Kentucky hams to take part in flu pandemic exercise

The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and its Department of Military Affairs has invited the state's
organized emergency communications groups to take part in a statewide pandemic influenza exercise. One that is planned for August 3rd to the 7th.

According to the planners, the communications portion of the exercise will begin each day at 8:00 A.M. and run until approximately 8:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday and will end at 2:00 P.M. on Friday.

One of the goals is to use pre-identified 2 meter and 80 meter frequencies to facilitate contact with all 120 counties in the Commonwealth. Some UHF repeaters and Echolink equipped stations will also take part.

Planners say that to some degree, the ham radio aspect of the exercise will be like operating a week long net with a station in the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center used to pass traffic and log check-ins.

More information on this massive Kentucky emergency planning exercise can be found at www.kyham.net/kyem2009.html.

Source: ARNewsline, KG4KBU