JEFFERSON COUNTY “HAMS” Hold 1993 SUPER STORM REDUX

The March, 1993 super storm / blizzard that paralyzed east Tennessee as well as one-third of the U.S. for several days, provided the scenario for the JCARES annual Simulated Emergency Test in Jefferson County. The Simulated Emergency Test, known as SET, is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League which is the national association for amateur (“ham”) radio operators. The SET is a scored exercise that measures emergency ham radio communications capability within the community. For the past three years, Jefferson County’s own JCARES has scored first in the “Delta Division” which includes all 95 counties in Tennessee as well as all counties in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, JCARES expects to do the same in 2013.

The 1993 super storm was chosen as an exercise scenario by JCARES because the National Weather Service was able to predict the severity of the storm days in advance thus affording communities the opportunity to prepare in advance. Nevertheless, communications were greatly impacted. Motorists were stranded on the highways while residents were unable to leave their homes for days.

JCARES participants (and their call signs) in this years’ exercise were: Rick Rogers, K4AMT; Jay Hance, KI4OTR; Whit Whitworth, K4PUU; Chris Knight, KK4UFA; Jim Sipprell, W4OBY; Keith Buenger, KC9IGX; Ava Stamper, KK4MXH; Bob Stamper, K4CFU; Gloria Pritikin, KJ4BHF; Dale Knight, KK4UEZ; Hide Satterfield, KK4EHD, Clark Measels,N4QZK; and Dan O’Donovan,W4DOD. Participants from neighboring counties were: Ed Bradley, W4VGI; Neil Johnson, KC4LU; George Hoffman, KC9AAX and Floyd Kosht, KI4SPU.

During the two hour test, formal messages were passed between various strategic locations including the National Weather Service in Morristown; Walters State Expo Center; Granger County and Hamblen County Emergency Coordinators; Bays Mountain Communication site; Jefferson Memorial Hospital, the Patriots Academy and the E-911 / EMA Emergency Services building in New Market.

Many of the messages were sent over ham radio using state of the art digital modes which provide speed, accuracy and efficiency. All operators utilized emergency power sources to provide realism and critical training to simulate loss of commercial power sources.

Persons interested in learning more about JCARES or becoming involved in emergency communications volunteering should send an email to: w4dod@arrl.net.