Essential to Emergency Operations
2007 Volunteer of the Year
by the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Since the bulk of commercial and public communications is often destroyed in a disaster, emergency communications are usually provided by Licensed Amateur Operators. They have a robust network and train often to support this activity.
Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County Emergency Operation Centers have an operational section set up with Amateur Radio equipment and licensed volunteers to handle emergency communication. One licensed radio operator in each county is a designated the Emergency Communications Coordinator (EC). The links below will connect you to more information. If you'd like to become licensed, links below will show you how.- Navarre CERT Communications Plan
- Emergency Radio Operations information
- Playground Amateur Radio Club (Fort Walton Beach)
- Milton Amateur Radio Club
- Emergency Communications Exercise
- Amateur Radio Licensing information
Recommended Frequencies for Scanning
Those who are not hams can monitor these on a scanner.-
146.7
MHz
Santa Rosa Emergency Management Amateur Radio repeater located at the Milton EOC. This is the link frequency between the EOC and its remote operations such as the Navarre CERT VRC. This is the frequency used to pass tasking down to us from Milton, and for status report back to Milton from Navarre CERT. CERT amateur radio operators may operate on this frequency; it's a repeater requiring a 100 Hz tone. -
158.925
MHz
South Santa Rosa County fire dispatcher -
154.13
MHz
South Santa Rosa fire "tac" channel, used between units when dispatched to a scene. -
154.86
MHz
Okaloosa south fire dispatcher -
154.16
MHz
Central fire dispatcher (used as mutual aid and brush fire coordination) -
453.975
MHz
Santa Rosa Sheriff -
146.52
MHz
National Amateur radio two-meter calling frequency -
446.000
MHz
National Amateur radio 70 cm calling frequency -
146.55
MHz
Local Amateur radio direct (or "tac") channel (this will come in handy when 146.52 gets busy) -
132.1
MHz
Eglin Approach control and local aircraft coordination (SAR calls may be heard here) -
121.5
MHz
Air mayday frequency (but the local Navy folks use this for short duration intercom and rescue) -
156.8
MHz
Marine channel 16. This is good to have, although hams cannot transmit on this frequency, if we support events and there are marine elements involved. You can find a list of the frequencies for all marine channels on the web. -
146.79
MHz
Ft Walton Beach main repeater, used for CERT/ ARES... etc
KC4ERT
The Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Emergency repeater is now operational. It operates on an output frequency of 444.2 MHz. You can listen with a scanner set to that frequency. Contact Steve VanDenAkker or Ray Crepeau for more information.- Ray Crepeau K1HG
- Daisy Crepeau KT4KW
- Steve VanDenAkker W4SJV
- Gene Simmons KK4IB
- Lou Greene KI4NZX
- TJ Doherty KJ4CHE
- Ralph Agnew KJ4CHI
- Sue Ferson KJ4CHJ
- Bob Ferson KJ4CHK
- Howard Piansky KJ4CHL
- Mike Magee KJ4CHD
- Chris Arnold KJ4CHH
- Christina Thompson KJ4CHF
- John Thompson KJ4CHG
- Dylan Beck KI4MOC
- Don McPherson KI6KNM
- Lilly McPherson KI6PVQ
- Larry Burner KG4FFB
- Doug Schumpert K4PDS
There are several classes of license; each higher class permits expanded operating previlages such as increased frequency range of operation. Each license class is attained by passing certain test elements.
- Technician is the entry level class and requires that you learn the rules and some simple electronics about radio communications, to pass the test. You do not need to learn Morse code!
- General Class is the middle level and requires some increased knowledge of radio electronics.
- Amateur Extra is the top level and requires even more knowledge and understanding of radio electronics.
All the materials to study and pass the test are available at "self study" found at http://hello-radio.org. Amateur radio includes voice communications, digital, video, satellite, and many other modes and interests in this great hobby. Check it out.