SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION INC.

KC8BCT

COMMUNICATIONS FOR PUBLIC EVENTS AND EMERGENCIES

Communications Trailer...........................Communications Center

The Southern West Virginia Amateur Radio Association Inc. is celebrating 20 years of service in Greenbrier County West Virginia. The amateur radio club has been used many times to assist local officials with communications such as finding missing persons and locating missing airplanes. Another way they help is with communications for various races. One of the races was the K-Mart Classic of West Virginia bike race on national television. Also the members volunteer many hours to establish communications along the routes of local walkathons, bikathons, and races in case they are needed in emergency situations.

The flood of 1985 demonstrated the need for the city of Lewisburg to develop a disaster plan that provided reliable communications, both internally and with others. A joint venture was begun between the local amateur radio club and the city of Lewisburg a few years ago. Since the Southern West Virginia Amateur Radio Association Inc. needed a communications center and the City needed better emergency communications, a joint center seemed advantageous to both. The joint facility was established in early part of 1995. On January 19, 1996 the Southern West Virginia Amateur Radio Association Inc. was called to assist and provide communications for local authorities during this flood disaster. At one time the City of Lewisburg and many other near by communities were without electric power and telephone service. The club Communications Center and Communications Trailer were activated and manned by club members. They provided radio communication for the National Guard, Office of Emergency Services and the Red Cross during the next four days. Volunteer " Hams" amateur radio operators, were contacted by area DEC B Sims [W8KBM] and ECs for Greenbrier County P Herr [KD8WY], H Montgomery [KF8ZH], D Bleil [NY8G], L Osborne [N8DIS] and C Christian [KB8LPP]. The following personnel manned the communication centers and helped in other ways: A. Miller KB8VGD, P. Miller KB8ZJD, B. Cissel KB8NWU, S. Fenstermacher KB8RYY, T. Fenstermacher KB8OUU, A. Moody KG8BR, C. Johnston KB8TEI, C. Quesenberry KB8YRJ, W. Grostick KG8TK, R. Mott KB8TEJ, K. Loudermilk N8PKQ N. Loudermilk WA8AVZ, G. Bostic WV8D, J. Coleman WB8DMS, J. Willey KB8ZJE, W. Boone WB8SPW, M.Gabbert KB8UOL, S. Houchins KB8KKV, M. Burns N8UHO, S. Maddy KB8RLD, L. Maddy KB8SQQ, J. Dunbar KB8CM, J. Coiner WA8HSW, C. Berry K8DRK, L. Groves N8KUK, L. Wyatt N8NUI, J. Atkins N8VRV, J. Atkins KB8QJP, and Henry K4UTY from Florida with the Red Cross.

This type of operation is an example of how amateur radio operators working with city and county officials can make a major contribution to the community.

This WEB PAGE is maintained by Todd KB8OUU. If you have problems or comments concerning this WEB PAGE, please send e-mail to todd@swvarai.org