Disaster Communication Mobile Command Post Trailer

The Sitka Ham Amateur Radio Klub (SHARK) is working to build a Mobile Command Post Trailer, and we need your help.

We believe this Mobile Command Post Trailer is an important part of our community’s preparedness for emergencies. Natural and man-made disasters threaten Internet, cellular/mobile, and landline telephone services. We want to build a stand-alone central point for restoring communications with ham radio. 

In order to build this Trailer, we’re raising funds to:
▶︎ purchase a trailer,
▶︎ get transceivers and antennas that operate on multiple frequency bands,
▶︎ set up an electrical infrastructure with a stand-alone generator,
▶︎ acquire masts, microphones, and other tools.

SHARK is an all-volunteer group of radio enthusiasts who come from a long tradition of helping others. Alaskan ham operators have a proven record of assisting in disaster response  in major emergencies .  When other channels of communication go down, ham radio is there - able to connect people within and outside of our community.

The Mobile Command Post Trailer also serves a purpose outside of emergencies; it is an educational facility for anyone interested in learning and practicing the science of radio operation. 

As a disaster response tool, the SHARK Mobile Command Post Trailer promotes resilience of individuals, children, families, and communities impacted by disasters and public health emergencies. Communication is a fundamental part of human services, and ham radio is an essential tool for communication. 

The Mobile Command Post Trailer can promote interest in amateur radio - which benefits the community by increasing the number of radio users. The more ham radio operators there are, the more responsive different areas of Sitka will be - especially when those neighborhoods are cut off from the rest of town.

The Mobile Command Post Trailer promotes technology literacy. In an increasingly technological world, knowing the many types, capabilities, and limitations of wireless technology benefits users across generations.

Developing Sitka’s amateur radio network bolsters our community’s ability to respond to emergencies. The Mobile Command Post Trailer is a key component to the work SHARK has already done in building repeater stations and a network of widely distributed radio operators. 

With the Mobile Command Post Trailer, we can add an important layer of connectivity to meet Sitka’s needs for communication in a crisis. Thank you for contributing to a project that helps to keep our community safe.