Cherokee Amateur Radio Group To Hold Simulated Emergency Drill

A slew of natural disasters have hit Cherokee County in recent years, resulting in power outages and communications disruptions.

But are residents prepared for other incidents such as train accidents involving cars or trucks carrying hazardous materials?

Cherokee County has approximately 60 railroad crossings, extending from Nelson in the northern part of the county to Woodstock at the Cobb County line on the southern end.

To ensure we have extensive back up emergency communications during one of these events, Cherokee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, along with state Amateur Radio Emergency Service members, will conduct a simulated emergency test on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The exercise will deploy Cherokee ARES members to simulated incident command posts, shelters, Cherokee’s Emergency Operations Center and will include ham radio operators performing what’s called shelter in place — or not leaving their homes.

The annual exercise confirms the ability for ham radio operators to provide emergency communications to the Cherokee Emergency Operations Center, state operations center and across other countries and the state during any disaster.

The 57-person, highly trained Cherokee ARES members volunteer their time, skills and equipment to support Cherokee County citizens and Robby Westbrook, director of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office of Homeland Security-Emergency Management, during all types of emergencies.

Cherokee Amateur Radio Emergency Service operators have been trained extensively in emergency communications and have provided invaluable assistance to the Cherokee County emergency management team with activities such as live storm spotting reports and manning shelters.

Residents can monitor the simulated exercise starting at 9 a.m. on a radio scanner with a frequency programmed to 145.430mhz or a scanner radio app on your smartphone or tablet to WB4NWS 145.430 MHz Mt. Oglethorpe Repeater Live on Broadcastify.

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