Mayor proclaims Amateur Radio Week; hams prepare for Field Day

Mayor Lee Dragna has proclaimed June 20-25 to be Amateur Radio Week in Morgan City, and the Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service has plans for Dragna to make the first call when the club takes part in the National Field Day event at 1 p.m. June 25.

Amateur radio operators use Field Day to test their equipment by making as many contacts as possible, and to be prepared for emergencies.
In 2021, during Hurricane Ida, the BEARS radio station located upstairs in the old Whitney Bank building at 201 Everett.

The club was on the air continuously for 72 hours to send and receive any health and welfare traffic for the area.

During that time, over 50 stations from throughout the United States connected to the station, W5BMC, to ask information about Morgan City.

In addition, Homeland Security enlisted the help of the hams in the area to provide communication between Ochsner St. Mary and St. Ann’s Hospital in Raceland for evacuating patients.

The club says it is always on standby to help public entities as well as the general public during times of emergencies.

The public is invited to visit the Field Day Operation 2-5 p.m. June 25.

Enter the door at 201 Everett St. and take the elevator upstairs.