Fixed-line telephones and cell phones failed in large portions of San Diego County during the firestorms of 2003 and 2007.
The same thing happened during the Northridge earthquake in 1994 and Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, and on Sept. 11, 2001, on the East Coast.
For 27 continuous hours Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of radio operators around San Diego County, including in the South Bay, will conduct an emergency-communications exercise to demonstrate their ability to contact communities throughout the county.
Thousands of county amateur-radio operators licensed by the Federal Communications Commission provided essential communications to many areas without functioning telephone services during the 2003 and 2007 fires.
This weekend's exercise, organized by ARRL, the national association for amateur radio, is known as ARRL Field Day.
Portable communications systems, temporary radio towers, portable generators, solar power and battery power systems are being set up at participating Field Day sites. These are in parks and open areas, sheriff's stations, fire stations, schools, hilltops and mountaintops.
A test in South County will take place at Olympic View Elementary School in Eastlake, at 1220 Greensview Drive.
Information: (619) 434-2440 or sobars.org.
