Fort Bend County 'well served' by Ham Radio operators during storm

During the severe storms that battered Fort Bend County, Texas Monday night, the county’s Emergency Management Radio Operators Group provided 'vital information to the National Weather Service and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office,' according to the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management

The weather reports and data that are reported by EMROG are utilized by the National Weather Service to update its weather forecasts during the storm.

More than 25,000 Centerpoint customers lost power during the storm, primarily in the Sugar Land area and Rosenberg / Richmond area.  Though trees were falling, power outages were frequent and traffic was backed up, the resident volunteers of EMROG stayed by their stations and reported relevant information in a “very disciplined manner.”

Lt. Danny Jan, with the Sheriff’s Office, said EMROG’s operation during the storm was the “best and most accurate” information he was receiving. 

“The information on weather conditions that I was receiving from monitoring the EMROG radio traffic kept me well information on the conditions that were being faced by the county,” said Jan, emergency coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office. “Further, it allowed me to discuss the situation with other department colleagues in an accurate and well-informed manner.”

The county’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Jeff Braun, said EMROG is one of the most valuable resources available to the County’s Office of Emergency Management. 

“We depend on this group of volunteers to facilitate amateur radio communications in Fort Bend County during emergency situations,” said Braun. “We appreciate the dedication and commitment of EMROG volunteers.”

Read the full FortBendNow.com article at
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/08/24/47440