Field Day 2010 Press Release |
IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT
"In Partnership with the Community"
NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC DEMO OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
IRVINE, CA (June 2, 2010) – The Irvine Disaster Emergency Communications (IDEC) group will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities on Saturday June 26, 2010. Over the past several years, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America, including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio - frequently called “Ham radio” - was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property.
The public will have a chance to meet and talk with IDEC ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities. This annual event, called "Field Day", is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), the national association for Amateur Radio. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.
Using only emergency power supplies, IDEC operators will construct an emergency station at Las Lomas Community Park at 10 Federation Way on Saturday June 26, 2010. IDEC will be demonstrating Amateur Radio and they invite the public to come and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license.
"Our IDEC members are a critical part of the City’s Emergency Response Plan. I remain grateful for their expertise and commitment to our community,” said Police Chief David L. Maggard Jr.
To learn more about IDEC and Amateur Radio, go to www.N6IPD.org. See what modern Amateur Radio can do.
-- End of Press Release --
For questions regarding Field Day 2010, please contact:
Candice Shier
savah13@hotmail.com
(949) 679-6611
