During disasters and other serious emergency situations, when many other systems fail, a proven reliable means of communication has been emergency radio communications, notably “amateur” or “ham” radio. Emergency radio is a public safety lifeline that assists within the community and links the community in crisis to where relief and support can be coordinated.

The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), through the Provincial Emergency Radio Communications Society (PERCS), is aligned with the many amateur radio clubs throughout British Columbia linking hundreds of volunteer amateur radio operators who are available to assist with communications in the event of an emergency.

These licensed volunteer amateur radio operators are affiliated with their local government’s emergency management programs and most supply their own equipment. They train regularly and often take part in emergency exercises so they are prepared for any crisis situation that arises.

PEP has installed amateur radio equipment and maintains other communications equipment at each of their six Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centres (PREOC). This allows contact with local and regional emergency operations centres through the volunteer radio operator network. The communications equipment used is capable of both voice and digital (data) communications.

Each PREOC maintains a core volunteer communications unit that operates the equipment and liaises with amateur radio groups assisting local governments and other key stakeholders throughout their respective regions. This core group takes part in many emergency exercises, attends training sessions on a regular basis and responds to the to coordinate radio communications in the event of an emergency,

PEP has also developed three deployable communications kits that can supply the same communications capabilities in the field .These are setup to provide interoperability with Search and Rescue or to support any facility or operation under the BC Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS) concept of operations. Radio Communications Support Teams have also been formed to be deployed with these communications kits to any area in the province.

Amateur radio is a key public safety lifeline that will provide emergency communications when British Columbians need it most.