Helping through ham radio: emergency services use amateur radio specialists (Oregon)

George Roth built his first shortwave radio when he was in sixth grade.

“In grade school, being able to hear radio stations from far away places was very interesting to me,” Roth said.

Roth has a degree in physics and computer science and around the time he retired in 2005, began using significant equipment and earned his radio operators license from the Federal Communications Commission.

Now in charge of the county’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services organization, his radio skills have been a helpful tool for organizations like the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and American Red Cross.

To support disaster relief operations, Roth has set up emergency communications across the country for the Red Cross for the past 15 years. He’s also worked with the Douglas County emergency manager to support emergency communications equipment in Roseburg and Reedsport.

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