ARRL Preparedness Month
Are you prepared?
By Paul Teel, WB5ANX
It’s September and that brings a focus on being prepared. Ready.gov raises awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Oklahoma is no stranger to disasters and taking time to be prepared is a smart thing. Preparedness takes many forms. Food, water, power are the most common ways people prepare.
Within the Amateur Radio community, we focus on communications preparedness. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is a group of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. In Tulsa we have many volunteers that have completed the required training and participate in our local events. We also work very closely with Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) on preparedness planning. The ARRL recommends we conduct a simulated emergency test every year. Plans for 2022 are still pending but you can get the latest information on our weekly net. Every Thursday at 8pm; weeks 1-3 on 147.390 (88.5 pl) or weeks 4 & 5 on the SuperLink system. In Tulsa that’s on 443.850 (88.5 pl). Join us and check in…all hams are welcome.
It’s a great idea to use the month of September to ensure you and your family are prepared for all the various disasters that could come our way. Build a go-bag with the essentials you will need in an emergency. Also, go to www.ready.gov for ideas and tools to help. If you want to know more about ARES, please look at www.aresok.org or contact me at WB5ANX@ARRL.NET. Don’t let September pass without acting to be prepared.