Saturday's devastating earthquake centered in nearby Tecopa, Calif. -- causing injuries and massive power outages in Pahrump -- was simulated. But the emergency communications exercise by Pahrump's ham radio operators was real, as they practiced setting up their field equipment to relay information to first responders.

Moments after the simulated 6.2 earthquake hit, ham volunteers were on their radios and phones, notifying other hams to meet immediately at the Nye County Emergency Services Operations Center on Siri Lane. By 7:30 a.m., volunteers were gulping coffee in the training room and heading out to strategic areas around town.

Seventeen operators covered 7 locations in Pahrump, in addition to Andy Gudas, Joe Delee and Archie Selbach who established a presence in Amargosa. Gerry Fuge, the Southern Nye County Emergency Coordinator for ham radio operators, directed the exercise from the emergency services communications office along with Carol and Steve Bird who worked the radios, relaying messages from the field to other emergency organizations.

"The purpose of this exercise is to give our operators practice in problem solving and changing frequencies, among other things," said Fuge, who is a long-time member of both the Southern Nevada chapter of ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service that works with the federal and state government and RACES, the Radio Amateur Communications Emergency Service that works with county entities.

"For this operation, we're supporting the communities of Amargosa Valley, Crystal, Beatty and Tecopa, as well as Pahrump," Fuge said.

The exercise is actually a national test, but a few additional challenges were created for local hams. "We're having problems with some of our repeaters," Fuge announced to the teams. "You'll have to try alternate frequencies. We can't get through to the hospital."

That emergency was a blown fuse at Desert View Regional Medical Center. Volunteers Dick Grady and Ed Carp were sent to find and fix the problem and relay information to and from the hospital, which had lost all communications capabilities.

George Cox and Pete Wallace deployed to the Pahrump Senior Center, Dep. Mike McGrath was at the Nye County Sheriff's Office and Debbie and Michael Reneau were dispatched to Saddle West Casino and Hotel. Richard Gamble and Mike Kaahea set up a shelter at Manse Elementary School, while Ron Daviau did the same at Rosemary Clarke Middle School.

Messages were broadcast from the field postion into the emergency services communications room to relay to the Red Cross and other responders: "People are showing up with horses. Where do we send them?"

Oxygen for a person with COPD was urgently needed and a temporary shelter needed 75 beds and additional blankets.

Messages must be kept as short as possible, yet leave no room for question: "Need fuel for generators. Have 50 gallons for 12 hours."

To signal the end of the exercise and call everyone in for evaluation and "burned hot dogs and hamburgers," Fuge broadcast, "Unknown flying objects seen in the fan area near Power Line and Greico ..."

There are currently 34 ARES/RACES members in Pahrump and 274 amateur radio operators in the Pahrump Valley area. ARES/RACES offers instruction for beginning hams as well as continuing training for different levels of licensing. For more information, call Jerry Fuge at 727-9524 or e-mail Public Information Officer Carol Bird at cjoannebird@cs.com.