Georgetown, Del. (Mon., March 9, 2026): Emergency responders in Sussex County will have stronger radio communications during crises, thanks to a collaborative effort between county officials and a Rehoboth Beach hotel.
The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel in Rehoboth Beach has donated space at no cost to house radio equipment for Sussex AuxComm, the county’s volunteer amateur radio team that assists the Emergency Operations Center when disasters strike, including during recent winter storms. The new radio repeater will strengthen signal coverage and bolster emergency response capabilities throughout Delaware’s coastal areas.
AuxComm stands for auxiliary communication, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiative that relies mainly on volunteer amateur radio operators, commonly called “hams,” to assist government agencies during emergency response and recovery efforts.
The recently installed repeater operates on 443.400+ MHz (PL 156.7) and will function as a crucial communication hub during emergency situations and AuxComm deployments. It offers dependable coverage for emergency coordinators, volunteers, and amateur radio operators across the area, especially when standard communication systems fail. All licensed amateur radio operators will have access to the system.
Tim Cooper, Sussex County’s emergency manager, praised the partnership. “This collaboration exemplifies the community partnership that makes Delaware strong,” Cooper stated. “Thanks to the generosity of the Zerby family, we’re able to expand our communication footprint and improve readiness for any emergency that impacts coastal Sussex County.”
Those interested in learning more about Sussex County AuxComm or getting involved with amateur radio emergency communications can visit www.sussexradio.com.
