Maintaining communications among public safety departments, Emerson Hospital, Concord neighborhoods, shelters, and other organizations is extremely important during emergencies as recent events have demonstrated. Not only terrorism, but also telephone and power outages, storms, and major accidents can cause considerable disruption.

To help us become better prepared, the Concord Police Department and CNN are helping to form an Emergency Response Team (ERT) operating under the auspices of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). "We are concerned that during some emergencies, normal communications channels may become overloaded or unusable and staff overwhelmed," said Chief Leonard Wetherbee of the Concord Police. "This amateur radio team will be invaluable to us."

Amateurs are Trained Radio Responders
The Concord Emergency Response Team (ERT) will consist of Concord ARES members who are willing and able to respond to an emergency when available. They are the first-line amateur radio responders and may be asked to operate from municipal sites or in the field alongside community officials. Eastern Massachusetts ARES was activated September 11, for example, and provided assistance in the Boston area. Some volunteer teams went to New York and others were are relief standby status.

Concord resident Steve Telsey (N1BDA), an Extra class licensee, is coordinating the team's formation locally. "Trained amateur radio operators are in a unique position to provide auxiliary communications and support to the town and fellow residents in the event of an emergency," he said. "They have skill communicating under difficult circumstances, experience passing messages accurately and quickly, and use reliable equipment and networks." The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is made up of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve.

ARES is a part of the ARRL Field Organization and is organized under a Section Emergency Coordinator in the ARRL Field Staff. ARES provides auxiliary communications for agencies including the National Weather Service, American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Salvation Army, police, fire, and Emergency Management Agencies.

Calling all Amateur Operators
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, many in our community have wondered how to help. Getting involved in local emergency preparedness is one way to be of service.

There are currently 91 licensed amateur radio operators in Concord, and all will be contacted and asked to become involved. Becoming a ham operator is much more simple now than it used to be, with no Morse code requirements and a licensing exam where all the questions to be asked are known ahead of time.

All Concord licensed ham operators will receive an invitation in the mail to attend a meeting this fall to learn more. If you are interested in becoming a ham and want to attend this meeting, please contact Steve Telsey at 978 369-7366 evenings or telsey@fiam.net to find out when it will be held. If you are interested in becoming involved in other ways with Concord's Neighborhood Network, email cnn@concordma.com.

Images: Hometown Websmith and ArtToday .