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CX2SA > ARES 21.08.23 14:00l 451 Lines 24782 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The ARES E-Letter - 08/2023
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The ARES E-Letter
=================
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE August 16, 2023
- ARES© Briefs, Links
- ARES LAX Northeast Exercise Demonstrates Success in Hospital Traffic
Management
- Radio Response: Hawaii ARES Steps Up During Tropical Storm Calvin
- Letters: Hospital Communications
- ARES© Resources
- ARRL Resources
ARES¶© Briefs, Links
--------------------
Devastating Hawaii Wildfires Prompt ARES Response - ARRL The National
Association for Amateur Radio¶© is closely following updates from the Hawaii
Amateur Radio Emergency Service¶©, Hawaii ARES¶©, as amateur radio operators
respond following deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
On Tuesday, August 8, wildfires, fueled by the strong winds of Hurricane
Dora, were burning in Maui and Hawai'i Counties. By the next day, much of
LÇ?¶_hainÇ?¶_ on Maui had been destroyed.
ARRL Section Manager Joseph Speroni, AH0A, who serves the Pacific Section
including Hawaii and US territories in the Pacific, sent a message to
members across the Section on Wednesday. "The suddenness of the Maui
Disaster is shocking. It affects us all," he said. Speroni said it was
difficult to know immediately the status of radio amateurs and equipment on
Maui, including repeaters and gateways. "Sadly, there are now confirmed
deaths and several of our ham friends have lost their homes."
Speroni reported that the ARRL Hawaii ARES website, https://hawaiiares.net,
was modified to provide the latest emergency communications news. The
website includes updates on Maui's amateur radio and communication
infrastructure, including affected and operational radio systems, repeaters,
and other emergency communication details.
"Wildfires have affected phones, internet, and cell services across Maui.
Very limited cell contact was established with Lahaina or its ham operators
due to burned fiber lines and limited numbers of hams in the area," reported
one of the updates.
Hawaii has many amateur radio repeaters and an extensive internet-linked
repeater system, including KH6COM, a VHF/UHF Maui countywide system with
emergency backup power. An update, as of August 11, 2023, shares that the
KH6COM repeater system is operational in Central Maui, Haleakala Summit,
Lanai, and Molokai. "Repeaters on the Whaler and Kaanapali Beach Hotel lost
linking due to fiber optics cables burned. Those in Lahaina can utilize the
Pu'u O Hoku Ranch repeater at the East end of Molokai."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Hawaii and especially the
Island of Maui," said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston,
KE5MHV. "[ARRL] was in initial contact with Section Manager Joe Speroni,
AH0A, on Wednesday, August 9, and we have had daily briefs with him. This is
an exceedingly challenging time for Hawaii, and we will be available as
needed." ARRL has offered equipment available through ARRL Ham Aid, a
program established in 2005 and funded through donations, which makes
emergency communications equipment available on loan to amateur radio
organizations during disaster response when communications equipment is
unavailable.
Johnston emphasized that most of amateur radio communications, including any
messages being relayed, are being handled on the existing repeater system in
the state. On shortwave, HF stations across Hawaii are operating nets on
7.088 MHz.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on Saturday, August 12,
reported that "more than a dozen federal agencies and departments are
mobilized to assist state, county, nonprofit and private sector partners to
help the people of Hawaii with recent devastating wildfires. Personnel from
FEMA, federal agencies and voluntary organizations are arriving daily to
Hawaii to support active response and initial recovery efforts." -- ARRL
News Desk
Just Ahead: The 2023 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test -- Emergency Preparedness
Takes the Spotlight
The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is on the horizon, and you'll want
to be ready, not only at the individual operator and station level, but also
within your amateur radio community, ARRL Section and beyond. October 7 - 8
is the main, focal-point weekend for this year's national emergency exercise
that will test your skills and test the preparedness of many organizations
who are called into action when actual emergency situations warrant.
ARRL Field Organization Leaders -- such as Section Managers, Section
Emergency Coordinators, Section Traffic Managers, District Emergency
Coordinators, Emergency Coordinators, Net Managers and all of their
assistants, too - are among the many amateur radio operators who are
developing plans and scenarios for this year's SET.
Working Together -- The Simulated Emergency Test invites all amateur radio
operators to become better aware of emergency preparedness and the training
that is available. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service¶© (ARES¶©), Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), National Traffic Systemƒ?½,
SKYWARNƒ?½, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Salvation Army Team
Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) and other Auxiliary Communications groups
and public-service oriented radio amateurs are encouraged to participate.
This annual nationwide exercise presents an important opportunity to test
one's training and to develop new skills as well. It's a prominent time to
work with partner organizations and served agencies, to get to know them
better and to learn what their needs may be in advance of an emergency or
disaster situation. For many decades, ARRL has established working national
relationships with organizations and agencies like the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), American National Red Cross, Salvation Army,
National Weather Service, National Communications System, the Association of
Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO-International),
Citizen Corps, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD),
REACT International, Inc., Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and Boy
Scouts of America. More details on these particular organizations and how
they work with ARRL and amateur radio operators can be found at
http://www.arrl.org/served-agencies-and-partners.
Getting to know these organizations at the local, Section, and state levels
and how to work together for effective emergency and public service is an
important goal. The annual Simulated Emergency Test provides the chance, and
you and the radio amateurs of your community help make it happen.
Get Involved -- To find out how to get involved in this year's SET, please
contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager. Check on
upcoming planned activities through local, state or Section-wide nets.
Contact your local club or other area clubs to find out who the Emergency
Coordinator is and/or where the nearest ARES group meets or which area it
serves. In addition, refer to the ARRL Section web pages at
www.arrl.org/groups/sections. Your ARRL Section Manager should be able to
assist as well. See page 16 of QST for contact information.
In consideration of local and Section-wide schedules and schedules with
partner organizations and served agencies, ARRL Field Organization leaders
have the option of conducting their Simulated Emergency Tests at another
time if the main SET weekend of October 7 and 8 is not the best for all
concerned. Consult with your local and/or section Field Organization leaders
for details.
Additional background on the annual SET is presented in the article,
Simulated Emergency Test 2022 Results, in the July 2023 issue of QST, pp.
66-68. Also, guidelines and specific SET reporting forms for ARRL Section
and Field Organization Leaders and reporting participants are linked on the
ARRL website at www.arrl.org/public-service-field-services-forms.
If you are the Emergency Coordinator, Net Manager, or a Section Leader who
is in charge of reporting this year's SET activity on behalf of your group,
please fill out online reporting forms on the ARRL website. - Steve Ewald,
WV1X, ARRL Field Organization Supervisor
Here is an article prepared by the Chair of the State of Washington State
Emergency Communications Committee and written by Ted Buehner, W6TOR, about
new emergency power and communications trailers to support response teams,
especially in rural areas such as the Cascade Mountains. The article
prompted ARRL Western Washington Section Manager Monte Simpson, W7FF, to say
"The innovativeness of the Snohomish County Department of Emergency
Management is outstanding, and they are forward leaning in the use of their
amateur radio EMCOMM team that ARES is an integral part of. In March 2014,
Snohomish County DEM deployed amateur radio operators to staff Mobile EMCOMM
busses/coaches for local public safety at the SR530/Oso landslide." Simpson
said "The hams were the primary operators of the county's 800 MHz
communications system. As the Section Manager, I am proud of the outstanding
efforts and accomplishments of the Snohomish County Amateur Radio EMCOMM
team."
ARES LAX Northeast Exercise Demonstrates Success in Hospital Traffic
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Management
----------
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Los Angeles (LAX) recently
concluded its highly anticipated capstone exercise, achieving milestones in
mission-focused hospital traffic management. The exercise, coordinated by
ARES LAX Northeast, aimed to enhance emergency communication capabilities
and strengthen the resilience of the region's healthcare infrastructure.
During the exercise, participating stations excelled in sending critical
hospital traffic with Winlink, including bed availability reports, mass
casualty incident reports, and resource requests, utilizing a wide range of
data sources. From hand-written originals in PDF format to data files in
Excel, .txt and .tab formats, the exercise showcased the versatility and
adaptability of the volunteer emergency communication operators deployed by
ARES LAX. "The exercise challenged operators' capabilities to receive
various data formats from hospitals, check them for completeness, and
transmit them in the formats LA County prefers," said Jeff Liter, W2JCL,
exercise author and ARES LAX Northeast Assistant District Emergency
Coordinator.
One of the key objectives of the exercise was to master the use of Winlink
forms and spreadsheets for efficient data transmission. Liter, at the
Medical Alert Center Station received 109 Winlink messages over the 4-hour
operational period from seven facility-based stations. Resource requests for
medications, for example, took less than 2 minutes to transmit with VARA FM
Winlink, a major advantage in speed and accuracy over voice and other modes.
Through rigorous training and dedication, the ARES LAX team accomplished
this core objective, bolstering their capacity to manage crucial information
effectively during emergency situations.
The exercise's seamless execution was made possible by the reliable
retrieval of exercise materials from the internet with Winlink,
demonstrating the organization's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge
technology for emergency response operations.
Throughout the operational period, stations diligently maintained ICS-214
Activity Logs and Communication Logs ensuring accurate documentation of all
activities. This commitment to record-keeping not only facilitated
post-exercise analysis but also highlighted the team's focus on maintaining
transparency and accountability.
As part of the exercise's engaging nature, stations creatively documented
their experiences with fun photos, showcasing the spirit of camaraderie and
teamwork that underpins ARES LAX's commitment to serving the community
during challenging times.
"The ARES LAX Northeast Exercise has been a smashing success, exceeding our
expectations in terms of both preparedness and execution," said District
Emergency Coordinator Oliver Dully, K6OLI. "The dedication and expertise
demonstrated by our team throughout this exercise will undoubtedly prove
invaluable in ensuring the effective management of critical hospital traffic
during real emergencies."
Notably, all stations successfully delivered their intended traffic to the
Los Angeles County MAC (Medical Alert Center), illustrating the team's
unwavering commitment to excellence.
ARES LAX would like to express its gratitude to all participating stations,
hospital emergency managers and staff, and partners whose collective efforts
made this exercise a resounding success. The exercise's valuable insights
will undoubtedly inform future emergency preparedness initiatives, enhancing
the region's ability to respond effectively. -- Oliver Dully, K6OLI,
District Emergency Coordinator, ARES LAX [About ARES LAX: The Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) Los Angeles (LAX) division is a volunteer
organization dedicated to providing emergency communication support during
disasters and public events. Comprising skilled radio operators and
communication specialists, ARES LAX plays a critical role in enhancing the
resilience and safety of the Los Angeles region.]
Radio Response: Hawaii ARES Steps Up During Tropical Storm Calvin
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On July 12, 2023, the first major Pacific hurricane of the season, Hurricane
Calvin, activated the readiness of amateur radio operators across the state
of Hawaii. As it approached the Big Island, the hurricane weakened, evolving
into Tropical Storm Calvin and delivering heavy rain, flash flooding,
dangerous surf, and damaging winds in its wake.
Daily briefings were convened by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency,
with representatives from all major island emergency management departments
and the governor in attendance. Hawaii's ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES¶©) members from various parts of the state attended these
briefings leading up to the landfall of Tropical Storm Calvin. Some were
there as part of their regular jobs in disaster readiness and response, and
others as volunteers. These meetings featured updates and forecasts from the
National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, providing
valuable insights for all in attendance.
Anticipating the looming threat, the Hawaii County Civil Defense engaged
several volunteer groups, including the ARES. Under the leadership of ARES
Assistant Section Manager Tony Kitchen, WH6DVI, the group was galvanized
into action. As Hawaii County developed its Incident Action Plan (IAP) under
the frameworks of NIMS/ICS, Kitchen contributed four ICS forms related to
Amateur Radio.
Stationed at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Hilo for a cumulative
23 hours across Tuesday and Wednesday, Kitchen managed the incoming Winlink
reports and directed them to the appropriate County Defense staff. Despite
the relatively light number of Situation Reports (SITREPs), they resulted in
consequential actions such as a welfare check by a police officer and direct
communication with HELCO Power and Spectrum Internet provider points of
contact concerning outages.
Reflecting on the experience, Kitchen noted, "In times like these, the value
of diverse communication methods such as amateur radio with Winlink radio
email and voice traffic on HF and VHF becomes vividly clear." When internet
or telephone service goes down in a community, it is helpful for agencies
involved in emergency management and mitigation to find out about it as soon
as possible. The Amateur Radio Service may be the only means available to
achieve this objective. Real time detection of problems helps everyone
involved coordinate an appropriate response.
As Tropical Storm Calvin unfolded, amateur radio operators ran nets on 7.190
and 146.760 MHz (Kulani Cone repeater) to receive voice reports. Stations
established their ordinary hub nets at 1800 on Tuesday, processing these
reports from the spokes via the typical frequencies and modes they had
previously practiced.
Kitchen further emphasized the importance of readiness and adaptability in
amateur radio, stating "This event underscores the importance of practicing
and maintaining our skills regularly, even in times of tranquility, with
voice traffic and Winlink radio email. -- Michael Miller, KH6ML, Hawaii
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Letters: Hospital Communications
--------------------------------
Thank you for the excellent article on hospital communications in the recent
ARES Letter. [See Hospital Nets: An Expanding Role for Amateur Radio, by Ira
Brodsky, KC9TC, St. Louis, Missouri, in the June 21 ARES Letter; the second
part of the article appeared in last month's issue - Ed.]
I wanted to reinforce some critical lessons learned supporting hospital
disaster communications as well as provide information on the significant
number of hospital specific amateur radio teams on the West Coast that may
assist other hospital teams. While this letter focuses on the West Coast, I
would like to applaud the large number of hospital-based teams across the
country including SCHEART in South Carolina, ARES in Georgia, W1VDH in
Vermont, HRN in Oklahoma, HARN in Saint Louis, KCHEART in Kansas City and
HEARS in Virginia to name but a few. There are about 6,000 hospitals in the
United States that require redundant wireless disaster communications and
amateur radio can certainly help fill that role.
There are hospital specific teams in Washington State and Portland, Oregon
as well as numerous teams in California in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Los
Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County. These teams educate
many small communities emergency communications teams to include hospitals
and health departments in their scope of operations.
Many of the West Coast teams are well documented with web pages, digital
libraries, policies and other mission critical documentation. The Western
Washington Medical Services Team (WWMST), Bay Area Hospital Net (BAHN), and
Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network (KPARN) have operated for over 25
years. WWMST covers all of western Washington from ocean to mountains,
Canadian border to Oregon. KPARN covers five counties in an area the size of
Indiana.
OC HEART in Orange County has a rich history and is in the process of
redeveloping itself to meet current needs. The Santa Clara County ACS team
has a specific hospital subgroup with superb documentation and educational
outlines. LAX ARES covers Los Angeles County; an area so large, it has four
sections with multiple hospitals per section.
While most of these teams have focused on analog technologies, Santa Clara
and San Diego have well defined and implemented hospital specific digital
networks that have been in operation for years. The teams in the LAX and
Portland areas are rapidly implementing robust digital networks specifically
to support hospitals.
Your article provided good information, which can be corroborated by the
many teams already cited. From my past experience, it's good to reinforce
some other critical lessons learned:
Provide specific hospital orientations for all radio operators
consistent with federal (HIPAA, CMMS) state, and hospital (JCAHO) regulations.
Radio operators should be assigned to specific hospitals and integrated
with the hospital emergency management team including any necessary
identification.
Specify and document all required training for members. Training may
include classes on Incident Command Structure (FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700) as
well as orientations to the hospital environment and the radio team and
technical systems used.
Amateur radio equipment at the hospital should be tested at least once
per month.
Plan redundant and backup communication paths that are documented and
tested.
Secure dedicated communication paths for hospital communications
(repeater and/or simplex) between hospitals and the appropriate health
agency per the regional emergency plan. This is a key communication pathway
for most hospitals who may require resources in an emergency.
Rededicate a path for communication with the local Emergency Operations
Center in order to ensure situational awareness and gain access to resources.
You will be the communications expert. Medical personnel do not like to
talk on radios like amateur radio operators do, so learn to use the other
hospital communication backup systems. Your hospital may have other
installed radio equipment that you may be called upon to operate in an
emergency.
Hospitals are a unique environment with significant sensitive and
personal information available. Amateur radio operators may overhear or be
presented with communications of a confidential nature. Be professional at
all times in both attire and attitude. What happens here stays here -- do
not gossip.
An amateur radio operator who volunteers to be assigned to a hospital is
unique. Many people do not like to visit a hospital, much less function in a
crisis situation. Encourage and enlist as many trained radio operators as
your team can manage to assure 24-hour emergency coverage. Practice monthly
and share important health- or hospital-related information.
COVID-19 changed hospital emergency management. Hospitals have spent the
past 2 years living in a disaster, and amateur radio needs to get our teams
practicing and reintegrated with hospital staff and new plans. Hopefully,
these lessons learned will assist others as they support one of the lesser
thought-of parts of critical infrastructure in a disaster.
Again, well done and thank you to all amateur radio operators and team
leaders specifically supporting hospitals. - Duane Mariotti, WB9RER, Kaiser
Permanente Amateur Radio Network
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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* CX2SA 1978-2023 - Salto Uruguay *
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