Welcome to the 2024 edition of the MERT20 Special Event website celebrating more than two decades of the Marion County Emergency Radio Team (MERT) service to the Marion County (FL) Sheriff’s Office. We are extremely proud of our service providing emergency communications service to the Division of Emergency Management.

 

MERT has a well equipped radio room embedded in the Emergency Operations Center with operating capabilities on FM, SSB, CW and digital modes. There are several MERT FM and D-Star repeaters throughout the county to maximize our capabilities when called into service.

 

When shelters are opened during declared emergency situations, MERT members deploy to these shelters as well as off site emergency locations to support communications back to the Sheriff’s Emergency operations Center.

 

All members are FCC licensed Amaterur Radio Operators who have completed FEMA/NIMS and incident Command System (ICS) training. Every member has also been fully vetted /background checked through the Sheriff's Department. We stand ready to serve during critical events including hurricanes, tornados and other emergency events as requested by the Director of Emergency Management.

 

Thank you for your interest and participation in our 2024 MERT20 Special Event operation . Look around this site to sign-up and operate (MERT members only), see a sample of the 2024 certificate and how to receive one via email, how to find us on the air and the various frequencies/modes we will be using to help you be a part of our celebration.

 

We look forward to meeting you on the air!