An East Boothbay man is part of the U.S. Homeland Security team as an amateur radio operator. Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens appointed Al Sirois N1MHC, 88, as one of three Maine ham, or civilian amateur radio operators participating in Homeland Security’s Shares program.

Shared Resources high-frequency radio program (Shares) provides an additional means for users with a national security and emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. Team members use existing high-frequency radio resources to coordinate and transmit messages for critical functions during emergencies. Sirois is responsible for central Maine. Two other operators are located in northern Maine and York County.

Sirois monitors the network on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and another shift at 7 p.m. Occasionally, he works a Monday shift. Sirois monitors continuous-wave communications to ensure communications between local government is possible with Homeland Security. Sirois began as an amateur ham radio operator in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a short wave radio MARS (military-affiliated radio station) operator. In 1993, Sirois worked for Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant and applied for a civilian license.

Media Story - https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/sirois-assisting-homeland-security-ham-radio-communications/132275