From hundreds of miles away, a ham radio operator helped first responders find people stranded on a Florida island after Hurricane Ian hit. The age-old communication made a difference for a woman who has family in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley.With a language all their own, ham radio operators converse with people all over the world.Dale Klonin, with the call sign KC3TAU, got into the hobby about a year ago.”I found the fun aspect of it being talking to people in other countries, even people in the United States about some activities that ham radio operators do,” he said.During the height of Hurricane Ian, his hobby became lifesaving work.”Ham radio operators in particular are here to help out when all other means of communication just don’t work,” Klonin said.Klonin came to JLS Auto Repair in Hanover to pick up his car after it had been serviced. He spoke to service advisor Aly Smith, who told him her sister was stuck on Sanibel Island.During Smith’s last phone contact with her sister, Kelsey, the water was rising to the second floor of their home. Their vehicles were submerged. “He saw me watching the news in a panic and said, ‘I could probably help,'” Smith said.Once Klonin returned home to Maryland, he got onto the Florida emergency net and relayed all of Kelsey Smith’s information.Authorities in Florida made contact with her and her boyfriend. They were rescued, along with eight other people.Klonin is a professional firefighter and is used to saving lives, but this was different.”I’ve never saved anybody with a radio, let alone eight people at a time,” he said.”I’m hanging in there. I’m waking up every day. I mean, it’s a real struggle,” Smith said.Smith said it’s been tough, but she’s grateful for Klonin’s effort.”He really put his first foot forward to try to make a rescue happen, and I will say that was just pure magic,” she said.”It didn’t seem like a huge deal at first, but in reality, it was lifesaving,” Aly Smith said.And it shows that in this high-tech world, sometimes old school works well.
From hundreds of miles away, a ham radio operator helped first responders find people stranded on a Florida island after Hurricane Ian hit.
The age-old communication made a difference for a woman who has family in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley.
With a language all their own, ham radio operators converse with people all over the world.
Dale Klonin, with the call sign KC3TAU, got into the hobby about a year ago.
“I found the fun aspect of it being talking to people in other countries, even people in the United States about some activities that ham radio operators do,” he said.
During the height of Hurricane Ian, his hobby became lifesaving work.
“Ham radio operators in particular are here to help out when all other means of communication just don’t work,” Klonin said.
Klonin came to JLS Auto Repair in Hanover to pick up his car after it had been serviced. He spoke to service advisor Aly Smith, who told him her sister was stuck on Sanibel Island.
During Smith’s last phone contact with her sister, Kelsey, the water was rising to the second floor of their home. Their vehicles were submerged.
“He saw me watching the news in a panic and said, ‘I could probably help,'” Smith said.
Once Klonin returned home to Maryland, he got onto the Florida emergency net and relayed all of Kelsey Smith’s information.
Authorities in Florida made contact with her and her boyfriend. They were rescued, along with eight other people.
Klonin is a professional firefighter and is used to saving lives, but this was different.
“I’ve never saved anybody with a radio, let alone eight people at a time,” he said.
“I’m hanging in there. I’m waking up every day. I mean, it’s a real struggle,” Smith said.
Smith said it’s been tough, but she’s grateful for Klonin’s effort.
“He really put his first foot forward to try to make a rescue happen, and I will say that was just pure magic,” she said.
“It didn’t seem like a huge deal at first, but in reality, it was lifesaving,” Aly Smith said.
And it shows that in this high-tech world, sometimes old school works well.
