08/10/2026
On July 27, July 30, and August 1, 2026, members of the Green Bay Mike and Key
Club[1], who are also members of the Brown-Kewaunee County Amateur Radio
Emergency Service¿[2] (ARES¿), deployed to Winnebago County, Wisconsin,
following a tornado that struck on July 27. The tornado hit Appleton and caused
severe damage in Menasha, Fox Crossing, and nearby communities, with peak winds
estimated at 140¿mph and a 12.1-mile path up to 1,500¿yards wide.
Pamela Evenson, KDOGPH; Sam Reid, W9SJR, and Sam Martin, KN9SAM, responded to a
request from the Winnebago County Emergency Management Office for ARES radio
assistance. When they arrived, team members were paired with other volunteers
from Community Emergency Response Teams and local officials to form damage
assessment teams assigned to specific areas.
While deployed, Evenson, Reid, and Martin conducted damage assessment
operations. There were no deaths and only 60 injuries reported as a result of
this tornado. Amateur radio provided radio communication between team members
and the net control station at the volunteer coordination center.
About ARES¿
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who
have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local
ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster
strikes.
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide
communications during emergencies When All Else Fails¿. Hams serve their
communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication
infrastructure, including cell towers, and wired and wireless networks. Amateur
radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems.
An amateur radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can
quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and
power source, and communicate effectively with others.
[1] https://www.k9eam.org/
[2] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zNjk3NTQ1JnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT00N
DE5MDQ4MQ/index.html
---
■ Synchronet ■ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS
|
