BUCKHANNON — The Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Upshur County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) would like to announce the creation of an amateur radio enthusiast club for our area. The idea behind this club is to provide a group for individuals interested in amateur radio to learn, share information, and enhance skills.

Amateur radio (also known as ham radio) is a great hobby to get into. Not only can you meet local and regional enthusiasts, but you can even make contacts all over the world! Amateur radio does not rely on internet connections, and can be used in the event of an emergency when cell phones, internet, and even power utilities fail.

We have already partnered with Upshur DHSEM, Upshur CERT, and West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) regarding use of local resources. We hope to partner with the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) as the group grows. We also hope to hold various amateur radio related events in our area and work with other ham radio groups. While we hope many in the group will become interested in emergency communications, it is not a requirement for group members. It is simply one of many opportunities we hope to provide.

We invite all interested persons in Upshur and surrounding counties to join us for the inaugural meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm. You do not need to have an amateur radio license to join us. The meeting will be held at the Buckhannon Public Safety Complex, 24 South Florida St, Buckhannon WV.