Submitted
The Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation has provided a $13,100 grant to the Ellis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ECARES).
The money will be used to purchase equipment. The group hopes to have the equipment up and running by the end of the month.
The Ellis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service group is dedicated to providing volunteer support communications for public safety in Ellis County. It is an affiliate of the American Radio Relay League.
ECARES provides communication capabilities as requested by the Ellis County Fire and Emergency Management Department in situations where local communications are compromised.
ECARES also provides local SkyWarn spotters during times of severe weather and reports to the National Weather Service office in Dodge City.
Recent disasters in the Southeast United States show the importance of backup communication systems when commercial and government systems fail.
Local ECARES members are federally licensed radio operators who are skilled in providing a wide range of emergency and disaster communications to the public.
Members are required to complete SkyWarn training along with Incident Command System and National Incident Management System training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
ECARES also provides communication services for nongovernmental agencies such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and for non-emergent public activities.
The grant proceeds will be used to upgrade the UHF and VHF repeater systems in Ellis County to a state-of-the-art, digital, internet-connected radio network.
The new equipment will replace the current 30-year-old analog system, which is nearing the end of its life.
The new system will allow for portable radios to communicate throughout Ellis County and outward to the state and national levels.
All amateur radio systems in Ellis County are available for use by any FCC-licensed operators, including travelers passing through Ellis County, with the only limitation being during emergency operations.