The GBC Fire Department is very active in the community and in its efforts to protect the city’s residents.  It has maintained an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate communications around the area.  As we tragically saw with the recent tornadoes, entire areas can be wiped out and all electrical service, cell phone, Internet and landline phones are useless.

The EOC has its own fire department radios and the city has partnered with the Cedar Creek Amateur (ham) Radio Club to create back-up communications.  A couple of years ago the club installed a basic radio with a range of about 15 miles.  That’s probably the most needed range.

However, the tornadoes have shown and Katrina and Ike demonstrate the need to communicate out of the local area.  How do you reach Austin or Fort Worth or other regional centers that can bring aid in a hurry?  Shortwave radio.

Working with Fire Chief Joseph Lindaman, the club has installed just such a station that will be able to reach out of the area if needed.  It is just another layer of protection for our area.

Shortwave requires much larger and rotatable antennas.  So recently  Chief Lindaman and members of the Cedar Creek ham club assembled and erected an antenna capable of reaching out.  The antenna is light but awkward.  There was much discussion about how to lift the antenna from the parking lot where it was constructed to the new, rooftop tower.

Then the Chief came up with the idea of using a ladder truck to lift, and then extend upwards across the roof.  It worked beautifully.

There are many improvements to be made to the new ham radio station, but in the meantime the club can use it for training and as a club station for members.  And if needed they can call for help.