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28 | LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2022 | The Solera Radio Club (FCC License KC6SRC) is expanding their look at the effects of disasters on our cellular telephone dependence. We will look at Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian. In Sept. 2022, Hurricanes Fiona and Ian hit the southeastern states of our country (including Puerto Rico). In the wake of the natural disaster event, homes were destroyed, and the communication infrastructure suffered a complete lapse. As a result, calls for help were unheard because cellular telephones were overloaded or collapsed entirely. According to the latest statistics from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Hurricane Fiona knocked out wireline internet services to roughly 767,858 subscribers in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, while also shutting down about 23.5% of the cell sites in those areas too. Hurricane Ian impacted the Fort Meyer region of Florida with the same loss of electricity and telephone service suffered in Puerto Rico. Many of my neighbors in Solera approached me to ask if I had any direct contact with rescue efforts in Florida through my Ham Radio station in my home. Although normal means of communications were strained, we could hear amateur radio operators diligently assisting other radio operators with their need to contact families affected by the area devastation. In midst of our efforts at my home radio station, we heard about the heroic amateur radio operator in Maryland. Dale Klonin, (46) a firefighter at Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Baltimore. Off duty and working his home radio station, having relatives in the Florida area had raised great concern for their safety. Dale was listening to the designated radio frequencies focused on the storm (known as the Hurricane Net, which were the same frequencies we were listening to at my home). In the background of the radio frequency noise, Dale heard a radio operator on Sanibel Island, Florida, relay a radio message that a group of residents were isolated on the island. The group was in desperate need of assistance. Dale relayed the help request via his home radio station to disaster rescue resources in Florida. Subsequently, the trapped residents were plucked from their predicament and placed in a safe region of Florida. Members of the Solera Radio Club focus their resources on providing an alternative means of communications. TRIVIA ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER: Question: Can you use your phone as a two-way radio? The short answer is "Yes!" Most public safety professionals use a telephone application called "Zello." The app allows the user to communicate with a group of listeners rather than just one caller. Solera has a devoted Zello Channel. For more information, please contact Ray N6KZM. TRIVIA QUESTION THIS MONTH (Answered next month) Besides talking on his ham radio, this famous newscaster spent most of his life talking into a microphone for a living. Who is it? "When All Else Fails – Think Radio Communications." ~ Ray C. Gayton-Jacob (N6KZM), ray.n6kzm@gmail.com and http://www. soleraradio.com RADIO CLUB

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