WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – How do you feel about “retro tech”?
Are you fairly proficient in social media? Would you be interested in a channel that has no politics, little drama and is perhaps the original social network?
If so, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS) has an offer for you.
For those unfamiliar with what ham radio offers, it can:
- Communicate over long distances – without the internet or cell towers
- Provide a direct line of communication in an emergency or when other systems fail
- Enable operators to offer vital assistance during community disasters
- Create friendships around the block or around the world
- Become a hobby one can enjoy for a lifetime
At the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Division of Emergency Management, ham radio volunteers practice for emergency situations by establishing radio nets (i.e. what would be called “chat rooms” over the radio), practice report-generation for Incident Command and state officials, conduct drills, and ensure equipment is functional and ready for deployment.
Some volunteers support popular community events such as the annual Ski to Sea race, Bellingham Sea Feast, Whatcom County Youth Fair and the Barkley Village Safety Fair, among others.
For those with interest and basic aptitude, it’s a straightforward path to become FCC-licensed as a radio operator. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office ACS offers classes throughout the year and hosts monthly opportunities to test for FCC Technician, General or Extra Class license.
This quarter’s training – for those interested in learning more about ham radio and what it takes to get licensed – is Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Emergency Operations Center at 3888 Sound Way in Bellingham. Contact Robert Greene (rgreene@co.whatcom.wa.us), Whatcom County’s Public Safety Communications Manager, to register or learn more.
Amy Cloud is the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management. She was born and raised locally, leaving for Whitman College and work in Seattle, Knoxville and Washington, D.C. She returned to work as Supervising News Producer and reporter for KVOS-TV’s NewsView before switching to communications for WWU, PeaceHealth and the City of Bellingham. She also co-chairs the Community PIO Group and is a member of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues.
