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CX2SA > ARES 05.08.23 10:32l 417 Lines 23006 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The ARES E-Letter - 07/2023
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To : ARES@ARRL
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The ARES E-Letter
=================
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE July 19, 2023
- Skamania County (Washington) ARES© Responds to Tunnel 5 Fire
- Amateur Radio Supports Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team
- ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Ahead: Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)
Prepares for Nuclear Drill
- Notes from the Minnesota MS-150 Comms Support Effort
- Part 2: Current Hospital Nets
- ARES© Resources
- ARRL Resources
Skamania County (Washington) ARES© Responds to Tunnel 5 Fire
------------------------------------------------------------
On the morning of July 2, Skamania County (WA) ARES Emergency Coordinator
Kevin Widener, KE7IN, was on his deck and noticed smoke blowing above the
Columbia River. He drove a quarter of a mile to investigate and saw that
flames from burning trees were already above the bluff 1,200 feet above the
river. Almost immediately, the small community of Underwood, Washington, was
under Level 3 "GO NOW!" evacuation orders. The threat was real, and the
community's safety became the top priority. The fire became known as the
Tunnel 5 fire. By July 4, a Type 2 Incident Management Team was deployed to
manage firefighting land and air resources that came from all over the
Pacific Northwest.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Skamania County Sheriff,
Summer Scheyer, called upon ARES to staff two positions to lend their
support at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Their crucial
responsibilities included fielding phone calls from concerned residents and
ensuring Sheriff Scheyer remained informed by closely monitoring social
media and firefighting efforts. For 4 intense days, ARES members dutifully
manned the EOC, providing vital assistance during a time of crisis. By the
time the fire was contained, five residences were lost, several more
sustained significant damage, and several other structures were destroyed.
Quick response from the local volunteer fire department and firefighting
aircraft prevented scores of other homes from being destroyed.
Meanwhile, another ARES member received a request on the morning of July 3
to deploy to a small community located west of Underwood. The area had
suffered significant damage to telephone landlines, leaving some residents
without any means of communication. To address this urgent need, a radio
station was swiftly established at the local school. This improvised
solution ensured emergency access to dispatch services, should the need
arise. ARES operators showcased their resourcefulness, stepping up to
provide citizens with a lifeline during this time when telephone landline
access was unavailable. Once the landline was repaired, the radio station
was deactivated, marking the successful conclusion of this deployment.
Skamania County ARES comprises a dedicated team of 11 amateur radio
operators, all united by their unwavering commitment to the community's
safety. Many of these operators had previously been activated during the
devastating 2017 Eagle Creek fire, which ravaged over 50,000 acres of the
pristine Columbia River Gorge. Their tireless efforts did not go unnoticed,
as the Sheriff and other community leaders expressed their gratitude and
appreciation for our ARES team's invaluable contributions during the Tunnel
5 fire. -- Kevin Widener, KE7IN/WQWI878, Emergency Coordinator, Skamania
County, Washington ARES (W6TQF)
Amateur Radio Supports Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team
------------------------------------------------------------
Combine 2,850 pounds of donated food, 20 cargo flights by 17 general
aviation pilots flying over 8,800 air miles, eight airfields, and 44 amateur
radio operators, and one can have an effective full-scale exercise. On July
8, and 9, 2023, the Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team (ODART), a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization, activated volunteer pilots from Oregon,
Washington, and California to simulate what a response effort might be like
when the next full-length megathrust rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone
(CSZ) off the west coast takes place.
The impact of that CSZ earthquake and tsunami incident will be severe, with
widespread failures of electricity, cellular and landline phone systems,
commercial radio, Internet services, and (yes, even) amateur radio
repeaters. Remote coastal communities will be cut off from food and medical
supplies. However, general aviation pilots can utilize small landing strips
to deliver cargo of 150 to ~400 pounds per flight, and are expected to be a
valuable resource for local and tribal emergency managers.
ODART planners understand the value that amateur radio communications bring
to assist them with their disaster response mission. Amateur radio
volunteers practice with the pilots' group by transmitting airfield
conditions, sea state (for amphibious aircraft pilots), current weather and
fuel supplies on hand at airfields, relaying roadway and bridge conditions
gathered by aircraft during overflights of impacted areas, and tracking each
aircraft (arrival time, cargo quantity, departure time, destination, etc.).
The July 2023 exercise involved ARES, AuxComm, and ACS groups from 10
different counties across a 300-mile footprint, each standing up a Winlink
station which, per the exercise scenario, could only connect to an RMS
located east of the Cascade Mountain range.
1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion
We know that real-world events can affect exercises, and this event
encountered three. Cargo flights between Walla Walla, Washington, and
Aurora, Oregon, had to fly around smoke from the Tunnel 5 fire [See the
related story in this issue -- Ed.] burning in Skamania County, Washington.
One ODART aircraft experienced avionics problems and returned to its home
base at Hillsboro, Oregon, without cargo (or a working aviation radio in
controlled airspace). Another ODART aircraft was enroute from Bend, Oregon,
to La Grande, Oregon, when a Winlink message was received from Tyson Brooks,
W7BL, who was staffing the radio station at the La Grande airport, notifying
the ODART "Air Boss" of the closure of both runways due to the crash landing
of a World War II vintage T6 aircraft. This information was quickly relayed
to the amateur radio station at the Bend Airport, and the pilot was
successfully recalled using aviation radio frequencies.
According to the "Air Boss" for the exercise, commercial pilot Jim
Origliosso, KK7ILC, both the pilots and communications volunteers did an
excellent job. The food delivered via the ODART cargo flights went to food
banks close to the delivery airports. Food bank supplies are sparse this
time of year, so the food bank directors were thrilled to receive the
airlifted cargo.
Lessons learned in this exercise included the need for a better structure
for VHF/UHF radio communications between the airfield flight line and the
Winlink radio station, additional resiliency and testing of airport antenna
options, establishing Winlink tactical call signs based on the unique FAA ID
of the airfields, and the need for developing several custom Winlink forms.
In an exercise scheduled as part of the International ShakeOut Day on
October 19, 2023, ODART will practice coordinated overflights of roadways
and bridges in the impact areas to gather situational awareness of simulated
damage. Amateur radio will again be used to relay these reports via Winlink
to transportation officials.
Volunteer general aviation groups with missions similar to ODART exist in
most areas of the country, so if your Emcomm group isn't currently helping
one with their communications, you may want to reach out. -- Steve Aberle,
WA7PTM, Assistant Director, ARRL Northwestern Division
ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Ahead: Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepares for Nuclear Drill
--------------------------
Every 2 years, the Limerick Nuclear Generating Station (LGS) conducts a
drill in coordination with the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Department of
Public Safety. The drill is evaluated by representatives from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency (PEMA). Montgomery County activates its Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, as well as the 20 Municipal EOCs that lie
within the LGS 10 Mile Radius Emergency Protection Zone (EPZ). Since the
1980s, Montgomery County ARES RACES (MCAR) has consistently deployed its
operators to the County and Municipal EOCs and provided primary, confirming
or When All Else Fails communications between the County and Municipal EOCs.
The presence of an Amateur Radio operator in each EOC appears to be a
"checklist" item for the FEMA and PEMA evaluators. MCAR contemplates
utilizing its AA3E 2-meter and 70-centimeter repeaters and with permission,
the Pottstown Amateur Radio Club's 2-meter repeater for FM and digital
modes, an evolving local MESH RF and tunnel network as well as HF voice
communications. This year's Drill is scheduled to take place on September
26th and will serve as MCAR's Simulated Emergency Test (the ARRL SET).
testing an MCAR Go Kit
At MCAR's July meeting, Emergency Coordinator (EC) Chuck Farrell, W3AFV,
initiated the drill location assignment process and Assistant EC Rocky
Pistilli, N3FKR, conducted a presentation reviewing Fldigi setup and
operations. The meeting was conducted in person at the County EOC and via
Zoom. Attendees updated and tested MCAR go-kits as well as their own laptops
and handhelds. For more information about MCAR, visit AA3E.org. -- Robert
Alan Griffiths, NE3I, MCAR PIO
Notes from the Minnesota MS-150 Comms Support Effort
----------------------------------------------------
We received lots of compliments from staff, leadership and more than 1,000
riders regarding our support for the MS-150, a 150-mile, 2-day bike event in
Minnesota on June 10-11, 2023. Peter Corbet, KD8GBL, and I were assigned as
part of the SAG (Support and Gear) van operation at or near the information
tents on two of the routes. In between radio calls we tried out a paper
version of using tickets for missing helmets and cell phones. We collected
backstory and phone numbers for these. We were 4/4 on lost cell phones and
1/2 on helmets--this was good practice for family reunification. I am
promoting an application, OSTicket, for this in software. One of our big
events in 2022 had nine missing spectator/family member reports.
Our close partnership with volunteer motorcycle riders paid a lot of
dividends. They could manage tricky intersections and hidden road crossings
and be "first on scene" for crashes. This is one area in which hams can
bring value to Public Safety and Emergency Managers -- we work well with
other volunteer groups; better than anyone else. Failure Mode and Effects
Analysis (FMEA) keeps strongly hinting at this in training courses and on
calls.
Matt Genelin, N0YNT, gets credit for an instant best practice on SAG vehicle
door marking. Logging (AKA medical records) of all medical
incidents/interactions, even at smaller events is critical. There may be a
need for follow-up.
On our 75-mile stages, nobody cares tactically what is happening 50 miles
away. As an example -- if you have a bike crash that is local, one needs to
decide which assets are responding, etc. If there is a shortage of aspirin
50 miles away, for those working the crash, that ties up the radio channel
and is really a distraction. I keep missing the memo on the power of out
of-area internet repeater linking in emergencies.
The event organizers concluded the business band UHF rented radios had
coverage issues in rural areas. So, they switched to Zello, an internet
voice chat application. Between various cellular carriers, coverage was
decent. The ability to include non-hams and event leaders in the situational
awareness function was key. Our largest area EMS operation was also
suggesting Zello for this use case.
If you mix hams, directed nets and events, our channel occupancy "PTT
Duration," for better or worse, is very high. This changes the basic
engineering behind trunking for business and public safety -- the assumption
that average offered traffic load is low and time slots can be shared across
lots of potential users. The PTT Duration "H" example is 5 seconds -- for
hams that is probably closer to 45 seconds or a minute. For medical dispatch
traffic, a very high grade of service is mandatory. So, dedicated repeaters
or unpopularly time slots are the best. -- Erik Westgard, NY9D, St. Paul,
Minnesota
Part 2: Current Hospital Nets
-----------------------------
[The first part of this series appeared in last month's issue -- Ed.]
Although some hospital nets strictly use analog voice to keep things simple,
data modes avoid many of the oral communication errors that occur in noisy
environments under stressful conditions. Data communication is now
ubiquitous in amateur radio. Winlink Global Radio Email supports both HF and
VHF/UHF operation, and is widely used. Some hospital nets have started to
use Fldigi modem software in combination with Flmsg messaging software. In a
pinch, no special interface is needed: data can be exchanged merely by
positioning a laptop PC so that its microphone is near the radio's speaker,
and the radio's microphone is near the laptop's speaker.
Not enough can be said about the amateur radio leaders who have invested
much time and effort in convincing hospitals to install amateur radio
stations and antennas, recruiting and training volunteer operators (an
ongoing need), coordinating tests of the hospitals' amateur radio equipment
to ensure it works, and conducting practice drills.
Many hospital nets were forced to hibernate during the pandemic, as
hospitals limited access to their buildings. Most are finally getting back
to normal.
All in all, the amateur radio community has built a solid foundation for
supporting healthcare providers, and is well positioned to take hospital
nets to the next level.
Hospital Net Challenges
Installing amateur radio stations in most of America's more than 6,000
hospitals is an ambitious goal. Some hospitals, especially those with
licensed amateur radio operators on their staffs, welcome the use of amateur
radio in emergencies. Others require convincing. According to Bret Smith,
W4HBS, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, Georgia ARES, the latest CMS
2 rules require that hospitals have reliable backup communication for
emergencies, and amateur radio has demonstrated it's the best option.
Still, some hospital personnel believe that their commercial backup
communication solutions -- primarily satellite phones and land mobile radios
-- are adequate. However, as Smith points out, "Satellite phones often don't
work indoors, and it's neither practical nor safe to go outdoors during a
storm." Land mobile radios used to communicate with ambulances may also be
able to reach other hospitals, but ambulance traffic is often urgent, so
their use would depend on the availability of spare radios and channels.
While commercial backup systems have their strengths, amateur radio is
exceptionally versatile. Nor is it necessarily an either/or question:
Amateur radio can provide extra capacity when other communication resources
are stretched to their limits. "Amateur radio offers hospitals unique backup
communications capabilities. When the disaster is at its worst,
communications must be at its best," said Jack Tsujimura, KH6DQ, Statewide
HealthComm Coordinator for Hawaii.
What steps can be taken to convince hospitals to include amateur radio in
their emergency communication plans? First, make the hospital aware that the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sees amateur radio as a valuable
emergency communication tool. In my region, the St. Louis Area Regional
Response System (STARRS) works closely with FEMA and included amateur radio
in its 110-page 2009 Regional Healthcare Coordination Plan. Second, direct
the hospital to grants that pay for amateur radio equipment (such as those
available from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response,
ASPR). Third, set up a meeting between local Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES) leaders and the hospital's emergency communication manager,
facilities manager, and preferably an executive who can approve the project.
Use the meeting to describe amateur radio's capabilities, present examples
of how amateur radio provided vital communication during previous disasters,
and reassure hospital management that amateur radio volunteers will be there
solely to send and receive messages at their direction.
Ensuring that there are enough volunteer operators can be a challenge.
Licensed operators are needed to test the amateur radio equipment in
hospitals on a regular basis, participate in practice drills, and operate
the stations during disasters.
How many volunteer operators are necessary? One volunteer can cover three
locations tested quarterly. More volunteers will be needed during
emergencies. The volunteer's first concern, however, should be the
well-being of his or her family. A volunteer who is worried about loved ones
cannot be effective.
Ideally, there should be enough operators to enable working in shifts, but
hospital nets report that in practice two operators can handle the busy
first day or so, with one operator working while the other rests.
Training is essential for volunteer operators. Most hospital nets recommend
the ARRL's Introduction to Emergency Communication course and FEMA's online
Incident Command System (ICS) courses (specifically, ICS-100, ICS-200, and
ICS-700). Volunteer operators should also be familiar with the hospital's
amateur radio equipment and any hospital-specific procedures.
Most importantly, volunteer operators must understand what their role isn't.
They are not first responders, health care providers, or decision makers.
Their job is to send and receive messages exactly as given, and do it in a
businesslike manner.
Amateur Radio Hospital Net Opportunities
One of the best things that the amateur radio community can do to enhance
its reputation as an emergency communication service is to create and expand
hospital nets around the country. Hospital nets help build relationships
with healthcare providers and government agencies. And they demonstrate to
the public that amateur radio is ready and able to assist during any
disaster, no matter how severe.
Hospital nets can help attract young people, who are encouraged to serve
their local communities. Earning an amateur radio license and participating
in a hospital net are powerful r‚sum‚ enhancements. Amateur radio must
evolve to meet hospitals' future emergency communication needs and appeal to
today's youth, who grew up with the internet. Hospitals need reliable
coverage over a wide area, ample capacity, and support for both voice and
data. Today's young people are accustomed to high-speed access; many are
proficient at producing and uploading videos. How can amateur radio better
serve these two constituencies? By building broadband mesh networks covering
major cities and large rural areas. Networks consisting of nodes (many
equipped with backup power) operated by clubs, sponsors, and individual
hams, that are self-healing, and that are readily expandable, would help
catapult amateur radio into the future.
Conclusion
Amateur radio has earned praise for providing emergency communication in
response to disasters. But it should not be taken for granted. A strategy is
needed to meet tomorrow's emergency communication needs. That strategy
should guide regulatory policy and technology development to make amateur
radio hospitals' go-to emergency communication solution and give young
people an exciting new outlet for their technical skills and eagerness to
serve their local communities. -- Ira Brodsky, KC9TC, St. Louis, Missouri
ARES© Resources
---------------
Download the ARES Manual [PDF]
ARES Field Resources Manual [PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Fillable PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Word]
ARES Plan
ARES Group Registration
Emergency Communications Training
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service© (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs
who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with
their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service
when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in
ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for
membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully
in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because
ARES is an amateur radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible
for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable,
but is not a requirement for membership.
How to Get Involved in ARES: Fill out the ARES Registration form and submit
it to your local Emergency Coordinator.
ARRL Resources
--------------
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________
The ARES Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month. ARRL
members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data
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Copyright ¸ 2023 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
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require written permission.
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* CX2SA 1978-2023 - Salto Uruguay *
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