Sheriff’s Office participates in Operation Thor

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On November 3-6, the Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club participated in a wilderness based rescue training exercise in conjunction with the Emery County Sheriff’s Office Rope Rescue Team, Emery County Search and Rescue Rope Team, Black Dragon Rescue Systems and National Guard Civil Support Teams from New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho and Oklahoma.
The Training took place among the high red rocks and deep canyons of Utah’s picturesque San Rafael desert in eastern Utah. They trained in Cow Canyon and the CS teams also trained at the Hunter Power plant.
The exercise consisted of multiple medical rescues, from one of the many canyons that are favored by climbers and hikers alike. The 300-foot vertical medical rescues were action packed.
Emery County Sheriff’s Office brought their emergency response vehicles to the desert deep canyon site, which included the recent addition of their Amateur Radio/Public Safety Communications trailer.
All on scene communications, both Public Safety and military, were ran on VHF hi-band frequencies, communications for the event were handled by members of the Emery County ARES group who are all members of the SDARC.
Amateur contacts were handled on 40 meters HF and 2 meters utilizing the SDARC’ s extensive repeater system, 2 meters and HF contacts to the State of Utah Department of Public Safety EOC/HLS at the State capitol and many other amateur radio operators.
Logs were maintained of all communications between the National Guard CSTs and Emery County rescuers. A special thanks goes out to all members of the SDARC who spent many hours working the radios and logging during the exercise, modifying the trailer and installing the communications equipment.
Exercise organizers and evaluators stated that communications during this exercise were the best they have ever been in this remote location and that the Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club is a valuable asset to Emery County and the State of Utah.
Capt. Kyle Ekker was a coordinator for the event. He reported on the training to the Local Emergency Planning Committee. He said the four teams from out of state met and also Carbon County participated in the training. “We set up a command post and we tested our equipment too. The Eagle Air Med. trained with us. One of our deputies Sgt. Brook Smith volunteered to be the man down in the canyon. There were many different scenarios and changes in position to get the mock victims up the canyon. The teams also participated in a hazardous material spill (mock) at the Hunter Plant. They did a man down training and it was a good exercise. The National Guard would like to train with us every year. This exercise gave them a chance to get out and practice what they’ve only trained to do. Most of the teams wouldn’t get called out for a canyon rescue, but they have many tall building rescues. The Ham equipment operators were fantastic talking back and forth,” said Capt. Ekker.
If you would like to know more about amateur radio communications information is available on the Sinbad Amateur Radio Club website, http://sdarc.us/.