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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2023 | 11 By Janis Rice EPAP PIO Did you know Sun Lakes has a group of HAM radio operators? This may be news to some of you. It was to me! I met with Sun Lakes residents Mike Karpman and Brian O'Grady, both HAM radio operators. Ham radio is a licensed (FCC) radio service that enables you to communicate all around the world and even outer space with your own equipment. It's vital for emergency communications, technological advancement, and it's an incredible hobby with over 750,000 licensed hams in the United States. After a little HAM background, we talked about SPARC (San Gorgonio Pass Amateur Radio Club), of which they are both members. There are approximately 50 SPARC members living in the Banning Pass area. SPARC is a very active radio network with members in the surrounding areas, including Four Seasons and Serrano Del Vista. What does this mean to the Sun Lakes community? In the event of a major emergency, members of SPARC will communicate with other members in the Pass area and all-over Riverside County. Remember, during a major emergency, electrical power will most likely be out which means home phones won't work and chances are neither would cell phones. These radio operators will be able to continue to transmit information. They would receive information about road and bridge conditions, train derailments, hazardous leaks, spills, unhealthy air quality and most importantly, would be able to communicate with hospitals, such as San Gorgonio Hospital, and give advance notice of incoming persons with critical injuries. We are very fortunate to have SPARC members in our community. Even though we hope to never have to use them in a critical situation, it is great to know they are nearby, active, and available. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HAM RADIO IN SUN LAKES We are pleased to continue introducing our EPAP Coordinators. Let's meet Linda Myers Kalb. Hi, I'm Linda Myers Kalb. I moved to Sun Lakes in 2016 and live in District 17. I was a registered nurse for 54 years and just recently retired. I worked for the Army in Germany, the Air Force in England, and the Navy in Japan. e EPAP program is excellent if the volunteers are available. People do not understand that if we have a major disaster, 911 may be unavailable or delayed. Hospitals will be overwhelmed. We will have to take care of ourselves and others. is is where the EPAP Program comes into play. I have been in hurricanes, fire events, and evacuations, so I have experience to say that EPAP is a very good program.