SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Members of the Sunnyvale Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SARES) will put their emergency communication skills to the test when they participate in Field Day June 28 and 29. The annual preparedness exercise brings together amateur radio operators from throughout North and South America who are committed to assisting their communities in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Field Day is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio.

"Amateur radio is a lot of fun, but the serious side can't be stressed enough," says Dennis Mueller, N6IH, SARES Emergency Coordinator. "We can play a vital communications role during emergencies, and events such as Field Day ensure that we're ready to handle any type of disaster."

Field Day is designed to test operators' abilities to set up and operate stations in the field under emergency conditions, such as the loss of commercial electricity. During the weekend, radio operators try to contact as many other Field Day stations as possible, simulating the fast on-air skills needed to assist City officials and agencies during an emergency. Approximately 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event. The first Field Day was held in 1933.

Amateur radio operators typically help with communications during weather-related emergencies such as the devastating tornadoes in the Midwest earlier this spring. But, the need for their services doesn't stop there. A federal grant awarded for emergency communications training in 2002 emphasizes support for ham radio's role in homeland defense.

SARES will set up its Field Day station at Raynor Park, 1565 Quail Ave., Sunnyvale, and will be operating around the clock from 11 a.m., Saturday June 28, to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 29.

"We hope that the public will come out and see firsthand what this event – and amateur radio – is all about," says Mueller.

Today there are nearly 700,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. SARES boasts 110 members. Information on joining SARES is available from the City of Sunnyvale, Office of Emergency Services, by calling (408) 730-7190 or on the Web at www.sunnyvaleares.org.

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