SEMA Supports Interoperable Communications
Exercises with Radio Operators
JEFFERSON CITY, June 23, 2006-The State Emergency Management
Agency will support the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) 24-hour
national exercise held tomorrow adjacent to the Cole County Fairgrounds.
“Katrina brought to light the chaos that ensues
if communications lines are down. In Missouri, we are using federal
homeland security grants for interoperable communications equipment
to ensure state and local emergency responders will be able to communicate
in the event of a catastrophic disaster such as a earthquake along
the New Madrid Seismic Zone,” said Mark James Department of
Public Safety Director.
During a disaster when telephones and cell phones do
not function, emergency managers turn to professional and amateur
radio operators to fill in the communications void.
“SEMA ranks interoperate communications and supporting
amateur radio operators as a high priority,” said Ronald M.
Reynolds, SEMA Director.
Throughout the year, SEMA routinely participates in
federal, regional, state and local radio communications exercises.
For example, two other groups SEMA routinely exercises with are the
Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUESC) Communications
Officers, and the Military Affiliate Radio Services (MARS). MARS is
a military communications auxiliary. In mid-June, SEMA participated
in a MARS exercise with Missouri retired military radio operators.
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