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CX2SA > ARES 21.12.17 13:58l 340 Lines 18416 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: ARES E-Letter December 20, 2017
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : ARES@WW
The ARES E-Letter December 20, 2017
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
In This Issue:
-Illinois Amateurs Support "The Century," Providing More than
Communications Services
-Muskegon Hosts First DHS-OEC Auxiliary Communications Training in Michigan
-A Last Wish Realized -- A Final QSO -- A Story for the Holiday Season
-K1CE For a Final: End of Year Message
ARES Briefs, Links
Report from India: Ham Radio Aids Rescue of Two Fishermen (12/7/17); World
Wide Radio Operators Foundation Announces KP4 Generator Project (12/4/17)
Southern California Firestorms -- As of December 14, the Thomas Fire in
Southern California consumed more than 230,500 acres, forcing evacuations.
Amateur Radio volunteers provided communication for American Red Cross
shelters in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, passing traffic between
evacuation centers.
A Ventura County Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS)/ARES net was convened
December 5 to support Red Cross shelters there, providing communications
between shelters. Radio amateurs also deployed to the Ventura County
Emergency Operations Center (EOC). According to ARRL Ventura County District
Emergency Coordinator Rob Hanson, W6RH, the ACS/ARES volunteers staffed four
evacuation centers, in addition to the EOC.
Santa Barbara Section Manager Jim Fortney, K6IYK, reported an Amateur Radio
Digital Network (ARDN) MESH video system has live streamed images from
several sites, as long as it remains up. "Loss of primary power has required
using the solar power backup capabilities, but, unfortunately, the heavy
smoke has made that backup less than fully reliable," he said. In addition,
some sites were down because of power outages, and at least one hilltop site
was overrun by fire.
"The Santa Barbara District ARES organization works closely with Santa
Barbara County OEM and is prepared to support any requests as the Thomas
Fire continues to burn into Santa Barbara County," Fortney said.
Rich Beisigl, N6NKJ, reported that the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Group and
other groups in the North County (San Diego) provided communication at some
evacuation centers, and the Red Cross activated its Amateur Radio group. He
said a group in Carlsbad also was providing shelter communication support.
In addition to power loss to repeater sites, solar panels charging off-grid
batteries have been affected by the huge plumes of smoke blocking the sun.
-- summary of report by Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, ARRL News
For ARESİ activity and data for your Section, please view ARES
Annual/Monthly Reports. If your Section's ARES report is not found there,
please check with your ARRL Section Manager for the important data. This
documentation helps you compare ARES activities across your Division and the
rest of the country, and can also help you in supporting proposals for
Amateur Radio as an emergency/disaster response asset before local, county
and state emergency managers. The data is also used by ARRL Administrative
Staff and Counsel in buttressing ARRL/Amateur Radio positions and comments
filed in various FCC rulemaking proceedings, including those involving
spectrum defense.
Illinois Amateurs Support "The Century," Providing More than Communications
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Services
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In September, nearly 40 Amateur Radio volunteers converged on Springfield,
Illinois to support the Capital City Century, a cycling event. The "Century"
is the largest in the area for which the amateurs provide not only
communications support, but are also responsible for logistics, safety and
operations. Amateur Radio operators from six counties included three ARESİ
Emergency Coordinators, Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, and
Police Officers. Jess Hunter, W9ABS, who coordinates and organizes
communications and operations, said "the amateur community has skills in
addition to radio communication skills, which brings added value to the
event organizers."
Hams provide logistics support by replenishing water supplies at field
locations, addressing issues out on the routes, and providing medical
intervention for minor injuries. Event Safety Officer Rich Marx, KB9TZS,
said "I am also a licensed EMT; it only makes sense to bring that training,
knowledge, and skill set to an event like this."
This year's event drew 750 cyclists, with more than 120 ham and non-ham
volunteers in supporting roles. One key to event success is the planning
that occurs months in advance; the Amateur Radio team participates fully in
the planning.
The event is planned and executed under the Incident Command System (ICS),
which includes the use of standard ICS forms and planning tools. For the
2017 event, the Incident Action Plan (commonly referred to as the
"Playbook") included over 40 pages of information -- everything from
frequency assignments to the location of port-a-potties. By providing the
Amateur Radio operators with this comprehensive information, they are able
to look up and answer questions in the field, thus reducing the need for
over-the-air consultation, keeping frequencies open for possible critical
issues.
Hunter gives the following example: "If a participant wants to know the
location of the next water or food stop, instead of the radio operator
contacting Net Control asking for the information, they already have this
routine information available to them in the field through the use of the
Incident Command System methodology."
In addition to promoting a smooth running event, using the ICS exposes the
operators to the forms they would encounter in an emergency or disaster
response typically managed under the ICS.
Hunter states that for planning purposes he uses a mass evacuation scenario,
a function operators could be called upon to support in an emergency or
disaster situation. By participating in this event, not only is Amateur
Radio providing a service to the public, the operators are also training for
potential real-world disaster situations.
Harv Koplo, the organizer for the Century, said "We appreciate the added
level of organization and safety the Amateur Radio crew brings to our event.
Over the course of the five years I have coordinated the Century, the two
groups -- cyclist support volunteers and ham volunteers -- have evolved into
a single team to insure the safety of our riders and increase efficiency. I
have participated in rides from New York to Illinois, and we are the only
event of this type using Amateur Radio operators in this fashion."
Strong relationships have been forged between the amateur community and the
key stakeholders for this event. Every year the Amateur Radio team receives
numerous compliments on its professionalism and dedication.
Opportunity for New Hams
The event also gets newer hams involved. Ben Gaul, N9HHI, had never worked
one prior to the Century and was assigned the position of Resource Net
Control operator. Under the direct guidance of Logan County Emergency
Coordinator Jeremy Wells, KC9WMV, who serves as communications manager, Gaul
learned new skills and gained experience in the communications trailer.
Another new ham, Matt Joseph, KD9IUV, was paired with veteran Jim Grimaldi,
N9DUI, to help provide field support functions, learning as he participated.
Wells stated that "the communications trailer functions more like a Public
Safety Incident Command Trailer than a Net Control Station. With multiple
radios providing amateur voice communications, a computer screen keeping
track of mobile units via APRS and systems that pull information from the
National Weather Service Doppler to keep track of weather events makes for a
busy work environment."
Wells continues, "Having direct contact with the local weather service
office via Amateur Radio is a big plus.The day of the event a staff member
in the local weather service office is assigned to monitor weather patterns.
Having that higher level of support from NWS is a big help."
This year's event saw the creation and appointment of the ICS Logistics
Section Chief, filled by Tom Labonte, KD9FZF. With the help of Jamie Ursch,
KD9FZI, and Pam Rock, KD9JER, he was busy making sure that water, food and
other supplies were available and that all volunteers were fed.
Al Tabor, N9MAF, performed the function of backup Net Control at a location
separate from the main Event Command location and was always at the ready to
take the helm should an incident occur that required the need for additional
Net Control resources. Having Tabor there for redundancy added another layer
of support and stability.
Kevin Kesselring, KC9IGM, the Chief of Police for Pleasant Plains, Illinois,
a community that sees hundreds of participants pass through during this
event, stated "The planning and organization is evident the day of the
event. This is a great training opportunity for the ham community, and as a
public safety official I am glad to see the level at which Amateur Radio can
perform." Chief Kesselring said that "in the world we live in today, Amateur
Radio has to compete with other forms of communication technologies that do
not require a license, and it is good to see that Amateur Radio operators
are willing to step up and do more than just provide communications support.
This makes them a force multiplier and increases the opportunities for
Amateur Radio in a time of need."
Thus, the biggest lesson learned from the amateurs' involvement in the
Capital City Century is simple: Amateur Radio operators can and should
perform more than their traditional radio communications functions. Leaders
need to identify external skill sets of the radio operators and take
advantage of the additional resources they possess to increase potential
opportunities for the amateur radio community as a whole when serving our
communities. Emergency/disaster communications support is more than just
communicating with radios. -- Jess Hunter, W9ABS, Springfield, Illinois
Muskegon Hosts First DHS-OEC Auxiliary Communications Training in Michigan
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Muskegon County (Michigan) Emergency Communication Services (MCECS) recently
hosted a specialized Amateur Radio training class. The course, Auxiliary
Communications Training, or AUXCOMM, provides instruction to groups and
volunteers that provide radio communications services and support to public
safety agencies. The class was created by the US Department of Homeland
Security's (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC). Students
completed the 2-day, 20 hour course on October 28 and 29 at Muskegon
Community College in Muskegon, Michigan. The class was instructed by
Michigan instructors through OEC's state-sponsored, OEC Recognized
Instruction program.
"The class teaches amateur service operators how to develop and formally
document amateur communication solutions based on the needs of incidents,
exercises and planned events," explained lead instructor Raymond Hasil.
Support Instructor John Imeson added, "The solutions and documents they
create become a part of the incident action plan, or IAP, that public safety
agencies use to manage major incidents."
Volunteer communications operators/groups, using Amateur Radio, have been
providing backup communications to public safety for nearly 100 years.
Today, nearly all of the states/territories have incorporated a level of
participation by Amateur Radio auxiliary communication operators into their
emergency communications plans. 28 students from 11 Michigan counties
participated in the training. -- James C. Duram, P.E.M., CIPS, COML, COMT,
K8COP; Emergency Manager, Oceana County Emergency Management, Hart, Michigan
A Last Wish Realized -- A Final QSO -- A Story for the Holiday Season
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hams worked to grant a dying Vietnam vet and radio amateur a last wish of
making one more contact recently. It was David Hartnett, K9DRH, and crew Don
Whitney, K9DRW, James Nelson, K9QF, Harry Hahn, WB9R, Scott Campbell,
KC9SJP, and others who made it happen. An account of the event was published
in the local section of the Chicago Tribune. The story is about John Nugent,
WA2EQJ, a U.S. Army Signal Corps member in Vietnam, who came home from the
war to feelings of isolation and found ham radio to help ameliorate them: he
could socialize with others around the world.
At a health care center in Chicago recently, Nugent's wish of one last QSO
was realized. As many of us old timers did, he had made his first radio out
of a cigar box when he was 9 years old. He told the facility staff that he
was a ham since he was 16, and never let his license lapse.
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club, the North Shore Amateur Radio Club,
Lake County Emergency Management and the Lake County Sheriff's Office all
offered to assist in meeting his request. Lake County RACES set up antennas
and his radio. Nugent made several contacts.
Nugent had volunteered for the Army and was wounded in the leg by shrapnel.
His career as an electrician followed. After the QSOs were "in the log," his
son Chris walked around the room thanking the Lake County RACES and other
volunteers who facilitated his Dad's last wish.
To read the Tribune story, click on the link above. For video of the event,
click here. -- ARRL Illinois Section News; Ron Morgan, AD9I, Section Manager
K1CE For a Final: End of Year Message
-------------------------------------
It's been a year of natural disasters across the country on a scale that I
cannot recall ever having been more horrific, from tornadoes to West coast
wildfires to Atlantic hurricanes and more. As this is written, wildfire is
raging across southern California in a month that is usually reserved for
mudslide and flooding season. The Los Angeles Times reported no major
wildfire had ever occurred in the state in December; California's wildfire
season is usually summer and early fall. Of the 20 largest California fires
since 1932, 14 have burned since 2000. The five largest have all occurred
since 2000.
It's also been a hurricane season to remember, with horror: the humanitarian
crises of Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, the flooding that Harvey
wrought on southern Texas, and here on the Florida peninsula, the march up
land of Hurricane Irma that, according to some reports, spurred the largest
evacuation in US history, put large segments of the population into
shelters, and locked me into the hospital to work and live for almost 60
hours.
Amateur service licensees worked in partnership with emergency/disaster
response agencies, responding at all levels of government, and for the Red
Cross and NGOs over the course of the year. ARRL Administrative HQ staff
supported the ARRL Field Organization, and HQ's Emergency Preparedness
Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, traveled to Puerto Rico with radio and other
equipment made possible by donors to Ham Aid, to represent HQ and personally
add to the response and recovery effort there. Countless other examples of
support abound, and have been documented in QST and other outlets.
One asset that seems to me to be underutilized and could evolve to be a
force multiplier in community and neighborhood response and safety in
disasters is the CERT program. I know I sound like a broken record; I've
harped on this subject numerous times. The ARRL supports the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) construct, and has formally supported it
since 2003, when the League became an official affiliate program of Citizen
Corp, the DHS initiative. The Statement of Affiliation makes ARRL an
affiliate under the four charter Citizen Corps programs--Neighborhood Watch,
Volunteers in Police Service, Community Emergency Response Teams and Medical
Reserve Corps.
Help before the Help Arrives
The premise of CERT is undeniable: when a disaster occurs, a neighborhood or
entire community could be isolated for days, inaccessible to first
responders. Residents are on their own, and must take care of themselves.
The CERT program trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as
light search and rescue, First Aid, fire management, and radio
communications. A team can be trained by local emergency management staff in
the classroom, and organized at a local community center or even a
neighbor's living room.
Radio amateurs are found in just about every neighborhood, and they make
logical key members of CERTs, especially when it comes to establishing
communications with the outside world. To start, please check FEMA's CERT
web page here.
Finally, thank you being a reader of the ARRL ARES E-Letter. There are
almost 40,000 of you across the country. Best wishes from the editorial and
production staff for a great holiday season and happy new year!
__________
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