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CX2SA > ARES 23.03.12 16:50l 390 Lines 20830 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: ARES E-Letter March 21, 2012
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To : ARES@WW
The ARES E-Letter March 21, 2012
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
In This Issue:
Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio Hams Work Tornado Outbreak
2012 National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Activities
ARRL's EPM Corey on FEMA Think Tank Call
Message from ARRL's Emergency Preparedness Manager KI1U: Get On The Air
Training: ICS Communications Unit
Letters: Volunteer Management Models
Training: IS-201 on ICS Forms
Letters: Maps and GPS Fallibility
Letters: The Modern EOC
Formidable Footprint: National Community/Neighborhood Exercise Series
Changing of the Guard in North Carolina's Orange County
K1CE For a Final
Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio Hams Work Tornado Outbreak
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A devastating storm system moved across the United States on March 2,
spawning a slew of tornadoes that contributed to at least 28 fatalities in
Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. These tornadoes followed an earlier outbreak
that began on February 28 and left 13 dead across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois
and Tennessee and battered parts of Kentucky. The Clark County (Indiana)
Emergency Management Agency activated the local RACES team to help provide
communications support, hams in Eastern Kentucky set up SKYWARN nets to
assist the local National Weather Service office and Cincinnati-area hams
supported the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross. The
complete report can be found here. - ARRL Letter, ARRL Headquarters
2012 National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Activities
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The National Hurricane Conference will be held March 26-29, at the Hilton
Orlando in Orlando Florida. There will be several amateur radio activities
going on during the week. The National Hurricane Conference (NHC) leadership
continues to recognize the valuable contributions of amateur radio and again
invited us to participate with two sessions. What a great opportunity for
amateur radio!
NHC Session #1: Monday, March 26, 2012 from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, the main
amateur radio session titled, "Amateur Radio Training Sessions: Disaster
Communications Before, During and After Hurricanes." NHC Session #2:
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, at the National Hurricane
Conference (NHC), there will be an amateur radio session designed for
Emergency Management agencies called "Amateur Radio Rap Session-The
Emergency Manager's Hidden Resource".
On Monday, March 26, 2012 from 7:00 pm to 9:00pm, the Orange County
Communications Auxiliary, the Orange County EOC and the ARRL Southeastern
Division will host an interactive free "NHC Workshop" for all ARES
interested amateur radio operators at the Orange County Emergency Operations
Center, 6590 Amory Court, Winter Park, FL 32792. You will be able to meet
other like-minded hams, the presenters of the Hurricane Conference amateur
radio sessions and special guest Dr. Rick Knabb, Tropical Weather Expert at
The Weather Channel. The agenda will be: introductions, conference
presenters summarize the NHC amateur radio presentations, special guest
speaker, emergency communications discussion, questions & answers and door
prizes.
The three presentations will be livestreaming on the internet at,
www.nsradio.org/stream.htm and www.voipwx.net/files/stream.htm
All hams are invited at no cost to attend session 1 and 2 at the National
Hurricane Conference and the NHC Workshop at the Orange County EOC.
For additional information:
http://www.hurricanemeeting.com
http://www.southeastern.arrl.org/2012NationalHurricaneConferenceActivities.pdf
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/O/ORLOCHH-HUR-20120324/index.j
html?WT.mc_id=POG
http://www.southeastern.arrl.org
http://www.voipwx.net
National Hurricane Conference presenters are:
Special Guest Speaker: Bill Read, KB5FYA - Director National Hurricane Center
John McHugh, K4AG - Coordinator for Amateur Radio, National Hurricane
Center, WX4NHC
Julio Ripoll WD4R - WX4NHC Amateur Radio Assistant Coordinator,
http://www2.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw
Rob Macedo, KD1CY - Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net and
ARRL SEC, Eastern Massachusetts
Mike Corey, KI1U - ARRL Emergency Preparedness manager
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK - ARRL Southeastern Division Director
We encourage you to visit all the activities you can and learn more about
amateur radio emergency communications. Hope to see you there!
ARRL's EPM Corey on FEMA Think Tank Call
----------------------------------------
On February 17, ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, and
Henry Katz, KB3NYW, of Baltimore County, Maryland participated as presenters
in FEMA's Think Tank Conference Call. The conference was hosted by FEMA
Deputy Administrator Richard Serino from city hall in San Francisco,
California. In attendance at City Hall were representatives from FEMA, local
and state emergency management, NGO's, and the private sector. An audience
of over 400 from around the country also participated via teleconference.
The focus of the Think Tank conference call was the use of technology and
social media in emergency management. The two specific topics discussed
were: (1) How to communicate with disaster survivors and distribute
information to mass audiences if cellular and on-line communications are
unavailable immediately following a catastrophic disaster; in particular,
how existing communications tools, such as Amateur Radio operators, can be
leveraged and linked to other forms of mass communications following a
disaster; and (2) How mobile applications can help emergency managers and
individuals prepare for, respond to, and quickly recover from disasters.
Katz presented an overview of the Amateur Radio Service while Corey
presented how radio amateurs relay vital messages during a disaster and how
Amateur Radio works in conjunction with new technologies such as the
Internet and social media. Following the presentations there was time for
the audience to make comments and ask questions. The feedback received was
good and the Deputy Administrator summed it up by saying "They're not
Amateurs but they are very much professionals." For more information on the
Amateur Radio portion of the FEMA Think Tank Conference Call see
http://www.fema.gov/thinktank/.
Message from ARRL's Emergency Preparedness Manager KI1U: Get On The Air
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the March 2012 issue of QST your ARES E-Letter editor Rick Palm, K1CE,
had some great advice and insight on training and certifications for EmComm.
Taking part in regular training, whether a new course or a refresher, has
several benefits. First, it lets our served agencies know that we take not
only our relationship with them seriously, but their mission, too. Second,
the learning experience itself benefits the individual Amateur. And third,
taking part in regular training keeps us informed on what is happening with
our served agencies.
Our focus on training, though, has missed something very important. Where do
we start training? What is the first thing you should do if you want to help
with emergency communications and public service? What is the most important
training we can take part in? The answer was found in your Amateur Radio
license study manual.
At the risk of being tarred and feathered by die hard EmComm enthusiasts,
Amateur Radio is not all about emergency communications. It is about getting
on the air and making use of the spectrum we've been granted. Training
starts by turning on your radio. Any time you get on the air is training and
a learning experience. It doesn't matter what you do on the air: Field Day,
rag chewing, nets, DXing, contests, etc. What matters is that you get on the
air. Not just when there is an ARES event or an emergency, but at every
opportunity. GET ON THE AIR!
Think about this: what would we be doing if we didn't have spectrum to use?
We get to keep our spectrum not by spelling out all the "what ifs" and
doomsday scenarios. We keep it by using it, and using it a lot. There are
those that wouldn't mind taking some of our spectrum from us. Saying we need
it in an emergency doesn't always work; after all, even public safety feels
the sting of spectrum grabs.
So how is getting on the air training? By being active on the Amateur bands,
you will increase your knowledge of propagation, rules and regulations,
station building, antennas, modes of communication, and build networks
through the QSO's you make. It is a perpetual learning environment. After 25
years as an Amateur, I still learn new things by being active on the bands.
Don't take my word for it; ask around to those in your EmComm group that
have been there, done that, and have a closet full of t-shirts. Getting on
the air is a learning experience.
You may not get a certificate for getting on the bands (well perhaps if you
try DXing or contesting) and your served agency may not understand your
excitement for logging that new country on 10 meters, but you will be
learning and growing as an Amateur. So start training and get on the air. I
hope to see you in my logbook soon. - Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL Emergency
Preparedness Manager
Training: ICS Communications Unit
---------------------------------
Every incident requires that certain management functions be performed. The
problem must be identified and assessed, a plan to deal with it developed
and implemented, and the necessary resources procured and paid for.
Regardless of the size of the incident, these management functions still
will apply.
There are five major management functions that are the foundation upon which
the ICS organization develops. These functions are:
1) Incident Command -- Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and
priorities and has overall responsibility for the incident.
2) Operations -- Conducts operations to reach the incident objectives, and
establishes the tactics and directs all operational resources.
3) Planning -- Supports the incident action planning process by tracking
resources, collecting/analyzing information, and maintaining documentation.
4) Logistics -- Provides resources and needed services to support the
achievement of the incident objectives.
5) Finance & Administration -- Monitors costs related to the incident.
Provides accounting, procurement, time recording.
The Communications Unit comes under the Logistics function, and develops the
Communications Plan (ICS 205), to make the most effective use of the
communications equipment and facilities assigned to the incident.
Additionally, this Unit installs and tests all communications equipment,
supervises and operates the incident communications center, distributes and
recovers communications equipment assigned to incident personnel, and
maintains and repairs communications equipment on site.
The Communications Unit is responsible for effective incident communications
planning, especially in the context of a multiagency incident. All
communications between organizational elements during an incident should be
in plain language (clear text) to ensure that information dissemination is
clear and understood by all intended recipients. Planning is critical for
determining required radio nets, establishing interagency frequency
assignments, and ensuring the interoperability and the optimal use of all
assigned communications capabilities.
The Communications Unit Leader should attend all incident Planning Meetings
to ensure that the communication systems available for the incident can
support tactical operations planned for the next operational period.
Incident communications are managed through the use of an incident
Communications Plan and a communications center established solely for the
use of tactical and support resources assigned to the incident. Advance
planning is required to ensure that an appropriate communications system is
available to support incident operations requirements. This planning
includes the development of frequency inventories, frequency-use agreements,
and interagency radio caches.
Nets
Radio networks for large incidents may be organized as follows:
1. Command Net -- The command net links together Incident Command, Command
Staff, Section Chiefs, Branch Directors, and Division and Group Supervisors.
2. Tactical Nets -- Several tactical nets may be established to connect
departments, agencies, geographical areas, or specific functional units. The
determination of how nets are set up should be a joint function designed by
Planning, Operations, and Logistics.
3. Support Net -- A support net may be established primarily to handle
changes in resource status but also to handle logistical requests and other
nontactkickback
from the hams when you implemented it? What do you think it will take to get
these adopted on a national level so that we can share resources with some
confidence that as a receiving agency we are getting what we need (which is,
of course, the purpose of typing in the first place)? -- Matt May, KCEM, MEP
Assistant Director, Operations, Johnson County Division of Emergency
Management, Olathe, Kansas [There is a wealth of good information on the
Flagler County, Florida, model of volunteer management here, including a
program manual, application forms, and a volunteer typing matrix that was
feautured in the last issue. - K1CE]
Training: IS-201 on ICS Forms
-----------------------------
There is a new IS-201 class that overviews some of the ICS forms that could
be used in an incident. While the mix covered in this class is different
than what I have seen in actual incidents, the class does present the forms
and should provide a good overview of how and why they are utilized. I would
suggest that this class be considered for more advanced ARES/RACES
personnel. We will be adding it to the certification requirements for
personnel on our command vehicle. -- Garth Kennedy, W9KJ, Administrative
Officer, Naperville, Illinois EMA [Course Overview: This is a web-based
training course on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident
Command System (ICS). The course is designed to provide training through an
independent study vehicle on the use of ICS forms. Take the course here. -
ed.]
Letters: Maps and GPS Fallibility
---------------------------------
The story Hams Help Save the Life of Fellow Ham in the December 2011 issue
was interesting and heartwarming when learning of the safe rescue of the
ham. The one thing that caught my eye was the misleading by the GPS in
trying to lead to the motel the driver was looking for. I try to use the
Internet mapping programs offered by Google and others. I print out the road
and street layout of the location I am headed for when it is not a familiar
location. I use my GPS to verify that I am on the roads that my map shows
that I should be on, as I go along. When the GPS starts to send me to a road
I know from the map is a wrong one, then I know not to trust or follow the
GPS directions any longer. I then use the map and the roads shown on it to
get where I need to get to.
Speaking in general, this is a good practice for any travel to an unfamiliar
location such as for an assignment to an emcomm setup by an ARES member, and
so on. These maps are incredible in detail, even including motels, gas
stations, hospitals and so on. It is a resource that is free to anyone who
has an Internet connection and a printer. Unfortunately, as we know, there
is too much faith in cell phones and GPS devices, which are all too
fallible, especially in an emergency. Printed maps do not depend on radio
tethered devices. It is the one thing you can depend on, assuming you know
how to follow a map, and it is not dependent on radio or satellites in any
way. -- Murray Goldberg, KD2IN, Toms River, New Jersey
Letters: The Modern EOC
-----------------------
Thanks for the article Putting Amateur Radio in Context in the EOC [p.88,
February 2012 QST]. I wholeheartedly agree with Troy and Bob's assessment
stated in the last paragraph. I came to the same conclusion several years
ago and joined up with CERT, the Medical Reserve Corps and the Local County
Sheriff's Office Citizens on Patrol. The EMCOMM landscape has changed
drastically here since 9/11, and Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.
Our county Mobile Command Center is equipped with every radio service
imaginable, including satellite and Internet communications and Amateur
Radio. Interoperability is vastly improved, though not perfect. Our local
fire department reinstalled VHF radios in some of the trucks that are used
for mutual aid to other counties since we have an 800 MHz trunking system
but the more rural counties are on VHF FM. Currently there is a 700 MHz
system being overlaid with the 800 MHz system for interoperability.
Half of our CERT members are radio amateurs. We have been called out for
Search and Rescue, and use Amateur Radio and GMRS as our primary
communication systems. The Medical Reserve Corp relies almost entirely on
Amateies is for CERTs, Neighborhood Watch
Programs, Neighborhood Associations, Community/Faith Based organizations,
Citizen Corps, Fire Corps and others to work as a team to become better
prepared for the next disaster their community may face. There is no charge
for participation in any of the Formidable Footprint exercises. For
additional information or to register for upcoming exercises, please access
the following website: http://www.FormidableFootprint.org Stay informed
regarding future exercises by joining the Formidable Footprint LinkedIn Group.
Changing of the Guard in North Carolina's Orange County
-------------------------------------------------------
Laurie Meier, N1YXU, has retired as ARES EC for Orange County, North
Carolina. During Meier's tenure as EC, the Orange County program was
broadened with stellar leadership. Ms. Meier is the first to receive the
North Carolina ARES Area 10 Outstanding Service Award. She humbly dedicated
the award to the Orange County ARES group. Meier was instrumental in
developing their ARES leadership team, structured and productive weekly nets
along with meetings called "Ready Rallies" that have always produced better
informed and trained ARES members.
With Meier's resignation, Steve Ahlbom, W3AHL, has gracefully accepted the
position. Because of ramped up objectives by Emergency Management for
interoperability and increased training demands, his new role will require
strong leadership skills. Mr. Ahlbom is well respected among the amateur
community, and brings a lot to the table as he has been part of the ARES
leadership team as an AEC. Ahlbom has technical qualities and experience in
an active role in supporting regional and state disaster groups. - North
Carolina ARES Area 10 News, Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2012
K1CE For a Final
----------------
I'm back on D-STAR with my ICOM IC-2200H and will have some reports on my
experiences in the next few issues. It certainly is an exciting mode and the
implications for Amateur Radio emcomm are almost limitless, with numerous
applications for digital voice and data.
____
Thanks go to the ARRL's Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, for
his contribution to this month's newsletter, and for his continuing work for
the League's emcomm programs. He is also my editor up at the Ivory Tower,
and the last filter before these words hit the streets. Thanks, Mike!
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