BRADENTON — A garden of antennas bristled from a local parking lot Saturday as amateur radio operators and emergency management officials gathered for a 24-hour communications drill meant to test their readiness for disaster.
“These fine folks are the last line of communications if everything else does not work,” said Steve Simpson, operations officer for Manatee County Emergency Management, gesturing toward amateur radio operators taking part in Field Day, an event at the Manatee County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 2905 59th St. W.
“Communications is one of the major factors in any disaster or incident,” noted Simpson. “It’s a vital component you always have issues with.”
The 24-hour drill, slated to continue from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. today, was observed by thousands in similar ways throughout North America, he said, noting that there are “literally hundreds of thousands of hams (radio operators) out there talking to us as part of the exercise.”
Frank Morton, known to colleagues by his call letters, AC4MK, said the event’s purpose was to put equipment and personnel from various sources together to practice for disasters like power outages, flooding or hurricanes.
Participating was Manatee County Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, the American Red Cross, the Manatee Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Services, said Morton.
Simpson was comfortable in an air-conditioned trailer loaded with communications equipment, a big generator buzzing outside to provide power for his computer system.
However, almost everyone else sweltered outside in the summer heat, guzzling chilled ice water to stay cool. Some of them welcomed the sunshine, however, because they were using solar energy to power their equipment.
By mid-afternoon Saturday, they had reached counterparts in places such as north Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona, Minnesota and New England, said Ed Skalecki, president of the Manatee Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Among the youngest of the participants was Joe Kosobucki, 13, who will be an eighth-grader at King Middle School in the fall.
He had just passed a test and had won his amateur radio license, he said. He had also just bought used radio equipment for $70 as part of a burgeoning hobby, he said.
Kosobucki said he had heard about amateur radio from a friend in the Boy Scouts and had been interested in it for a year.
He noted that Field Day offered an opportunity for him to be “just looking around and learning some more things.”
A highlight toward sunset was the arrival of Audrey Haines and the three quarts of homemade chili she whipped up to serve the group.
Among the participants who welcomed her with open arms was her husband, Geoff Haines, who was ready to take a break for dinner. “My wife makes the best chili in the world,” he said.
Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7908 or skennedy@bradenton.com.
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