The Sturdy Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club will hold an emergency communications exercise on Sunday, January 28, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The drill will simulate a severe New England snow and ice storm with massive power outages, treacherous driving conditions and extended loss of commercial power. ARES team members will be stationed at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital’s radio room, along with remote stations manning mock shelters, damage assessment teams and local home relay stations.
“We’ve invited hospital [officials] to join and monitor us for that day,” writes ARES Team Leader John Benson, N1FLO.
The club’s radio room at the hospital is equipped with voice, slow-scan television, and APRS operating modes. N1FLO reports that the bulk of the exercise will be conducted from home stations “so if you want to join us and send a message, please do so.”