The Sussex Amateur Radio Association - the largest amateur radio organization in the First State, whose members have long provided essential emergency communications to government and community organizations - is now seeking government grants as well as corporate and private tax-deductible charitable contributions to fuel its effort to build a more robust and reliable emergency system for Sussex County. The campaign follows a U.S. Internal Revenue Service decision to officially recognize the association as a 501.c.3 charitable organization.
“This designation represents a major step forward for our plans to install amateur radio emergency communications equipment at key locations within Sussex County,” said Association President Bill Duveneck. “‘Hams have a long history of unselfishly volunteering to provide emergency communications using private and often outdated equipment. Our goal is to replace aging equipment and acquire new radios to support emergency communications throughout the county.”
Considered the most fail-safe form of interoperable communications in the world - as it doesn’t rely on phone lines, cell towers, the internet or commercial power - amateur, or ham, radio is simply extremely reliable. In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, certified and trained hams work with government and community organizations to relay vital information in a fast, structured and accurate manner. They are skilled at composing and relaying messages by voice and through computer-based amateur radio digital communications modes.
Trained volunteers support emergency activities including equipment logistics, victim location and identification, emergency shelter, food and water information, medical equipment and materiel distribution, health-and-welfare and life-and-death communication.
“Emergency workers know that the fastest way to turn a crisis into a disaster is to lose communications, and the hams work in the background to make sure that does not happen for many emergency response groups,” Duveneck said. “The Sussex Amateur Radio Association is proud of its capabilities and is looking forward to expanding them significantly by pursuing financial donations and grants that will enable us to make Sussex County better able to respond to emergency situations.”
Organizations and individuals are encouraged to support amateur radio emergency communications in Sussex County. Contact Duveneck at 537-4755 or email kb3kyh@arrl.net
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