| |
CX2SA > ARES 28.09.08 16:25l 734 Lines 35970 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : ARES-092608
Read: GUEST
Subj: ARES E-Letter - Sep. 26, 2008
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<HG8LXL<CX2SA
Sent: 080928/1512Z @:CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA #:36934 [Minas] FBB7.00e $:ARES-092608
From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : ARES@WW
The ARES E-Letter
September 26, 2008
=================
Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor
<http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>,
===================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>;;;
===================================
+ The View from Flagler County
Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston, Texas, the site of the notorious
disaster in 1900, as well as points north. Massive evacuations took
place, and ARES was prepared for a major communications effort. I
monitored the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz. NCS W7GOX was
looking for reports from stations along the Texas Gulf coast. For a
comprehensive, current look at storm-related amateur operations, see
the new issue of the ARRL Letter at:
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0919/>.
At the present time, all staffing requests have been met, and
Sections have been asked to stand-down and thank all those that
identified themselves as available. ARES volunteers around the
country should continue to monitor tropical events, as the season
does not end for two more months. Any updates on volunteer needs will
be made known to the Section Managers and Section Emergency
Coordinators and posted to the ARRL's Volunteer Web page at:
<http://www.arrl.org/gustav/vol.html>
According to Louisiana SM Gary Stratton, K5GLS, activity in his state
status post Hurricane Gustav has wound down to only sparse local
support at the city and parish level. Louisiana VOAD members have
asked for no assistance. A few Louisiana ARES members are still
supporting the Texas Emergency Net, and South Texas ARES officials
will likely be asking for relief support for those who have been
working since Ike came inland. Volunteers are supplying private
equipment for mostly VHF operation in the Houston/Galveston and the
southeast Texas areas of Orange, Beaumont, and Port Arthur. Louisiana
SEC Jim Coleman, AI5B, has been in charge of the Louisiana effort,
working with STX officials.
_________
It has been a rough and tumble season so far, and we're only half way
through it. In observing trends this season, one of the enhancements
that struck me was the better coordination of possible movement of
ARES volunteers to affected areas from other counties and sections.
This was evident during Northern Florida's response to T.S. Fay, and
continues on with the Gustav and now, Ike, situations. The
coordination efforts of ARRL and its leadership officials across the
pan-Gulf region is to be commended, and will likely be the topic of
post-season debriefings in the months to come.
_________
For Hurricane Gustav, Northern Florida was "Alerted." SM Paul Eakin,
KJ4G, met with the State EOC team, who was concerned about south
Florida. Eakin offered his ARES assets to neighboring ARRL sections
to the south. Five Amateur Radio operators were available to the
state tracking system from their homes to assist with all requests
for Amateur Radio services. The idea was to expedite responses to
served agencies and all the county EOCs throughout the state. This
Tallahassee (TLH) "Gateway" team was established to operate these
stations 24/7 as needed. The gateway system is per the request of the
Florida state EOC, the principle served agency of Florida ARES. The
TLH gateway stations were provided to assist any EOC or served agency
who could not contact, or remain in contact by commercial or any
other means with, the State EOC.
Eakin was invited once again to be posted at the EOC. He had D-STAR
and APRS communications capability, for stations to post info to the
EOC. The state EOC also had the Southeastern Digital Area Network
(SEDAN) packet system up and running, as another communications tool.
Four W2K stations were also up.
Eakin cited the ARRL HQ-coordinated conference calls as "a great idea
for us in the hot zones to learn the status of the overall event." It
was through these conference calls that Eakin was able to set up a
relay backup system with the Mississippi section for mutual
assistance.
It seems we are in a new era of ARES communications that emphasizes
cross-Sectional coordination and cooperation for mutual assistance,
and a more proactive HQ role.
_______
In This Issue:
+ The View from Flagler County
+ T.S. Fay Response
+ ARRL Sets up E-mail Addresses for Hurricanes, Tropical Storms
+ Hurricane Gustav Mutual Aid ARES Volunteer Protocol
+ New FEMA Training Course Essential: ESF #2 Communications
+ Red Cross Policy Re Health and Welfare Traffic Clarified
+ California's Hospital Disaster Support Communications Service
Update
+ Boise, Idaho Fire Response
+ DHS Interoperability Manual, National Emergency Communications Plan
+ LETTERS: ARES Groups Should Publish Repeater Frequencies for
Googling
+ Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ, New SEC for Ohio
+ Coaxial Antenna for EmComm
+ EmComm Briefs:
+ K1CE For A Final
_______
+ T.S. Fay Response
T.S. Fay spent seven days in Florida. Every county was impacted in
some way. Fay entered the state four times during her visit. Cost to
government agencies so far is more than $11,000,000. Eleven deaths
occurred. ARES skills were tested, and operations were assessed to
make improvements and to be ready for the next one.
After action reports are still being solicited and written to
document the number of amateurs participating, hours worked, types of
assignments, actions performed by amateurs that were above and beyond
the call of duty, communication modes used other than voice and any
other items highlighting Amateur Radio. Reports should also contain
information pertaining to other volunteers who were involved: REACT,
SKYWARN, SAR, K9, and so forth, to bring about a comprehensive
communications picture.
Northern Florida Section Manager Paul Eakin, KJ4G applauded ARES
amateurs for a job well done: "It was quite evident that teamwork was
involved to get assignments done. Many put in long hours, bought
expensive fuel, and lost sleep in the performance of duties. Public
officials have noticed what ham radio is all about. I especially
commend those amateurs who volunteered to be deployed to the Crown
district on short notice. Thanks also go to Susan Swiderski, AF4FO,
Georgia SM, who provided amateurs for possible deployment into
northwestern Florida."
+ ARRL Sets up E-mail Addresses for Hurricanes, Tropical Storms
In an effort to streamline hurricane support operations at ARRL
Headquarters, the League has set up two e-mail addresses for hams to
pose questions or relay non-emergent information to HQ Staff relating
to hurricane or named tropical storm events. If you need to
communicate with ARRL HQ regarding these storms, please use
<hurricane@arrl.org>; or <hurricane@arrl.net>;. While these e-mail
addresses are not monitored on a 24/7 basis, they are monitored
during each storm's descent on the US, as well as throughout the
hurricane season.
+ Hurricane Gustav Mutual Aid ARES Volunteer Protocol
As Hurricane Gustav hit southeast Louisiana, the ARES response was
well-coordinated on an inter-Sectional basis. Throughout the storm
week, ARRL coordinated conference calls among key ARES officials to
foster communication and expedite any requests for assistance.
As Amateur Radio operators prepared for Hurricane Gustav, the ARRL
deployed complete radio stations comprised of industry-donated
Amateur Radio equipment, thanks to the generous contributions of ARRL
members to the Ham Aid Fund. Created in 2005 to assist with the
response to Hurricane Katrina, the Ham Aid Fund is designated to
finance Amateur Radio equipment needed for disaster response. In
preparation for Hurricane Gustav, ARRL received requests for radio
equipment from Louisiana and Texas. The shipping costs for this
equipment were covered by the Ham Aid Fund.
The storm event and response are well-documented in the ARRL Letter,
so will not be revisited here. Please see
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0905/>. What will be covered here
is the method of coordination of volunteers used by ARRL Headquarters
staff, a vast improvement over the past. In coordination with the
Sections in the Gulf Coast area, certain protocols were to be used to
request and accept ARES volunteers. They will likely be used for
further storms this season, with possible modifications as we go
along:
1. Interested volunteers should make their availability known to
their home Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator.
2. The impacted Section(s) and ARRL HQ will post staffing requests to
the SM, SEC and the storm Volunteer web page. A brief, specific
description of what is requested will be listed.
3. SMs and SECs that have volunteers that are available will contact
the requesting Section point of contact (POC) listed in the request.
4. The requesting Section POC will determine the viability of the
resource offering and have the final decision on acceptance.
5. Once the request has been filled, a new posting to both e-mail
lists and the web page will be made.
6. Specific reporting details will be provided by the Section POC.
7. Requesting Sections will utilize the closest ARES resources first.
8. ARES volunteers not cleared by the requesting POC will not be
accepted or allowed entry into the disaster area.
ARES assets that may be requested by National VOAD members (served
organizations) will be processed through ARRL HQ by Dennis Dura,
K2DCD.
As additional details become available, and/or the protocol is
altered, changes will be posted to the SM and SEC list, and here. See
also the Volunteer Web page at: <http://www.arrl.org/gustav/vol.html>
+ New FEMA Training Course Essential: ESF #2 Communications
An apparently new FEMA on-line course covers the Emergency Support
Function (ESF) #2 "Communications" of the National Response Framework
(NRF). It is essential that all amateur emcomm operators understand
all ESFs, but particularly ESF #2. All ESFs are central to the
operations of any EOC. See
<http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS802.asp>.
The NRF presents the guiding principles that enable all response
partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to
disasters and emergencies. It establishes a comprehensive, national,
all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. The Framework
defines the principles, roles, and structures that organize how we
respond as a nation. It builds upon the National Incident Management
System (NIMS)<http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm>, which
provides a consistent template for managing incidents. Information on
the National Response Framework including Documents, Annexes,
References and Briefings/Trainings can be accessed from the resource
center <http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/> -- Thanks to Eagle-Eye
David Coursey, N5FDL, EC San Joaquin County, California
+ Red Cross Policy Re Health and Welfare Traffic Clarified
This statement is from Keith Robertory, Disaster Service Technology
Manager, American Red Cross, regarding Amateur Radio's role in Health
and Welfare Traffic and the American Red Cross.
"There has recently been some posting on Amateur Radio discussion
groups on the Internet that is carrying false or misleading
information. The Red Cross does not have a policy against amateur
radio participating in passing health and welfare messages. In fact,
we recognize the importance of amateur radio in being a vital method
for people to get registered.
"The American Red Cross welcomes the support of Amateur Radio
Operators in connecting friends and family members together through
our health and welfare programs. The grassroots, independent nature
of Amateur Radio Operators in communities around the country make
them well suited for this task.
"General welfare messages are processed through the Red Cross Safe
and Well Web site. This site allows people to register their status,
which can be checked by friends and family who search by your name,
address or phone number. A quick look at the Web site
<http://disastersafe.redcross.org/> will show how both the
registration process and search are done.
"As few as two hams can set up an effective registration process. A
ham located in the disaster zone can use any mode to transmit the
basic Safe and Well registration information to another ham located
outside the disaster area who would enter the information on the Web
site. This quick ad-hoc setup doesn't rely on any affiliations and
can be established by a call out to another ham who can help.
"The Red Cross also processes welfare inquiry messages that contain
specific medical information. These contain more sensitive and
personally identifiable information at the same time that the Red
Cross keeps confidential to respect client privacy. We are
researching if and how these messages can be passed across open
frequencies, and what federal restrictions (such as HIPPA) may impact
how this is done. Thank you. -- Keith Robertory, Disaster Service
Technology Manager, American Red Cross, KG4UIR"
+ California's Hospital Disaster Support Communications Service
Update
The venerable Hospital Disaster Support Communications Service
(HDSCS) of Orange county, California, members are recouping from the
Disneyland Half Marathon on August 31. The medical support for this
event with 13,500 runners, was St. Joseph Hospital located in Orange.
Because of its specialty of supporting hospitals, HDSCS has supported
the medical communications for this event for two years. HDSCS
provided 22 communicators who shadowed key staff for St. Joseph,
provided comms from all the medical tents, were the communicators for
the bicycle medics, stood by at key water stations, and were in the
Disneyland command center. By 10:30 AM well over 500 runners had been
attended to and treated in the 30 bed Main Medical Tent and reunion
areas. HDSCS communicators were lauded for the organized network,
their understanding of the medical environment, and the ability to
get messages through quickly.
As part of ongoing training, HDSCS members participated in field
trips to learn about emergency department and trauma center functions
as well as going through the various intensive care areas. It was
invaluable for communicators who might have to back up communications
from those most critical areas of the hospital.
HDSCS participated in several single hospital drills so far this
year. Most recently, it responded to Mission Hospital Regional
Medical Center when a failure of a UPS caused a phone outage in one
of the buildings on their campus. Communicators were on site for
about 4 1/2 hours assisting with message relays from one building to
others. Little did they know that it was a warm up for the earthquake
the next day.
HDSCS staffed three full days at the Orange County Fair Amateur Radio
booth, allowing scouts to send simulated emergency messages from a
simulated Hospital Command Center at a Scout-O-Rama. HDSCS has also
been at the EMS Disaster Fair. It was a great opportunity to explain
how the group functions in time of phone outages, and area wide
disasters.
HDSCS boasts 10 members that have now achieved the Certified Hospital
Communicator. For more info, see the HDSCS Web site. -- April Moell,
WA6OPS, ARES Emergency Coordinator, Hospital Disaster Support
Communications System, Orange County, California
<emcom4hosp@aol.com>;, <http://www.hdscs.org/>
+ Boise, Idaho Fire Response
August 25 -- The South West Idaho ARES team activated the emergency
net in response to a four-alarm fire in southeast Boise. The net ops
were in place to pass information traffic compiled from eyewitness
accounts, if needed, and local news reporting. Brian Adams, W7CVS,
served as net control. Fifty homes were evacuated, with Red Cross on
scene to provide assistance and support. The event was managed under
the Incident Command System, with the Incident Commander installed at
the Simplot soccer field complex.
Lessons Learned: Adams said "this was an example of how quickly local
resources can be overwhelmed. All of Boise Fire Department was called
in and numerous Boise Police were on scene. Other Fire and Law
Enforcement agencies were called in from as far away as Payette, Gem,
and Elmore Counties to cover areas not covered by units working the
SE Boise Fire. Adams concluded, "We need to be ready at any moment to
respond as requested by our public safety partners. Having the
Emergency Net active with Amateurs standing by was a useful resource
for information for the local Amateur Radio community. Thanks to all
who checked into the Net and were ready to respond. The time for
training, coordination, and knowledge of how to respond and
effectively support our served agencies is BEFORE an incident like
this so that our team and capabilities are known and we can
effectively serve our serviced agencies - which is why Southwest
Idaho ARES exists." -- Chuck Robertson, KX7ID, <kx7id@arrl.net>;,
<http://www.idahoares.org/>
+ Department of Homeland Security Interoperability Manual, New
National Emergency Communications Plan
From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of
Emergency Communications (OEC)-- "The National Interoperability Field
Operations Guide (NIFOG) is a collection of technical reference
material for radio technicians responsible for radios that will be
used in disaster response applications. The NIFOG includes
information from the National Interoperability Frequency Guide
(NIFG), the instructions for use of the NIFG, and other reference
material; formatted as a pocket-sized guide for radio technicians to
carry with them. If you are not familiar with interoperability and
mutual aid communications, start with the "How to Use the National
Interoperability Field Operations Guide" section. We encourage you to
program as many of these interoperability channels in your radios as
possible. Even if geographic restrictions on some channels preclude
their use in your home area, you may have the opportunity to help in
a distant state where the restrictions do not apply. Maximize your
flexibility." For a copy of the manual, see:
<http://www.npstc.org/documents/NIFOG%20v1.2%204-14-2008.pdf> --
Thanks, Mark Conklin, N7XYO, Assistant SEC, Oklahoma
DHS has also recently released the National Emergency Communications
Plan (NECP) to address gaps and determine solutions so that emergency
response personnel at all levels of government and across all
disciplines can communicate as needed, on demand, and as authorized.
The NECP is the nation's first strategic plan to improve emergency
response communications, and complements overarching homeland
security and emergency communications legislation, strategies and
initiatives. More on the National Emergency Communications Plan:
<http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1217534334567.shtm> and
<http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1217529182375.shtm>. Thanks --
Les Rayburn, N1LF, Shelby County, Alabama EC
+ LETTERS: ARES Groups Should Publish Repeater Frequencies for
Googling
I was sent by my job down to Ft. Lauderdale [Florida] on the evening
of August 18, as Fay was about to make landfall in Collier County. It
was a bit of a wild ride down Alligator Alley, but I made it to Ft.
Lauderdale well ahead of the worst of the storm. At the hotel, I
attempted to find the local ARES repeater to check in to and monitor.
Oddly enough, despite much Googling, I was unable to find out which
repeater covered the area. I would suggest that all
ARES/RACES/SKYWARN groups have a list of the repeaters that they use
on-line somewhere so that not only their members have it handy, but
travelers to the area can find it as well. -- Joe Tomasone, AB2M,
Pinellas County (Florida) EC, and Assistant SEC, West Central Florida
Section
+ Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ, New SEC for Ohio
The DEC for District Five, Ohio, Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ, has become SEC,
effective September 1, Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, has
announced. Sovik succeeds Frank Piper, KI8GW, of Pickerington.
SM Phillips said Sovik was selected after a process in which eight
applicants applied and three were given personal interviews. "During
his tenure as DEC, Jack demonstrated great people skills he also uses
in his work for the Youngstown Vindicator newspaper. It was obvious
in the interview that he was the strongest candidate to continue the
job of enriching the talent in our ARES administration that SEC Piper
had started."
Piper said "Jack has been a great supporter of the ARES program in
the Ohio Section, and was a key player in projects such as the state
emergency plan OSERP revision, the Ohio Section EC guidelines, and
the reorganization of the ARES Districts." In addition, "Jack's drive
for professionalism in ARES, and his abilities to work with people
will give him the advantage to push the Ohio Section ARES to a
greater level. I am extremely proud of Jack and wish him well in his
new role as SEC," Piper added.
Sovik, 58, attended Youngstown State University, majoring in
Advertising/Public Relations. He was first licensed as KB8WPZ in
1995, earning his Extra class in 2000. He has held various positions
including District Emergency Coordinator for District 5, and
Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Mahoning County, and has taken
the ARRL EMCOMM classes 1-3 and FEMA classes IS 100; IS 200; IS 546;
IS 700; and IS 800. He is currently Vice President of the Mahoning
Valley Amateur Radio Association.
+ Coaxial Antenna for EmComm
There are many antennas that may be purchased or constructed and
carried in your emcomm kit. Small dipoles, J-Poles and many other
antennas that can be rolled-up, placed in a zip-lock type bag and
stowed in your kit. But what about the all but forgotten coaxial
antenna?
The coaxial antenna is basically a quarter-wave piece of 52 Ohm coax.
(RG8X or RG174 are my cables of choice). Construction for a two meter
coaxial antenna follows:
1. Remove 19 inches of the outer jacket from a four foot or long
piece of coaxial cable.
2. Carefully remove about 18 inches of the exposed shield. The shield
will be used as a sleeve.
3. Slide the shield (removed in the above step) up the coax from the
far end to the point where the jacket begins and the one inch of
shield remains.
4. Using a relatively low Wattage soldering iron, tin the top of the
sleeve.
5. Carefully fold the one inch of shield over the top of the sleeve.
6. Using the low Wattage soldering iron, solder the shield the top of
the sleeve.
7. Check all work. What you should see is eighteen inches of
dielectric along with the center conductor and eighteen inches of
sleeve with any length of coax after the sleeve.
8. Check for shorts and opens with an Ohm meter.
9. Add the coax connector of your choice to the end of the length of
coax.
10. Check for shorts and opens again.
11. Carefully affix a loop of string or a plastic wire tie to the top
of antenna using a good quality tape or heat shrink. The whole
antenna can be covered with heat shrink. You may utilize the extra
one inch of wire at the top by stripping of the dielectric from the
top and soldering the wire into a loop. The extra one inch must be
removed or utilized so as not to be part of the antenna.
12. The antenna can now be hanged from the support of your choice and
when finished, it can be stowed very easily.
Some additional thoughts:
Coaxial antennas are quite useful above 30 meters. However, they
become physically unwieldy below 30 meters. This type of antenna does
have a lower angle of radiation than the popular J-Pole with the
added bonus of some slight gain.
If the numbers look familiar, that is because we are dealing with
quarter-wavelength sections. The upper portion is a
quarter-wavelength and the lower (sleeve) is a quarter-wavelength. -
Jay Musikar, AF2C, District EC, East-Central District, Northern
Florida Section
+ EmComm Briefs:
* ARRL Emergency Communications Level 3 Online Course to be Revised:
New enrollments in the online Level 3 course will be suspended
effective October 1 to allow us to update the course curricula. We
expect the updated course to be available in the first quarter of
2009.
* New HF Digital Protocol to Debut at September Conference: WINMOR,
an HF digital protocol designed for use with the Winlink 2000
network, will be unveiled at the upcoming ARRL/TAPR Digital
Communications Conference in Chicago September 26-28.
* ARRL and Citizen Corps Assist Schools with NOAA Emergency Radios:
ARRL and Citizen Corps are teaming up to offer assistance to local
school districts in setting up and registering their NOAA Weather All
Hazard Public Alert Radio.
+ October 4-5: Participate in SET
The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test is a nationwide exercise in
emergency communications, administered by ARRL Field Organization
Leaders including Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency
Coordinators, Section Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers. Many
other Section Leaders like the Section Manager and the Section
Traffic Manager may have a hand in planning the exercises and/or
reviewing the results. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES),
National Traffic System (NTS), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES) and other public-service oriented groups can be involved. The
SET weekend gives communicators the opportunity to focus on the
emergency-communications capability within your community while
interacting with NTS nets. Although the main SET weekend this year is
October 4 -5, local and section-wide exercises may be held throughout
the fall season.
How to Join the SET:
To participate in this year's emergency test, contact your local ARRL
emergency coordinator or net manager to find out the details. ARRL
Sections, ARES teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime
during September through December. If you don't know who to call,
please touch base with your ARRL Section Manager for assistance. See
page 16 of QST for contact information or check the ARRL Web page.
The URL to start with is <http://www.arrl.org/sections/>. From there,
you'll find links to ARRL section home pages with names and contact
information for your Section Leaders including the Section Emergency
Coordinator and Section Traffic Manager. Whether you're a new
licensee or an experienced radio amateur, the SET is a golden
opportunity to learn or practice useful skills in traffic handling,
net operation and emergency communications protocols and management.
Purpose of SET:
--> To find out the strengths and weaknesses of ARES, NTS, RACES and
other groups in providing emergency communications.
--> To provide a public demonstration--to served agencies such as the
American Red Cross, the emergency management agency and through the
news media--of the value to the public that Amateur Radio provides,
particularly in time of need.
--> To help radio amateurs gain experience in communications using
standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated-emergency
conditions.
Format:
The scoring format reflects broad objectives and encourages use of
digital modes for handling high-volume traffic and point-to-point
Welfare reports out of the affected simulated- disaster area.
Participants will find SET an opportunity to strengthen the VHF-HF
link at the local level, thereby ensuring that ARES and NTS are
working in concert. The SET will give all levels of NTS the chance to
handle exercise-related traffic. The guidelines also recognize
tactical traffic on behalf of served agencies.
Test messages should carry the word "TEST" before the precedence;
that is, "Test Priority" on phone and "TEST P" on cw. The text of
such messages should also begin with the words "TEST MESSAGE."
Links to SET reporting forms and the EC Annual Report may be found at
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/>. You may e-mail your SET
summaries to ARRL Headquarters via <sewald@arrl.org>;. If you mail
them to ARRL via the postal service, the address is: ARRL
Headquarters, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494. January 30,
2009, is the receipt deadline.
Preparation is Important:
Steps for the Emergency Coordinator
--> Sign up all available amateurs in the area under your
jurisdiction and work them into your SET plans.
--> Call a meeting of all ARES members and prospective members to
briefly outline (no details!) SET activities, and give general
instructions. Do not divulge the exact time or nature of the test to
them at this time. This should come as a surprise. Take this
opportunity to register new ARES members and get up-to-date
information on others. Hold an on-the-air meeting if it's not
possible to meet in person.
--> Contact served agencies and explain the intent and overall
purpose of the SET. Offer to send test messages to other branches of
their agencies, and invite officials to your ARES meetings and SET
operating sites.
--> Contact officials of any adjacent communities having no active
amateurs and offer to provide representation in amateur networks for
them as well.
--> Arrange publicity in consultation with an ARRL Public Information
Officer in local newspapers and radio/TV stations by preparing an
announcement and/or inviting the press to observe your group's SET
operation.
--> Set up liaison with one or more NTS local/section nets (if you
don't already have liaison) so you will have an outlet for all
messages out of the local area.
--> Formulate your plans around a simulated disaster. Possible
"plots" include: a flood, a serious fire, an ice storm, a missing
person, a serious accident (automobile, bus, aircraft, for examples),
a broken gas line, and so forth.
--> Elaborate on the situation by developing a scenario, but please
be realistic.
During the SET:
--> Announce the emergency situation. Activate the emergency net.
Dispatch mobiles to served agencies.
--> Have designated stations originate messages on behalf of served
agencies.
--> Test messages may be sent simulating requests for supplies.
Simulated emergency messages (just like real emergency messages)
should be signed by an authorized official.
--> Emphasize tactical communications for served agencies.
--> As warranted by traffic loads, have liaison stations on hand to
receive traffic on the local net and relay to your section net. You
should also be sure that there is a representative on each session of
the section net to receive traffic going to the local area.
--> Operate at least one session (or substantial segment of a
session) of the local net on emergency-power only basis. Or, if a
repeater is on emergency power, allow only emergency-powered stations
to operate through the repeater for a certain time period.
After the SET:
An important post-SET activity is a critique session to discuss the
test results. All ARES (and RACES) members should be invited to the
meeting to review good points and weaknesses apparent in the drill.
Emphasize ways to improve procedures, techniques, and coordination
with all groups involved. Report your group's effort using the
appropriate forms and include any photos, clippings and other items
of interest.
The Role of NTS:
The main function of the National Traffic System in an emergency
situation is to tie together all of the various local activities and
to provide a means by which all traffic destined outside of a local
area, section or region can be systematically relayed to the
addressee.
Normal NTS routing should be followed. A valid exception is the
handling of emergency traffic that should be routed as rapidly and
efficiently as possible, bypassing various levels of nets when
delivery can be expedited. Another exception is when one station is
loaded down with traffic for one region or section. At the discretion
of the Net Control Station (NCS), the station may be directed to
bypass a normal channel and go directly to a lower (or higher)
echelon net.
The interface between NTS and ARES lies in the liaison function
between local nets and other NTS nets, particularly at the section
level. Responsibility for representation of the local network on the
section net lies with the local net manager who may or may not be the
EC. Although we usually think of ARES members being the
representatives in section nets, it is equally valid to expect NTS
personnel to act as liaison to local nets.
At least one net session or substantial segment of a session should
be conducted on emergency power. Plan a surprise session or two.
Advise the NCS just before net time. If NCS is unable to operate on
emergency power, then someone else must be net control. Only stations
operating on emergency power may report in during this time.
Summary:
One of the first steps on the way to a successful SET is to try to
get as many people involved as possible, and especially new hams. In
a real emergency, we find amateurs with all sorts of varied interests
coming out of the woodwork. Let's get them involved in SET so they
will know more about how emergency communications should be handled.
Promote SET on nets and repeaters, and sign up new, enthusiastic
radio amateurs. Many of those offering to help will be inexperienced
in public-service activities. It's up to you to explain what's going
on to them, and provide them with useful roles. They may like it so
much that they become a permanent fixture in your ARES or NTS group.
For a review of last year's nationwide Simulated Emergency Test, read
the article in July, 2008, QST. Thanks to your efforts, the public
service tradition in Amateur Radio continues!
+ K1CE For A Final
For current information on ARES and other storm-related issues,
always check the League's Web page: <http://www.arrl.org/>. It is
updated on a daily basis.
________
Please send reports of your ARES activations and drills to
<k1ce@arrl.net>; for consideration for publication in this newsletter.
It will give your people some national-level exposure, and readers a
chance to learn from your activity.
________
Finally, thanks to Jeff Sabatini, KI6BCX, of Redland Hills,
California, for sending me a "California Emergency Kit," consisting
of two packages of "Lieutenant Blender's Margarita In A Bag," a can
of Spam, and a package of fine cigars! It proved to be a lifeline
during the dark days of Tropical Storm Fay . . . See you next month!
73, Rick K1CE
Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League. All rights resrved.
======================================================================
The ARES E-LETTER is published on the third Wednesday of each month by
the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur
Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARES E-LETTER is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES).
Material from The ARES E-LETTER may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must
be given to The ARES E-LETTER and The American Radio Relay League.
Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce@arrl.net
Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy@arrl.org
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter,
W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The
ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at:
http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1
Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll
down to the section "Which of the following would you like to receive
automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARES E-Letter
(monthly public service and emergency communications news)" and you're
all set.
Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page after
publication.
======================================================================
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
