Community support rebuilds Fulton County HAM radio tower (Indiana)

 We know that the damage from severe weather doesn’t disappear when the storms subside. Some in Fulton County are now finally back to the status quo after storms in March 2025.

While this year was a very busy severe weather season, Fulton County was without a crucial weather information relaying tool, amateur radio operators. Now, that problem is over and out.

“It knocked down the capacity of us being able to provide that Skywarn service throughout the county up until this summer, when we were able to get our new tower in place.”

That’s Brian Johnson, president of the Fulton County Amateur Radio Club, who says the radio tower being back up allows for more coordination across all Michiana counties.

“If we had a severe weather event like a tornado go through and take out a lot of communications capabilities, we can be up and running here at EMA in a very short time frame and provide those backup services or primary communications if needed.”

Amateur radio operators are an essential part of storm reporting, and the radio tower helps them assist the National Weather Service, and broadcast meteorologists, tell the public about various threats including a tornado bearing down on Knox earlier this year.

“That was actually called into the Weather Service initially by an amateur radio operator. So that right there was something that was crucial to give them a heads up on.”

Read more – ABC57: https://bit.ly/4jYWAgH