D.E.A.R.S. History

In times of crisis, access to extensive communication resources improves the capability for an organized response. For years, amateur radio operators have voluntarily provided such communication resources during hurricanes, earthquakes and other emergencies. At Walt Disney World, amateur radio operators serve the public through the Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service (D.E.A.R.S.).

Will Michael, then the Crisis Management Administrator for the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, CA, founded D.E.A.R.S. in 1990. The voluntary organization, is comprised of federally-licensed amateur radio operators who are current and former employees of the Walt Disney Company and Disney-affiliated entities. This voluntary organization is dedicated to the fostering of an appreciation of amateur radio and its use as an adjunct communications service in times of emergency. D.E.A.R.S. members learn proper on-air protocol, pursue advanced licensing and practice point-to-point and wide-area message relay under adverse conditions.

On May 2, 1996, the first meeting of the Walt Disney World branch of the D.E.A.R.S. organization was held at the Disney University. The group holds regular monthly meetings, and operated an Amateur Radio special event station in the Magic Kingdom to celebrate the park’s 25th Anniversary. The station made over 600 worldwide contacts...in the rain!

D.E.A.R.S. is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and participates in annual Field Day exercises. In addition, D.E.A.R.S. has offered several 12-week amateur radio examination training classes both on- and off-property.

The D.E.A.R.S. organization contributed over 200 volunteer hours to establish a ham radio communications network at critical locations around the WDW property for the Y2K event. And in November of 2002, members received National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN training and earned certification as official NWS observers.

In January of 2010, after the earthquake in Haiti, D.E.A.R.S. had a station setup and manned just hours after the request for such a station was received from the Walt Disney World officials.

The D.E.A.R.S. group maintains an on-property communications capability around Walt Disney World -- and the world beyond. This capability is managed in cooperation with the Walt Disney World Security Department's Office of Emergency Preparedness.

When in the Orlando area, please enjoy the D.E.A.R.S. repeaters:

147.300 MHz (PL 103.5)
442.000 MHz (PL 103.5)


For additional information call or email D.E.A.R.S. president Jim Tyree/N4ANW: N4ANW@cfl.rr.com
or 321-436-0089.

Click here to visit the D.E.A.R.S. website.

73 de WD4WDW!