K6SDD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
The Trinity County Amateur Radio Club EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS UNIT is shown during a preparedness drill at the Trinity County Fairgrounds at Hayfork. [Thanks to WD6FHX, George for contributing this photo]
This privately funded (TCARC) ECU has the ability to communicate on HF and VHF Ham Radio frequencies, serveral Trinity County Public Safety Frequencies, and monitor many other local, state and federal frequencies. May communicate on CB, FRS, MURS, Business Band and other frequencies too. Telephone interface or Field Phone connections to an Incident Command Center is also incorporated in the ECU. A computer for telecommunications use and reference data, is present. A GPS unit and related area maps are available. Even good old pencil and paper are all used to get the job done. Antennas can be quickly deployed and the self-contained AC and DC power systems allow on or off grid use.
Trinity County ARES, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, has the ability to communicate with nearby counties, OES in Sacramento, FEMA , Military Auxilary Radio System, and other similar groups. This ECU has been used during Search and Rescue, Weather and Fire Emergencies and simulated emergency exercises. The American Red Cross and the California Department of Forestry have used the Trinity County Amateur Radio Club ECU in the past to support their mission.
The unit has been used each year at the Trinity Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Fair to show the community and other agencies that there is an existing communications resource to help the community when needed.
The TCARC thanks its members, and especially those that work on the ECU to expand it's abilities, donate equipment and maintain the trailer.
TCARC ECU DEPLOYED AT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVENT
ECU at Red Cross Preparedness Day 2005, Weaverville, TCARES Exhibit
Last Updated: May 15, 2005