{"id":385343,"date":"2026-08-30T14:50:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T14:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/385343\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T14:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T14:50:12","slug":"when-the-power-grid-fails-and-cell-towers-go-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/385343\/","title":{"rendered":"When the power grid fails and cell towers go dark"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t Open Audio Article Player<\/a> \t\t\tFort Myers Amateur Radio Club Calls on residents to get licensed before the next hurricane hits
SPECIAL TO FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

STOCK PHOTO<\/p>\n

When a major hurricane strikes Southwest Florida, cell networks quickly overload, internet services collapse, and power grids fail. In those critical post-storm hours, one form of communication reliably holds the line: Amateur Radio.\n<\/p>\n

The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (FMARC) is urging local residents to build ultimate personal and community resilience by obtaining their FCC Amateur (Ham) Radio license. To ensure Lee County is prepared for the next disaster, FMARC hosts monthly, low-cost exam sessions designed to get new operators on the air quickly.\n<\/p>\n

Why lifesaving emergency communications start with ham radio:<\/p>\n

Unmatched post-hurricane reliability:When traditional infrastructure fails, ham radio operates entirely off-grid. Operators rely on battery, generator, and solar power to transmit crucial safety information.
\nVital public service & disaster relief:Licensed operators serve as critical lifelines, supporting local emergency management, search-and-rescue teams, and neighborhood welfare checks.
\nHands-on preparedness exercises: Events like annual \u201cField Day\u201d drills challenge operators to set up off-grid stations under simulated emergency conditions, honing technical skills before real crisis strikes.
\nNo morse code required:Modern FCC entry-level (Technician Class) exams focus on practical radio safety and electronics, making it accessible for all ages without archaic barriers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen cell towers blow down, amateur radio becomes the primary voice for emergency response and family safety,\u201d said Carmine Vetrano, President of FMARC. \u201cWe modernized licensing to welcome a new generation of responders\u2014you don\u2019t need an engineering degree or Morse code to save a life, just a willingness to learn.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Upcoming license exam details<\/p>\n

When: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM (Regularly scheduled for the first Thursday of every month).
\nWhere: Tice Fire Department, 9351 Workmen Way, Fort Myers, FL.
\nCost: Exam sessions are fully subsidized by FMARC and the Laurel VEC for Lee County candidates (applicants only pay standard FCC processing fees). FMARC reimburses all FCC fees for applicants under 18.<\/p>\n

Take action today: Become your neighborhood\u2019s lifeline<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t wait for the next storm tracking map to feature Southwest Florida. Reserve your exam slot now, equip your family with off-grid capability and step up to serve your community.\n<\/p>\n

Register for the next exam session today:\n<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club (FMARC): An ARRL-affiliated club since 1957, FMARC provides the education, licensing, and community support to turn a passion for technology into a lifelong hobby and a vital public service.\u00a0 For more information or to register for the next exam session visit\u00a0fmarc.net\/license-education\/ham-radio-licensing\/<\/a>\u00a0or by email at\u00a0fcc_exams@fmarc.net<\/a>\u00a0or call (941) 275-9145.\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Open Audio Article Player Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club Calls on residents to get licensed before the next…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385344,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-385343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385343\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}