Florida hams back up EOCs and shelters during Hurricane Isaias

When Hurricane Isaias reached Florida, amateur radio volunteers in Santa Rosa, Nassau, Lake, Pinellas and Leon Counties were already in position, ready to carry traffic if phones and internet links failed, according to ARRL.

In Santa Rosa County, operators staffed both the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the evacuation shelter at the Milton Community Center. The two stations formed a radio link between shelter and EOC, passing situational updates and standing by in case conventional systems went down.

Operators around the state also supported auxiliary communications, giving emergency managers a way to keep in touch with the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee if normal networks were disrupted. Auxiliary communications, often called AUXCOMM, is the term emergency management uses for volunteer radio resources, amateur radio among them, that stand alongside government systems as a backup.

Arc Thames, W4CPD, who manages the Santa Rosa County CERT and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) programs, described the role plainly. "While traditional communications systems have become significantly more reliable over the years, amateur radio continues to serve as a dependable auxiliary communications resource," he said. "When disaster strikes, our volunteers are trained, prepared, and ready to step in wherever we're needed. It's another layer of resiliency that helps protect our communities."

Thames is also the ARRL Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator and serves as Amateur Radio Liaison to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He said that during tropical weather his Auxiliary Communications team places volunteers at the state EOC to monitor amateur frequencies. "This ensures that if someone is unable to reach emergency officials through traditional means, we have another way to receive and relay critical information," Thames said. "We always hope we're not needed, but we're glad to be there just in case when all else fails."

Hams who want to be part of this kind of response can contact their local ARES Emergency Coordinator or county emergency management office about training and registration before the next storm arrives.