For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Members of Wood County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), in cooperation with the Mid-State Repeater Association and Marshfield Area Amateur Radio Society, took to the airwaves on Oct. 3 for the national Simulated Emergency Test (SET).  Simulated Emergency Test is an emergency preparedness exercise for amateur radio operators throughout Wisconsin. The test typically occurs on the first Saturday of October annually.

The theme of this year’s SET deals with a geomagnetic storm that disrupts the earth’s magnetic field resulting in severe disruptions to satellite and radio equipment as well as damage to sensitive electronic equipment. The scenario’s main event will be comparable to the Carrington event in 1859.

The goals for the event include activating as many amateur radio stations as possible.  In Wood County’s case, the plans are to activate thirteen locations in the county that have been identified as key locations due to their role in serving the county’s residents. These locations include hospitals, fire and ambulance stations, schools which may serve as shelters and the Wood County Emergency Operations Center in the Wood County Courthouse.

“Simulated Emergency Test is an excellent opportunity for all amateur radio operators to participate in the event. By participating, operators gain a better understanding of not only emergency radio operations but more of the real-life operations of the Incident Command System. It’s a win-win for both amateurs and the entities we serve” said Wood County ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator Mike Krohn.

Marshfield Area Amateur Radio Society (MAARS) member Josh Wecker of Marshfield served as the coordinator for the event with the group.

“MAARS feels it is important that all amateur operators in Wood County come together for tests like this so we can all learn and become more proficient as a group,” he said. “Along with this, events like SET help everyone become more proficient on how to work with each other in the event of an actual emergency.”

For more information, email msra.w9mra@gmail.com, visit www.wrarclub.org or find Wood County ARES/RACES, the Marshfield Area Amateur Radio Society, or the Mid-State Repeater Association on Facebook. An amateur radio license workshop will be held Oct. 20 in Wisconsin Rapids.