County's emergency radio operators place third in the nation and first in Florida during ARRL Field Day
Hillsborough County's Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) team delivered a strong performance during the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) 24-hour Field Day exercise, earning top recognition for their emergency communication skills.
RACES serves an important role
Hillsborough County RACES serves a vital role in emergency preparedness. Sponsored by FEMA, RACES provides backup communication when traditional systems are strained or unavailable. In a national emergency, such as activation under the War Emergency Powers Act, only RACES-registered amateur radio operators are authorized to continue operating on specific frequencies.
Award winning team
The County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) station, operating under the 1F class, won third place nationally and first place in Florida. Stations in the "F" class operate in or as an EOC, with the number indicating how many radios are active at one time. The County's team operated a single radio throughout the 24-hour test.
The County's backup station, located in Kings Point, competed in the 2F class and made a strong showing. Powered entirely by a solar trailer, the Kings Point station placed 12th nationally and second in the state.
Preparing for real emergencies
ARRL Field Day is the largest emergency radio exercise in the United States, giving amateur radio operators an opportunity to test their equipment, sharpen their skills, and prepare for real-world emergencies. In the recent event, 4,373 station entries, with 249 stations participated in the EOC "F" class. More than 1.2 million radio contacts were made across the nation during the 24-hour period.
For more information on the County's emergency communication programs, contact the Office of Emergency Management at (813) 272-6600.