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CX2SA > ARES 22.10.23 01:31l 402 Lines 21843 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The ARES E-Letter - 10/2023
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Sent: 231021/2335Z @:CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM #:32894 [Salto] FBB7.00e $:ARES102023
From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : ARES@ARRL
=================
The ARES E-Letter
=================
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE October 18, 2023
- ARESİ Briefs, Links
- Great ShakeOut Exercise is Tomorrow!
- Comment Deadlines Set on Proposed 60-Meter Band Changes
- Healthcare Coalition Conducts Interoperable Auxiliary Communications Test
- ARRL Launches The NTS Letter
- Major Minnesota Marathon Canceled -- Amateur Radio Team was Ready
- K1CE for a Final: Personal Hurricane Idalia Notes
- ARESİ Resources
- ARRL Resources
ARESİ Briefs, Links
-------------------
Attention: The ARRL website will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance on
Monday, October 23, 2023. Follow us on Facebook for updates. - ARRL
Administrative Headquarters
Alachua County (Florida) ARES - one of the leading groups in the country --
has approved its After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) for its
Hurricane Idalia response. A spokesman for the group said: "We write these
up for almost every significant event or exercise. The improvement plans
have steadily made us grow. This 25-page report in standard HSEEP format has
25 problems identified, each with improvement plans. Nine of those are
already 'completed.' Putting our problems in writing so we can track our
solutions has been key for us."
FEMA Publishes Unmanned Aircraft Systems Resource Typing Documents -- These
updates integrate the latest best practices into the National Incident
Management System (NIMS) resource typing definitions library.
Remote Pilot-In-Command: Operates an unmanned aircraft platform in a safe
and secure manner according to all local, state, and Federal regulations.
Technical Specialist - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Provides technical
support to the UAS Team, including managing data recording equipment and
software, managing communications systems and frequencies, and maintaining
documentation in the appropriate chain of custody.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System Team: An aircraft operations team without a
human pilot on board, also known as a drone. The pilot on the ground has an
FAA or military license to collect data for improved situational awareness
through remote sensing. The UAS Team operates under the Air Operations
Branch, as established by the requestor.
These resource typing documents enhance the interoperability and
effectiveness of mutual aid by establishing baseline qualifications. This
facilitates sharing deployable resources at all jurisdictional levels. -FEMA
NIMS Alert October 17, 2023
Great ShakeOut Exercise is Tomorrow!
------------------------------------
From the October 1-15 2023 issue of the FEMA Disaster Emergency
Communications News Clippings and Topics of Interest newsletter: "The Great
ShakeOut is the world's largest annual earthquake drill and will occur
nationwide on October 19, 2023, at 10:19 AM local time. To highlight the
significance of accurate ground truth in the early stages of a disaster
event, Winlink and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are
collaborating to provide radio operators an opportunity to participate and
train on process and procedure for information reporting in the 'Did You
Feel It' (DYFI) exercise; subsequently, this drill will also underscore how
the proficiency of Winlink facilitates this sharing of information. USGS
will use the Winlink 'Did You Feel It' ground truth data to contribute to
the calculations of their earthquake intensity assessments when modeling the
Modified Mercalli (MMIS) Intensity Scale, a standard index used for
earthquake severity. Data will be leveraged to improve event response
products, including Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response
(PAGER), a system that provides fatality and economic loss impact estimates
following significant earthquakes. The secondary purpose of this event is to
illustrate to emergency management officials the ability of the Winlink
system to provide situational awareness information they may not otherwise
be able to obtain in the initial phases of disaster response." For more
detailed instructions on how to participate in the Great ShakeOut DYFI
exercise, please visit https://winlink.org/content/shakeout or use the
following link that has specific "how-to" information
ShakeOutWinlinkExercise_cm6.pdf.
Comment Deadlines Set on Proposed 60-Meter Band Changes
-------------------------------------------------------
A public period is open until October 30, 2023 for radio amateurs to comment
on proposed changes to the 60-meter band. ARRL is asking all radio amateurs
to join it in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue
the existing use of the band. ARRL is encouraging expressions of support to
the FCC for the current 100 watt ERP power limit (instead of reducing the
power limit to 15 watts EIRP) and continuing secondary access to the current
channels. An opportunity to reply to comments ends on November 28.
Currently, radio amateurs in the US have use of five discrete channels on a
secondary basis, on which they are permitted an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 100 watts. In the NPRM the Commission solicits comment on reducing
the secondary allocation to 15 kHz of contiguous spectrum between 5351.5 -
5366.5 kHz with a power limit of 15 watts EIRP (equivalent to 9.1 watts
ERP). The lesser spectrum and reduced power limit was adopted by the 2015
World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).
The federal government is the primary user of the 5 MHz spectrum. The
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the
federal government's spectrum regulator, has argued that the WRC-15
proposals should be implemented as written. Doing so would result in
amateurs losing four of the discrete channels they have been using on a
secondary basis and having the maximum permissible power reduced by more
than 10 dB, from 100 watts ERP to 9.1 watts ERP.
In 2017, ARRL petitioned the FCC to keep four of the current five 60-meter
channels -- one would be within the new band -- as well as the current limit
of 100 watts ERP. "Such implementation will allow radio amateurs engaged in
emergency and disaster relief
communications, and especially those between the United States and the
Caribbean basin, to more reliably, more flexibly and more capably conduct
those communications [and preparedness exercises], before the next hurricane
season," ARRL said in its petition.
ARRL said that years of amateur radio experience using the five discrete
5-MHz channels demonstrated that amateurs coexist well with the primary
users at 5 MHz. "Neither ARRL, nor, apparently, NTIA is aware of a single
reported instance of interference to a federal user by a radio amateur
operating at 5 MHz to date," ARRL said in its 2017 petition.
ARRL will continue to advocate to maintain the 100 watt limit for 60 meters,
continued authorization for the four channels outside the WRC allocation
that are being used today, and adoption of the new 15 kHz allocation with
the same 100 watt power limit.
In the NPRM, the FCC recognizes that Canada adopted rules equivalent to
those proposed by the ARRL. "Finally, we note that Canada has essentially
implemented the same rules as ARRL has requested," the Commission wrote.
The FCC seeks comment on the proposed 15 kHz of contiguous spectrum, but
also on whether the existing channels should remain allocated to amateur
radio on a secondary basis, and whether the maximum power limitations should
be reduced from 100 to 9.1 watts ERP. The FCC also requested comments on
whether the power limitation should be expressed as EIRP as the WRC-15
recommends, or as ERP as in the current rules.
Healthcare Coalition Conducts Interoperable Auxiliary Communications Test
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (EHPC) in conjunction with the
North Carolina Auxiliary Communications Eastern Region (AUXCOMM) conducted
an interoperable Communication Exercise (COMMEX) on May 4, 2023. This is the
fourth modified Functional Exercise conducted to better improve
communication and information sharing across the region.
This exercise was opened to all statewide partners along with federal
agencies located in North Carolina. The exercise was later opened to all
FEMA Region 3 and 4 Auxiliary Communications and SHARES stations. The sole
goal of this exercise was to ensure preparedness for the 2023 hurricane
season.
Overview
EHPC conducts monthly VIPER - Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency
Responders -- radio checks with all of its regional hospitals and State
Medical Assistance III Teams (SMAT III). While North Carolina is a leader in
tactical communications, gaps still exist between various disciplines with
radio and information sharing platforms. EHPC leadership wanted to take
regional communication testing a step further with functional exercises.
The EHPC COMMEX is designed as an all hazards exercise, but is particularly
focused on healthcare across the region. Various exercise play lanes were
developed to challenge players with real life examples of problems
encountered in their fields.
The EHPC COMMEX was conducted as a hybrid exercise. Players were allowed to
remain at their home base in a virtual format while exercise control duties
occurred at key locations. Facilitators were virtual in nature and exercise
play was advanced by participant interaction.
The event included 308 total participants from 47 agencies in North
Carolina. 192 stations from 16 states outside North Carolina sent HF
Situation Reports.
Key Findings
Key findings conveyed baselines of interoperable communication challenges,
provided recommendations, and can help North Carolina improve communications
interoperability. With this knowledge, agencies can also develop priorities
and focus their efforts on achieving and improving communication
interoperability.
Several interoperable communication successes:
The North Carolina VIPER radio system continues to be the model for
interoperable radio communications in North Carolina with public safety
agencies.
Information sharing platforms along with field operation guides (FOGs)
are becoming more widely known.
Agencies were offered examples and developed internal PACE plans for
voice and data in their agency.
The use of Winlink continues to be a reliable method of resiliency for
local, state and national agencies/stations.
EHPC also identified several opportunities for improving the knowledge and
preparedness of regional and statewide partners.
Conclusion
The EHPC COMMEX (004) was an essential step toward increasing and improving
communications interoperability throughout North Carolina in preparation for
future catastrophic incidents. The success of this exercise was based on the
knowledge shared and lessons learned during the exercise and associated
discussions. The AAR/IP will be published in the coming weeks. The
improvement plan will focus on recommendations to substantively further
interoperable emergency communications capabilities. More information here.
- Thanks, Duane Mariotti, WB9RER, Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network,
Orange, California
ARRL Launches The NTS Letter
----------------------------
There's a new newsletter in the ARRL repertoire as of this month. The first
issue of The NTS Letter was published on October 3, 2023. The NTS Letter is
a monthly digest of all things related to the ARRL National Traffic Systemİ.
It is edited by Marcia Forde, KW1U, who is a veteran traffic handler and
serves as the Section Traffic Manager for the ARRL Eastern and Western
Massachusetts and Rhode Island Sections.
The NTS is a network that allows for rapid movement of messages, referred to
as "traffic," from origin to destination, and for training amateur operators
to handle written traffic and to participate in directed nets. The network
consists of the layering and sequencing of both voice and CW traffic nets,
as well as a digital system that operates 24/7. This nationwide system
operates 365 days a year, generally relaying routine message traffic for
training purposes and for maintaining readiness if called upon in an
emergency. If called upon, these operators stand ready to assist emergency
communications personnel and served-agency partners in relaying welfare and
other messages. It is the modern continuation of the historic "radio relay"
from ARRL's founding in 1914.
ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, said the NTS is a
great way to get involved in emergency communications. "Newly licensed and
experienced amateurs alike who participate in NTS find satisfaction and
enjoyment in learning the skills of sending and receiving concise written
voice and CW traffic in an organized, on-air network. It's a natural
complement to the skills and training one needs to become an effective
emergency communicator and Amateur Radio Emergency Serviceİ volunteer. Plus,
it's an opportunity to meet new friends, and it's fun!" said Kemmerer.
The NTS Letter is published monthly and is free of charge to ARRL members.
Members can subscribe at arrl.org/opt-in-out by selecting "edit" to view all
of their subscription preferences (members need to be logged in to their
ARRL website account to do this).
Major Minnesota Marathon Canceled -- Amateur Radio Team was Ready
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2023, scheduled for earlier this month
(October 10) was canceled just before the start due to forecasted record
heat and humidity creating dangerous running conditions. However, the
amateur radio team - one of the leading public event communications groups
in the country -- was ready to roll. Here's a summary of what they had
planned based on their extensive experience and education.
Amateur radio -- the Medical Communications Department -- again played
several key roles in the Type 3, Unified Command event:
66 volunteers, mostly hams in yellow shirts, were stationed every half
mile on the course to report runners down, entering/leaving aid stations and
other situations. That data goes in our cloud database at each of four Net
Control sites, and can be queried by our team in Family Medical Information
to re-unite runners and loved ones. It is also presented to event leadership
as a dashboard, which is queried in Race Operations and by mobile users. The
plan was to allow EMS leadership to use the system. There are perhaps 500
radios in use - 350 rented, 63 ham, and at least 60 public safety officials.
Taking a page from the CERT manual, the 200+ member volunteer Medical
Team provides first aid, triage, and care to protect the EMS system and 33
area hospitals from an overwhelming surge of "green" or sports medicine type
cases/calls that could be handled by volunteers, and provide early hands-on
assessments to ensure serious cases were transported and care was provided
quickly - we support them.
We represented Event Medical at the Interagency Working Group - a table
with our Regional EMS leader, an Incident Dispatcher from Hennepin County
and St Paul EMS leader. The idea was, using software, to "deconflict" and
coordinate event requests for EMS services.
We were tasked in 2023 with providing SAG Bus "navigators" - to report
runner location data and supervise the lightly injured or extra tired
passengers aboard nine school buses. We insisted on a meeting with the SAG
Bus Leader - who reported the data requested was not scheduled bus location,
but individual runner/rider status in real time. A ten member Strike Team
from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary - they have a radio club, W8WRR, that we
partner with very closely -- was assigned here.
We were asked to help track and dashboard missing persons cases. We
chose osTicket in the cloud, as our Race Operations Center has metal tinted
windows -- our mesh network could not reach the room.
We again shared our homemade Med Comms dashboard on the big screens and
HSIN - the Homeland Security Information Network -- in an instance that was
spun up by Emergency Management for the race. This is common and allows
government and private sector cooperation and sharing of event data.
Peter Corbett, KD8GBL, upgraded our current SAG bus reports to reflect
each bus separately. A few days before the race a request came in to use the
returning SAG buses for urgent course aid station resupply -- we decided
this would be via text and tracked on osTicket. There were concerns on radio
repeater capacity: we already had seven repeaters signed out and we added
two more.
There was a request again for non-HIPAA dropped out runner location
queries at the Event Info Tent - this was to be provided to race volunteers
by our software over our Part 15 mesh network.
Hams recruited a new volunteer EMS leader for the Finish Area who would
get us back up to 100 student EMTs who were to provide a key resource in the
sprawling State Capitol Complex -- a ham on our rented radios was the net
control.
If you have volunteers embedded at all leadership levels, hard questions
can be asked by people without paychecks, careers, or pensions at stake.
This might be a pro tip for police departments who need community
involvement upgrades.
Generally, except on two of our ham led Med Comms nets, public safety radios
are not used by event volunteers. And public safety does not use our event
radios. This is deliberate -- the chains of command are not mixed or
confused. The idea, under stress, the departments use their established
procedures and there is not a change. We meet at the top, under Unified
Command. For our race, we are event/volunteer led; our government partners
have two large cities to run, and if we need them, we politely ask. (Some
marathons are government led, which is a different model). -- Erik Westgard,
NY9D, Med Comms Lead, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
K1CE for a Final: Personal Hurricane Idalia Notes
-------------------------------------------------
After 40 years of working hurricane response as a member of the ARRL
Headquarters staff and then providing mostly administrative and
communications support as a volunteer following my retirement, I experienced
the real thing firsthand with Hurricane Idalia. We were in its path. I never
made it to my ARES assignment at a town shelter, instead hunkering down with
my wife and five dogs at home. That morning was truly terrifying - no
hyperbole here. Our two vehicles were crushed and ultimately declared total
losses.
For the first time in over 40 years of association with the WX4NHC station
at the National Hurricane Center, and the venerable Hurricane Watch Net, I
found myself checking in to the net and filing a report on conditions. Net
and station operators - thank you.
After writing about hurricane preparedness and emergency communications for
decades, I found that I violated many of my own recommendations. I
discovered firsthand the psychological challenges that work against doing
the right things.
I'll stop here, but watch for a QST Public Service column on my personal
experience - and failings - soon. It will be an unflinching self-assessment
that might help you in a future disaster situation. -- Rick Palm, K1CE, Fort
White, Columbia County ARES, Florida
___________
ARESİ 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 Serviceİ (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
--------------
No other organization works harder than ARRL The National Association for
Amateur Radioİ to promote and protect amateur radio! ARRL members enjoy many
benefits and services including digital magazines, e-newsletters, online
learning (learn.arrl.org), and technical support. Membership also supports
programs for radio clubs, on-air contests, Logbook of The Worldİ, ARRL Field
Day, and the all-volunteer ARRL Field Organization.
Join ARRL or renew today! arrl.org/join
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Threads
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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
Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright ¸ 2023 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes
require written permission
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* CX2SA 1978-2023 - Salto Uruguay *
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