management Agency, local public safety agencies and organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, he explained.
"The MARS program is run by the military and utilizes frequencies and modes of communications not available to hams [amateur radio operators], and has the ability to talk directly with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, to name a few of the federal organizations that MARS interfaces with," Nelson explained.
Joint exercise
When approached about the possibility of a joint exercise, Mel Lippiatt, the county emergency coordinator for ARES, jumped on the chance to see how these two organizations could work together.
"I was extremely pleased with how the drill went," said Lippiatt.
Nelson agreed. "As both an ARES member and a MARS officer, I was in a unique position to get an overall view of how this exercise went, and it was a big success."
One message for FEMA assistance went to Washington, D.C., and a reply was made in 43 minutes. "A FEMA team would have been on its way within 90 minutes of the request, which is a very good response time," Nelson said.
Both organizations are planning future joint training exercises to work out the details of how exactly this military/civilian collaboration can work to save lives and speed emergency communications in the post 9/11 world.
Both MARS and ARES are run by volunteers who are licensed radio operators, and provide emergency communications 24 hours a day, year-round, to help their local communities and the state and federal governments in times of disaster.
People interested in getting an amateur license and helping their community can contact the Salem Area Amateur Radio Association at saara@qsl.net or SAARA, P.O. Box 696, Salem OH 44460. There is a class starting soon with plenty of seats available.