Emergency Radio Communicators

[Up] [WCEC Mission Statement] [Emergency Service Affiliations] [Emergency Radio Communicators] [Our New Office Complex]

Amateur radio operators in the United States have a long and distinguished history of community service, most notably in the field of emergency communications.

Whenever regular communications channels are down and/or commercial electric power systems have failed or are overloaded, "hams" have provided a temporary and reliable back-up system. Fires, floods, earthquakes, major storms, power outages ... virtually any disruption of normal services brings out the amateur radio emergency teams. While their primary emphasis is on relaying "health and welfare" information, hams also provide direct support to public safety agencies when regular channels of communications are inaccessible.

Who Are These Amateur Radio Volunteers?

Licensed amateur radio operators include college professors, engineers, students, business executives, public employees, retirees, and homemakers ... folks from all walks of life who have developed technical skills in the electronics and communications fields and who want to make a valuable contribution to their communities. In Wood County these volunteers have formed an organization to train and support their efforts. Wood County Emergency Communications was formed in 1983 to provide emergency communications to the area.

A Word About “Amateur” Radio

Let’s clear up a possible confusing term here. The Federal Communications Commission licenses certain non-commercial radio operators as "amateurs" because they are not permitted to accept any pay for their services. The word "amateur" is not an accurate description of these trained, licensed, and experienced communicators who know the territory and understand their role when the need arises. These are technicians who have developed repeater systems and digital packet systems that we take for granted every day when we use our cell phones and the internet.

WCEC Application Form