Sussex County Emergency Management Partners with Rehoboth Beach Hotel to Host Amateur Radio Equipment

The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel in Rehoboth Beach is lending space – free of charge – to Sussex AuxCom to place a radio repeater. This will be used to increase signal range and enhance emergency communications capability along the Delaware coast. Sussex AuxComm’s volunteer amateur radio group supports the Emergency Operations Center during activations – like the recent snow storms.

Additional information from Sussex County Government: 

AuxComm is the acronym for auxiliary communication, a program developed and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), utilizing primarily volunteer amateur radio operators, also known as “hams”, to support the work of government agencies responsible for response and recovery operations.

The newly installed repeater, operating at 443.400+ MHz (PL 156.7), will serve as a vital communication link during emergent situations and AuxComm activations, providing reliable coverage for emergency coordinators, volunteers, and amateur radio operators throughout the region, particularly if conventional communications were to be compromised. The system will also remain open for use by all licensed amateur radio operators.

“This collaboration exemplifies the community partnership that makes Delaware strong,” said Tim Cooper, Sussex County’s emergency manager. “Thanks to the generosity of the Zerby family, we’re able to expand our communication footprint and improve readiness for any emergency that impacts coastal Sussex County.”

For more information about Sussex County AuxComm or to learn how to become involved in amateur radio emergency communications, please visit www.sussexradio.com.