Students of the Sussex Technical High School electronics technology program participated in an emergency simulation exercise Oct. 20, in order to help evaluate the communications abilities of emergency services throughout Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Acting as a simulated emergency shelter and communications center, Sussex Tech students joined Indian River fire station and Nanticoke Memorial Hospital as locations in the region to establish amateur radio communication and pass critical information to local and regional emergency operations centers also participating in the drill.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency designed the regional exercise to simulate a long-term electric power blackout in 90 degree plus temperatures. Participating essential government, commercial and medical facilities simulated operating on backup power. A major focus during the simulated Mid-Atlantic blackout was the special-needs population who were most likely to suffer in the heat, and the capabilities of the critical facilities that support them.
During the day, students of Dennis Smith and Anthony Carmen’s electronics classes monitored amateur radio transmissions for the simulated blackout. Students also sent simulated messages to the area emergency directors through a network of amateur radio operators in the region. Sussex Tech’s own amateur radio station, call sign K3STR, employs numerous radios, electronic equipment and a 65-foot tower that supports four different antennas, allowing for local communications as well as providing the students the ability to communicate around the world.
More than 30 current Sussex Tech students have earned their Federal Communications Commission amateur radio licenses.Participation in the simulation allowed Sussex Tech students to hone their skills and knowledge of radio frequencies and band plans, communications interoperability and emergency communications in a realistic, hands-on exercise.
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