Announcements:
Upcoming amateur licensing exam session: Saturday, April 25th at 3:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is recommended with this link: RSVP.
Discussion:
The 2026 version of the Great Utah Shakeout was held Thursday, April 16th, with city and faith based radio groups from all across the valley joining in. Newton Town radio operators along with Ward Emergency Communications Specialists in the Benson Stake were invited to participate.
For this exercise we hoped to receive simulated reports of the effects of a 5.7 magnitude earthquake from the faith based organizations within in the Stake boundary. Ward Emergency Communications Specialists were invited to send a Church Disaster Report form by email, reporting simulated damage.
In Newton, we also responded to the Cache County Emergency Manager’s request for a Community Impact Report. Radio operators who were available to help traveled to various locations in the community to provide reports on the status of Newton Reservoir, the bridges surrounding Newton, government buildings, private residences, as well as utilities and communications. Using the NWCV net frequency these reports were radioed to the Newton EOC.
Thanks to all who participated! It was a valuable opportunity for Ward Specialists to become familiar with the Church Disaster Report, for radio operators to learn about the communications tasks happening inside an EOC, and emergency communications experience for the operators reporting from the field.
We will look for additional exercise opportunities later this year, as well as again next year for the 2027 Great Utah Shakeout exercise.