2014 Emergency Field Day Exercises, June 28-29
FELTON – Santa Cruz County amateur radio clubs will once again be participating in several local Field Day 2014 emergency preparedness events. Held annually the last weekend in June, Field Day embraces remaining vigilant and ready to serve with well-honed radio communications skills in the event of an emergency or disaster. The Field Day events will take place on June 28 and continue for 24 hours.
Organized as a nationwide contest, many members will set up complete with radios, antennas and emergency power for contest operations. The objective is to perfect remote field operations, as well as to educate the public regarding the amateur (“ham”) radio service and how it serves as part of the communications backbone during disasters. Skills practiced will include antenna building and station setup, with limited to no infrastructure support, as well as clear, concise, rapid-fire communications exchanges with other US and Canadian radio hams.
Given the continuing low rainfall these past winters and the early fire season already in California, communications exercises like Field Day are critical to readiness. The San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Club (SLVARC), host of the largest County event this year, will also focus on training newly licensed amateur radio operators with a special Get On The Air (GOTA) station for their exclusive use. Other event sites are being sponsored by the UCSC Amateur Radio Club and SCCARC/South County ARES.
During the recent landslides in Washington State, ham radio operators worked seamlessly with emergency personnel in reporting on the ground slide and river conditions in addition to partnering in the rescue efforts. Here locally, ham radio saved the day providing communications during the Loma Prieta earthquake, Love Creek flood, as well as the Lexington, Summit/Eureka Canyon, Bonny Doon Martin and Lockheed fires. Even during the 2011 tsunami with its ensuing damage to Santa Cruz harbor, ham radio rose to the occasion staffing local emergency communications centers and served agencies.
Sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Field Day has grown since its inception in 1933, to over 35,000 participants in 2013. Those participating in Field Day are only a small fraction of the over 700,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the US today, and more than 2.5 million worldwide.
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to drop by any of the Field Day sites:
Site 1: San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Club (SLVARC), CalFire Ben Lomond Camp, 13575 Empire Grade Rd, Santa Cruz, CA. As the largest Field Day gathering in Santa Cruz County, this event will run the entire 24 hours, commencing at 11 am on Saturday, June 28th and end at 11 am on Sunday, June 29th. Site contact: Elizabeth Baker, n6fit@arrl.net.
Site 2: UCSC Amateur Radio Club, UC Santa Cruz campus, East Field, Saturday, June 28, 11 am – 5 pm. Site contact: Suellene Petersen, k6cpa@arrl.net.
Site 3: SCCARC/South County ARES, Target Parking Lot on Main St in Watsonville, Saturday, June 28, 11 am – 5 pm. Site contact: Suellene Petersen, k6cpa@arrl.net.
Santa Cruz County amateur radio operators actively participate in supporting the local community providing communications support during times of emergency, as well as for local events such as races, bike rides, triathlons, parades, or wherever additional communications support is required and requested in our area. The various amateur radio clubs have been active in the community for many years and remain dedicated to public service.