Members of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine (WSSM) Emergency Communications Team are gearing up to test their radio skills as part of a statewide emergency communications exercise on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Underscoring the vital role that amateur radio operators play in disaster preparedness and response, the drill, known as the Simulated Emergency Test (SET), is an annual event sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. The event aims to encourage amateur radio operators across the country to assess their emergency communications skills in response to a mock disaster scenario.
The WSSM Emergency Communications Team’s upcoming exercise is part of a larger regional interoperability drill, focusing on testing communications between amateur radio and government-administered SHARES (shared resources) stations — a priority in building more robust emergency coordination between public and private response agencies.
“This year’s SET presents a great opportunity to evaluate how amateur radio can integrate with other systems during a disaster scenario,” says Tim Watson, founder and president of the WSSM, which provides auxiliary communications support to the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) and the National Weather Service. During the test, amateur radio operators must quickly establish communications between emergency operations centers, shelters, and other key sites, and exchange messages that may include requests for supplies, medical status reports, or weather updates — the types of information critical to emergency response when conventional infrastructure fails.
The 2025 drill will mark the tenth consecutive year that WSSM’s Emergency Communications Team has participated in the SET. Following the exercise, the group will conduct a formal assessment to identify successes and areas for improvement.
Notes Brad Brown, WSSM’s secretary. “Amateur radio is a fun and rewarding hobby, but many of us also stay engaged in drills and support community events so we’re ready when we’re really needed. That’s what it’s all about — being prepared and being of service.”
For more information about the Wireless Society of Southern Maine and its activities, please visit their website at: http://www.mainehamradio.com