In this day and age, where people are surrounded by a veritable feast of methods through which they can communicate ideas, thoughts, and inspirations, the older methods of sharing information are often forgotten. While surrounded by social media and the internet, as well as the technological miracle of hand-held computers literally in people’s pockets, at their fingertips, it’s important to remember that these methods of communication are, invariably, fragile, and not just when you crack your screen or drop your phone in the toilet. All digital forms of communication depend on towers and networks. In an emergency, those forms of communication are the first to go. However, thanks to HAM radio operators across the country and county, people can be prepared for such a catastrophic event.
On June 23-24, the HAM radio operators of the nation tested their ability to communicate with one another, making contact with operators from all over the place and into other countries.
Lincoln County’s branch of this communication marvel was overseen by Charles Reifsnyder, who has been working closely with Eric Holt, of the Lincoln County Emergency Services, to help coordinate efforts in preparation for any kind of loss of communication.
“They reach out and try to make as many contacts as they can during that day,” Holt said, referring to the twenty-four-hour communication test, “and they get in contact with people from all over the country. It’s amazing.”
As Vince Lombardi once said, “Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder,” and in this day and age, where one bad line or one glitch in a system can shut off communication between people and the most essential of resources, HAM radio operators have prepared themselves so that people can have that kind of confidence.
