Multiple tornadoes struck Iowa City, IA on April 13,
and local Amateur Radio operators put their emergency and disaster
training to use. Hams from the Iowa City Amateur Radio Club's HamRad
group provided communications between the Johnson County Emergency
Management Agency (JCEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Red
Cross shelters set up in the area. HamRad is organized to work with
Johnson County in emergencies.
Over 25 hams were in action as weather spotters, managed by Rich
Bingham, WWØQ, and Jeff Dodd, KIØJP. Regis Johanns, KBØVDO, and Jim
Meade, NOØB, established a net control station at the EOC, sending two
communications teams to shelters, with Robert Seemuth, KCØTIK, and
Dodd leading these teams.
- Once the tornadoes had passed
through the area, HamRad teams stayed on the job until the next day,
when National Guard units could take over responsibility, ensuring
that shelter management and the EOC could keep in touch and serve
those in need.
