ARES: Making Sure The Community

Is Ready In An Emergency

DANBURY — Volunteer members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) met recently at the Danbury Emergency Operations Center (DOC) located in Danbury City Hall. Some 30 “hams,” representing almost a dozen western Connecticut towns, including Newtown, gathered to review training and preparedness plans for their various communities.

Brendan Walsh and John Will, members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co., attended the meeting to represent Newtown.

The group rotates meetings among host communities to familiarize themselves with other towns’ operating procedures and equipment.

Amateur radio operators work closely with muncipal police, fire, Red Cross, and other agencies in the state to provide radio communications during local emergencies and natural disasters. Because they are trained to operate mobile units without relying on commercial power, hams are in a unique position to provide communications support during virtually any emergency — a skill underscored by their motto, “Ham Radio: When All Else Fails.”

Newtown residents interested in becoming licensed amateur radio operators and members of ARES can find more information by visiting the website for Candlewood Amateur Radio Association (CARA), which serves the regional area, at www.danbury.org/cara.