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The Marshall County Auxiliary Communication Service (MCARS) is a Back Up Communication Unit which was formed in 2003. This opened the door to Ham radio operators and provided communication and weather spotting support to the Marshall County EMA. The unit has trained to do many things since that time. It is recognized as a RACES unit, whose members are storm spotters and most are CERT trained. Extensive training in many of the FEMA classes such as ICS and NIMS has help these communicators become more flexible. Recent advancement is that the unit now is organized under the Marshall County LEPC as of the fall of 2005. In just a few years, though a lot of changes and effort, the communication unit continues to open new doors for what MCARS Volunteers can do beyond just having an amateur radio callsign.
The majority of the call outs have been weather related. Most are to provide ground truth to the NWS Radar in the area. This includes reliable, trained reports of hail, damaging winds, and tornados. The unit has put together a radio operation room in the Marshall County EMA offices that has radio, radar, and internet communications organized in a efficient manner. | |
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All weather events are shadowed by Katrina. MCARS support was different in several ways. The unit outfitted and operated a mobile command post in the Guntersville State Park to provide direct communication via several means to the evacuee population stationed there. Even the Alabama Defense Force used the MCARS MCP for their base of operation.
The MCP was equipped with internet, emergency VHF communication, as well as Ham radios (HF, VHF and UHF). Still under development but providing a excellent back up communication for all the citizens of Marshall County. | |
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| Also, health and welfare communication was proved from two different Wal-Mart locations in the county. The members talked, consoled, and handled any communication need for the general public. | |
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| Recently, the MCARS unit also participated in the ARRL Field Day for 2006. This is the fifth year in a row for this around the clock demonstration of emergency preparedness. This is a national event that combines contest, emergency preparedness and public awareness of Ham radio. Using generators, tents and wire antennas the MCARS unit made almost 300 radio contacts this year in inclement weather.
All this has combined to reinforce the MCARS motto: Providing Emergency Communications when & where no one else can. | |