IRVINE : Free Class Offered for Radio Volunteers

The city is offering a free weekend course on radio theory for residents willing to volunteer as radio operators after a major earthquake.

The two-day course, to be held this Saturday and Sunday, is intended to increase the city’s pool of radio operators that would base themselves at Irvine schools after a large temblor cut or reduced telephone contact, said Frances E. Winslow, the city’s emergency management coordinator.

The training, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. both days at City Hall, will prepare volunteers to pass the Federal Communications Commission’s amateur radio “technician” license classification.

Volunteers would adopt a nearby school and must be willing to commit to the city’s emergency program for two years in exchange for the free radio training, Winslow said.

The radio operators also must agree to attend three meetings a year during the two years.

“Barring disaster, that would be the only thing required of them,” Winslow said.

The city has about 40 “adopt-a-school” radio volunteers for the district’s 28 schools, but additional volunteers are needed in the event that some are unable to get to their designated school after a big quake, she said.

Volunteers must sign up for the class in advance. Call (714) 724-7149.