By Daryl Major

Ham Radio key to Nanaimo Disaster Response

Jun 27, 2016 | 10:09 AM

A recent disaster drill in Port Alberni showed just how important amateur radio operators are in an emergency.

With telephone lines and cell service blacked out, they were able to establish communications with a Canadian Forces aircraft.

The City of Nanaimo’s Emergency Program Manager Karen Lindsay says ham operators are key in a first response.

“The communication linkage that they’ll be able to provide, in a large scale event, such as what we practiced in Port Alberni, will basically allow us to get that communication up to the provincial level. So that we can start looking at garnering resources and securing resources to come into the community,” said Lindsay.

And they have always been a critical part of emergency communications.

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“Because we know when the cell phones don’t work and the phone lines are down they’re basically that, I would say the solid foundation or solid communication method for all municipalities.”

Lindsay says where possible, they work with the ham operators to ensure that they can use the City’s systems in the event of an emergency.