For Immediate Release

         Contact: Robert Barron, KA5WSS
                  Public Information Coordinator
                  American Radio Relay League
                  P.O. Box 180703
                  Austin, TX 78718
                  (512) 837-4051
                  rbarron@pervasive.com

        Travis County Group To Participate in Emergency Exercise

The Travis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service will participate in the
nation-wide Simulated Emergency Test communications exercise on Saturday
Nov. 8.  The test provides disaster relief agencies around the country a
chance to practice their skills in dealing with natural and man-made disasters.

The Amateur Radio operators who participate in the exercise will concentrate
on providing emergency communications to the government and private relief
agencies who will also be participating in the test.  Amateur Radio provides
a variety of communications services that supplement the communications
capability of relief agencies which are often overloaded in actual emergencies.

The exact start of the exercise is known only by the test leaders, who will
choose a random time during the day to begin notification of test participants.
The nature of the simulated emergency is also a guarded secret.  In years past
ARES groups have simulated hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, floods and industrial
accidents.

Amateur Radio operators have assisted in providing communications for a number
of actual disasters and emergencies in the last couple of years.  In
particular Amateur Radio operators have participated in emergency assistance
following the San Francisco earthquake, Hurricane Andrew, the Oklahoma City
bombing and the tornado in Jarrell.

Amateur Radio is a federally licensed radio service of individuals who use
radio for personal communication and public service.  Licensed Amateurs are
able to communicate with other "Hams" around the world using a variety of
techniques including shortwave radio, computers and satellites.  The American
Radio Relay League is the national organization that represents the 500,000
Radio Amateurs (also known as Ham Radio operators) in the United States.

The Travis County ARES group is affiliated with the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service which is organized by the American Radio Relay League.  The national
ARES organization provides emergency communications for a variety of served
agencies.  It has signed agreements with other organizations such as the Red
Cross, the Salvation Army, the National Weather Service and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.