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The ARES E-Letter August 20, 2014
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
In This Issue:
A Brief History of ARES
At Press Time: Initial Storm Iselle Reports from Hawaii
First Annual Joint Tribal Emergency Management Conference
FEMA and ARRL Sign Agreement; FEMA Administrator Calls Ham Radio "Resilient"
International News: Thailand's Famed HS0AC Station Refurbished
ARRL Partners: APCO 2014 Conference and Exhibit A Wrap
Public Service: Northern New York Amateurs Support IRONMAN 2014
National Community/Neighborhood Exercise Series
Letters: Hospital Communications for Hurricane Katrina
From ARRL News: Links to Current Events
September is 2014 National Preparedness Month
K1CE For a Final
A Brief History of ARES
-----------------------
As we celebrate one hundred years of the ARRL, we've reached a seminal
moment in time when we are sparked to reflect on the past while looking to
the future with a sense of inquiry and wonder. That has certainly been the
theme of the ARRL's centennial celebration this year. QST has featured
fascinating look-backs at pivotal points in the League's and Amateur Radio's
history this year, with more to come. Continuing this theme, let's take a
brief look at the role of Amateur Radio in public service, disaster, and
emergency communications over the past hundred years.
In the early days, Amateur Radio and hams were considered irritations and
nuisances to the "real" communicators - the commercial sector and the
military. We were almost outlawed, and ultimately relegated to the "useless"
frequencies of "200 meters and down." That was until it was demonstrated
that we could actually be of use as a service. In 1913, college
students/hams in Michigan and Ohio passed disaster messages when other means
of communications were down in the aftermath of severe storms and flooding
in that part of the country. A Department of Commerce bulletin followed,
proposing a dedicated communications network of radio amateurs to serve
during disasters. Five special licenses were reportedly issued. A magazine
article noted that amateurs - who were once considered nuisances - were now
considered to be essential auxiliary assets of the national public welfare.
The ARRL was formed in 1914, and disaster response communications as
provided by radio amateurs became organized and useful. In 1920, Amateur
Radio was used to help recover a stolen car, of all things! Soon, the use of
Amateur Radio for natural disasters that we traditionally think of now
emerged with hams active in deadly flooding in New Mexico and an ice storm
in Minnesota.
More organization followed, with an "MoU" emerging with the American
railroad system for Amateur Radio support when the railroad's wire lines
were down: There was an ARRL Railroad Emergency Service Committee. There was
even a Q-signal designated: QRR, a kind of land SOS.
More reports of disaster response communications provided by amateurs
appeared in QST, much as they do here in this newsletter today. A major New
England flood had amateurs supplying the only efficient means of
communications from the devastated areas to the outside world, prompting the
chairman of the Federal Radio Commission to say the future of radio depends
on the amateurs.
Hams worked with the Burgess Battery Company for emergency radio power. Many
of us old-timers including myself have used those batteries when we were
kids for our crystal radio kits; they looked like tall, thick candle columns!
More organization followed, and traffic handling was recommended as the best
way to gain discipline and proficiency to prepare for the efficiency and
effectiveness needed in response communications situations.
ARRL Field Day was started to prepare amateurs for portable operation, as
was necessary in disaster situations when commercial power and means of
communications were down.
In 1935, the ARRL Emergency Corps was formed with the goal of having an
Amateur Radio Emergency Station in every community -- a goal that remains
just as urgent today as it did then! To wit, just look at today's emphasis
on the neighborhood and community as "first responder" and on self-reliance
in the post-disaster survival chain.
More "served agencies" emerged as potential partners, including the Red
Cross. In 1936, major flooding across a 14-state region served as the ARRL
Emergency Corps' first major testing, serving well, and solidifying Amateur
Radio's status as a critical disaster response communications asset and
public service. Communications operating protocols and the appointment of
Emergency Coordinators followed.
Technical advances supported this evolution. Spark gap transmitters gave way
to the vacuum tube, making portable operations more viable. Articles on
portable transmitters and receivers appeared in QST. Exploration and
experimentation in the VHF region also spurred more development of portable
equipment. The development of the variable frequency oscillator or VFO,
something that modern generations of hams take for granted, was at the time
a liberating breakthrough offering more versatility and flexibility, and
more efficiency of course in meeting the demands of a disaster response
communications situation.
World War II meant a shut-down of Amateur Radio, but many hams joined the
War Emergency Radio Service, which did provide some communications during
the war period for natural disasters. After the war, the ARRL reconstituted
its disaster response communications programs and networks, and the first
Simulated Emergency Test was run in 1946.
The Cold War followed, and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
was formed by the government for civil defense (CD) purposes, the forerunner
of the modern emergency management model that we know so well today.
Throughout the sixties and later up to today, the role, procedures,
protocols, equipment and techniques of Amateur Radio in public service,
disaster and emergency communications continue to evolve, ebb and flow. This
evolution is fueled by advances in Amateur Radio technology and its
application, lessons learned from each and every incident that involves
amateur communications support. - K1CE, based on an excellent article by Gil
McElroy, VE3PKD, that appeared in September 2007 QST -- QRR: The Beginnings
of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Notable Events on the Timeline of Amateur Radio Disaster Communications
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Far from an exhaustive list, here are a few events involving Amateur Radio
communications support over the past hundred years that may help define our
role over time and its evolution.
1906 - Radio amateur Barney Osborne, later W6US, provides emergency traffic
handling during the San Francisco Earthquake and fire, according to family
lore.
1913 - Hams provided emergency communications during Midwest storms and
floods with spark gap transmitters and crystal receiver sets, as vacuum
tubes wouldn't emerge until after World War I and 1919.
1916 - A national traffic relay system was organized to provide relay of
messages cross-country, and 9XE in Illinois originated a message that was
received in California in 55 minutes and on the East Coast an hour after that.
1926 -- The cover of the May issue of QST featured a drawing of a railroad
engineer holding an ARRL radiogram with the caption reading "Amateurs Give
Emergency Service for Railroads When Wires Are Down"
1920s - A motor provided emergency power to the plates of newly-invented
vacuum tubes in a station of an "RM" - a "Radio Man" - during a Mississippi
flood.
1925 - Amateur Radio provided the only communications (5 watts CW) during
the failed rescue attempt of caver Floyd Collins.
1933 - Radio amateurs at W6BYF provided disaster communications for the Long
Beach, California earthquake. Although his house was demolished, famous ham
Don Wallace, W6AM, operated a portable station through his surviving
extensive antenna farm with the help of the Navy in supporting the relief
effort.
1935 - Predecessors to ARES established. ARRL had a vision of them in 1917.
1936 - The catastrophic floods of the northeast (from Maine through to the
Ohio River valley) wrecked the ARRL HQ station in Hartford (along the
Connecticut River), with Amateur Radio again providing support. Famous VHF
pioneer and ARRL HQ staffer Ed Tilton, W1HDQ and his wife provided
communications.
1937 - Dr. Joseph Vancheri, W8BWH, was a key relief communications asset,
arranging for aid to refugees from the Johnstown floods.
Late 1930s - Commercial emergency Amateur Radio gear appeared and was
advertised: an example was the battery-powered 50-S transmitter from Harvey
Radio Laboratories of Brookline, Massachusetts.
1948 - Flooding of Vanport, Washington, after the rupture of a Columbia
River dike prompted an Amateur Radio Emergency Corps response under EC
W7DIS, with amateurs using hand-held radios (walkie-talkies).
1957 - RACES was involved in providing communications support during the
Malibu-Topanga Canyon (California) fires. Deputy Chief Radio Officer W6QJW
operated under RACES tactical call sign CPT19 and controlled a net on 3995
kHz. The Gonset Communicator was an iconic Cold War/Civil Defense portable
transceiver.
1964 - The Great Alaskan Earthquake hit Anchorage, drawing a massive amateur
response in handling emergency and health-and-welfare traffic. It was the
most powerful earthquake in North American history, and the second most
powerful in recorded history of the world. There was sweeping destruction in
the city and the region. George Hart, W1NJM, wrote about the amateur
response in the July 1964 issue of QST: 314 Alaskan amateurs supported the
disaster relief effort, with 1200 more from around the rest of the country
actively supporting them. "KL7DVY reports he operated 20 hours on two
meters, relaying messages from the Alaska Native Hospital to c.d.
headquarters in Anchorage." See the August 2014 issue of QST, Public Service
column, "Alaska Shield 2014."
1979 - Hurricanes Frederic and David wrought destruction on the Gulf Coast
and East Coast, respectively. Amateur Radio support of relief efforts was in
evidence in both cases.
That brings us up to the modern era and the emergence of the contemporary
emergency management model. A few of the major events beginning in the
eighties that come to mind are Hurricanes Gilbert (1988) and Hugo (1989),
and the spate of four hurricanes in 2004 that affected us here in Florida
extensively. Hurricane Andrew (1992) also wreaked incredible devastation in
Florida. Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Sandy (2012) were game-changers for
emergency management thinking and policy for this country. Amateur Radio was
extensively involved in all cases. And, of course, Amateur Radio was
involved in the colossal relief effort in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
[Much of the above was culled from an excellent presentation given at the
ARRL Pacificon convention in San Ramon, California, 2010, by Bart Lee, K6VK,
ARRL State Government Liaison, ARRL Volunteer Counsel, Historian and
Archivist, California Historical Radio Society, and lecturer, Antique
Wireless Society. A tip of the ARRL fedora to him. - K1CE]
At Press Time: Initial Storm Iselle Reports from Hawaii
-------------------------------------------------------
Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday,
August 8, 2014. Iselle formed in the Eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression
09E on Thursday, July 31. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center assumed
forecasting responsibility when the storm crossed 140 degrees longitude as a
Category 2 hurricane near latitude 16.4N, heading west/northwest on Tuesday,
August 5 around 5:00 AM. Iselle had peaked as a category 4 hurricane the day
before.
The area of the Kau Coast from Cape Kumakahi through South Point received
material damage. Many trees fell in the Paradise Park and neighboring area,
obstructing roads and power lines. Storm surge pushed bowling ball sized
rocks and black sand into beach side homes. Aluminum siding was stripped off
of homes. Rainfall caused flooding, mud and debris, requiring clean-up.
Hawaiian Electric Company reported 21,900 customers were affected by loss of
power. Hundreds lined up for ice, water, tarps and supplies.
With the anticipated arrival of Iselle, cooperative arrangements with served
agencies and Amateur Radio groups were set in motion and activated. Power
was lost to Kulani and Mauna Loa repeaters and backup power failed, so the
majority of operations took place on the Mauna Kea repeater. Simplex was
used extensively on the Big Island.
The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) RACES and Red Cross (ARC) team
set up equipment at the ARC HQ on Thursday afternoon and monitored VHF and
UHF frequencies. Operations commenced and ran from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, until 4:00 PM Friday when the shelters were closed. HF assets
would not be deployed until after the storm had passed, as communications
with the three primary shelters were effected through the State RACES
VHF/UHF repeater network. Head counts and requests for supplies from
shelters were communicated.
Planning for the event for the amateur community started seven days before
landfall. Recognizing that initially it would be a weather event with
possible escalation to damage to the counties, the radio communications plan
was drafted to use the State RACES VHF repeaters and link them to others in
the to-be-affected areas to provide a common channel for the primary purpose
of weather reporting. Frequency coordination information was promulgated and
a web page was created and updated with frequency plans and expected start
times for operations prior to the storm's landfall.
Two complete VHF/UHF radio systems with Fldigi capability and printer were
deployed using commercial power. Battery backup and generator were available
in case of power outages. Two person shifts were conducted, with a primary
communicator monitoring and the second on shift resting until needed. 12 PM
and 12 AM shelter counts and requests from the shelters for additional
supplies were taken and relayed to the ARC representative at the DEM's EOC.
The southeast side of the Big Island sustained a fair amount of damage. Post
storm damage assessments were conducted and relayed on the VOAD repeater on
Mauna Kea. Starting at 10:05 PM Thursday night, a SKYWARN net announced
information and obtained observations on flooding, storm surges, road
blockages and similar reports.
Honolulu County/DEM RACES operations were conducted from 6 PM on Thursday to
3 PM on Friday: Repeaters of the linked State Civil Defense (SCD) RACES/DEM
RACES repeater system were monitored. Peter Yuen, KH6JBS, reported to the
Kaiser High School shelter on Friday after completing his assignment at
State Civil Defense.
For Kauai, the statewide SKYWARN net was accessible on the Peacock Flats
146.760 MHz repeater for amateur stations located on the eastern portion of
the island. Radio activity on Kauai was light because there was no
significant weather there from Iselle.
Maui ARES activated at the Maui County EOC for SKYWARN operations at 6:00 PM
Thursday, August 7, with termination at 3:00 PM the next day after the NWS
took down the hurricane warning for Maui and Honolulu counties. The EOC was
set up to operate on 40 meters and on the State RACES repeater. Reports
received included power outages in the Upcountry Maui area and some reports
of damage in the Ulupalakua area. Most stations reported little or no damage
and only brief heavy rainfall.
Tad Miura, NH7YS, on Kauai, noted the effectiveness of the SKYWARN net was
largely due to the work of the statewide coordinator, Clement Jung, KH7HO,
in building the SKYWARN Amateur Radio structure for Hawaii over the years.
Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, the Hawaii state RACES coordinator was also credited for
his leadership in coordinating and promoting Amateur Radio public service
communications in Hawaii. More on storm operations and lessons learned in
the next issue. - from initial reports of Paul Agamata, WH6FM (Big Island);
Kevin Bogan, AH6QO (SCD); Mel Fukunaga, KH6H (Maui); Ron Hashiro, AH6RH
(SCD/HI EMA); Clem Jung, KH7HO (NWS SKYWARN); Stephen Levy, NH7ZP (ARC); Tad
Miura, NH7YS (Kauai); Harvey Motomura, AH6JA (Big Island); Chuck Oh, N6NCT
(DEM); and ARRL Pacific Section Manager Bob Schneider, AH6J (Big Island)
First Annual Joint Tribal Emergency Management Conference
---------------------------------------------------------
ARES/RACES was a featured part of the largest gathering of tribal disaster
preparedness, recovery, hazard mitigation, and homeland security
professionals in the country, which took place August 13-15 at the Northern
Quest Resort in Airway Heights, Washington. The conference was organized by
the National Tribal Emergency Management Council in conjunction with the
Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council, and was hosted at a facility
owned by the Kalispel Tribe.
There are 566 recognized tribes in the United States. The Pacific Northwest
is home to 272 of those, and Washington State is home to 29 tribes.
Conference guests Jeh Johnson (Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security), Senators Mark Begich and Jon Tester, T.J. Kennedy (Acting General
Manager, FirstNet, U.S. Department of Commerce), and others spoke to
approximately 400 registered attendees.
As part of the pre-conference activities on Monday and Tuesday, Jack Tiley,
AD7FO, and Bob Peterson, KE7RAP, taught a Technician license class and 8 of
14 students taking the Technician examination passed on Tuesday afternoon.
In response to a National Weather Service severe thunderstorm warning on
Tuesday evening, Robert Wiese, W7UWC, Spokane County EC, coordinated a
weather spotter net on the 147.30 MHz (W7GBU) repeater. While the NTEMC
conference attendees experienced the thunderstorm activity, they did not
hear this net. However, the description of the net provided very current and
relevant additional content for the "Disaster Communications via Amateur
Radio" presentation on Wednesday morning. A live "over-the-air" VHF
demonstration was held during that class with amateurs located elsewhere in
Spokane County. A FEMA Corps volunteer talked briefly with Lori Aberle,
KG7IEO, and a description of the coverage area of the repeater by Scott
Christiansen, WA7SRC, garnered very positive comments from those in the
conference room.
Idaho Section Manager Ed Stuckey, AI7H, brought in an HF rig on Thursday and
his 40-meter dipole antenna was strung between speaker stands down the
hallway outside the conference rooms. The Faraday cage building at the
Northern Quest Resort inhibited nearly all attempts at indoor HF reception,
but the display generated a lot of interest from conference attendees for
over four hours after the end of the "Building Your Amateur Radio Station"
presentation.
On Friday, attendees were able to view a live Ad Hoc Mesh Network during the
"Amateur Radio Digital Data Communications" presentation.
The tribal emergency management leaders who attended this conference are
quite interested in building an Amateur Radio component into their
emergency/disaster preparedness plans. It is up to all ARES/RACES groups to
extend a welcoming hand to the tribal communities in their respective areas.
If you have a tribe near you, make sure interoperability with their tribal
EOC is in your operations plan, invite them to take part in your local
drills and exercises, and think about giving the tribe a list of local
Elmers they can contact as needed. -- Steve Aberle, WA7PTM, ARRL Official
Emergency Station (OES), ARRL Western Washington Section
FEMA and ARRL Sign Agreement; FEMA Administrator Calls Ham Radio "Resilient"
The ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will enhance cooperation between the
League and FEMA in the area of disaster communication. FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, and ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed the
agreement July 18 during the ARRL National Centennial Convention at the
Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut. "Radio is one of the
most resilient communications technologies we have," Fugate said. "When the
power is out and telecommunications are down, the Amateur Radio community
can serve as a vital resource in support of emergency responders and
survivors during a disaster. This MOA will strengthen FEMA's partnership
with ARRL and build upon our work to expand emergency communications
capabilities and the use of Amateur Radio in emergency management." Complete
report here.
International News: Thailand's Famed HS0AC Station Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------
Following Thailand's worst flooding in 2011 that killed 800 people, affected
nearly 14 million and disrupted the economy, the famed HS0AC Amateur Radio
station is restored and now complete with a meeting facility at the Asian
Institute of Technology. The devastating flooding in 65 of 77 provinces also
destroyed the Amateur Radio facility in central Thailand, which received
many donations and offers of help to re-establish it.
During the flood Thai radio amateurs stepped in to help with disaster
response communications and hand out supplies. Working with the Ministry of
Public Health they saved almost 1,000 lives.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) used
HS0AB for the Government's Flood Relief Operations Command. The NBTC praised
the role that radio amateurs played to help people cope with the disaster by
providing communications support, especially helpful in flooded areas where
several mobile phone cell sites had failed. Government agencies used the
Amateur Radio communications infrastructure when their own networks failed.
Using their skills and experience radio amateurs kept communicating with one
another under adverse conditions.
Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) President Jack Hantongkom, HS1FVL,
who recently led a restoration team, held an HS0AC open house event on
August 3, inviting Thai radio club representatives to attend. Several RAST
members donated equipment. Yaesu donated FT-2000 transceivers and IARU
Region 3 donated new antennas, mostly monobanders, to be stacked on three
towers. - Jim Linton, VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications
Committee
ARRL Partners: APCO 2014 Conference and Exhibit A Wrap
------------------------------------------------------
The final session on the last day of the APCO 2014 conference held earlier
this month featured a FirstNet Town Hall forum, with the room at capacity;
there was lively dialogue between FirstNet officials and more than 100
representatives from the 911, first responder, and vendor communities.
FirstNet is establishing a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband
network dedicated for first responders, and is working with the National
Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), the Association of
Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the FirstNet Public Safety
Advisory Committee (PSAC), the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR)
program and standards organizations on network requirements and on defining
how standards can support building future networks as public safety-grade.
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created the First
Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority within
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to
provide emergency responders with the first high-speed, nationwide network
dedicated to public safety. TJ Kennedy, FirstNet Acting General Manager,
cited organizations and associations like APCO and how FirstNet is fortunate
to have an active forum - the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) - for
engaging public safety and state and local government officials on a regular
basis. The PSAC has helped FirstNet enhance its understanding of a number of
policy, operational, and technical issues affecting emergency
communications, including public safety's use of land mobile radio (LMR) and
broadband technologies. For this year's conference, FirstNet participated in
discussions about the deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) and the
future integration with the public safety broadband network. [editor's note:
APCO International is a longtime ARRL partner. Read the APCO/ARRL MoU here.]
Public Service: Northern New York Amateurs Support IRONMAN 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thirty-two Amateur Radio operators from across Northern New York supported
the IRONMAN Lake Placid 2014 endurance competition on July 31. Operators
established communication stations and worked them for coverage of a three
county course area. Vital communications links were established among
Emergency Management, EMS personnel in numerous ambulances, Aid Stations
along the course route, and for Health and Welfare traffic. "Our
communications are coordinated with IRONMAN, EMS, and State, County and
Municipal authorities," reported Thomas Dick, KF2GC, ARRL Northern New York
Section Manager. Dick said "over the past 15 years of experience with
supporting this event, we have helped many of our amateurs refine their
communication skills in emergency ICS protocols and technical performance.
Many amateurs work long 8-18 hour shifts covering a host of different tasks."
"We often help ambulance drivers by relaying routing information for various
medical facilities, while keeping those en route safe and respecting the
traffic routing restrictions imposed by event managers," Dick said. The net
controllers keep the supporting amateur up to date with the latest
information and relay all Health and Welfare Traffic to authorities. They
also keep EMS aware of athletes who are having medical issues and if they
need transport to the Med Tent or hospitals. Station operators in the field
often track down reports of athletes who are experiencing health related
issues such as injuries, cramps, heat exhaustion and dehydration. Each year
is different from the next, owing to weather, road conditions and the
numbers of athletes competing in the IRONMAN.
Dick concluded "One thing is for sure from the starting gun at the Lake
Placid Beach until the last runner comes across the finish line many hours
later is that Amateur Radio volunteers will be there helping the athletes in
many ways by providing communications of their health and welfare status and
keeping all safe."
National Community/Neighborhood Exercise Series
-----------------------------------------------
The series of Formidable Footprint exercises for neighborhood, community and
faith based organizations continues: On September 27, a hurricane is the
scenario. October 25 will feature a solar storm, and January 31 will be a
flood scenario. Exercises have also been scheduled for the following
scenarios: Earthquake, Influenza Pandemic, Tornado, and Wildfire.
The Formidable Footprint exercise series has been developed in accordance
with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) protocols.
The objective of the exercise series is for CERTs, Neighborhood Watch
Programs, Neighborhood Associations, Community/Faith Based Organizations,
Citizen Corps, Fire Corps and others to work as a team to become better
prepared for the next disaster their community may face.
There is no charge for participation in any of the Formidable Footprint
exercises. For additional information or to register for upcoming exercises
please access the following web site today: www.FormidableFootprint.org
Formidable Footprint Twitter and LinkedIn Groups
Stay informed regarding future Formidable Footprint exercises by joining the
Formidable Footprint Twitter and LinkedIn Groups. - Chris Floyd, Disaster
Resistant Communities Group, LLC, Tallahassee, Florida, www.drc-group.com
Letters: Hospital Communications for Hurricane Katrina
------------------------------------------------------
I would like to add some comments to your recent series of articles on
hospital communications. I served LSU medical centers, known as Charity and
University hospitals in New Orleans, as a radio communicator during Katrina
in 2005, along with my spouse. Before Katrina we participated frequently in
hospital drills and other programs to educate ourselves about the hospital
and its needs. We were well prepared with backup battery power and spares,
both antennas and radios, to get on the air during a hurricane or other
disaster. We deployed to the University hospital campus 36 hours before
Katrina hit New Orleans, so we were able to make sure everything was
operating correctly.
Some have expressed concerns regarding HIPPA privacy laws: We provided
health and welfare messages outbound for patients and staff that week, but
at no time conveyed protected information in those communications. All such
communications were at patients' request.
My spouse and I both are trained traffic handlers and net control stations.
We manned a simplex net for intercommunication among hospital personnel,
both on VHF and an FRS channel, as well as HF for communication with other
served agencies, which was our only reliable method of communicating outside
New Orleans. HF radio enabled us to effect some evacuation of patients we
could no longer serve adequately, as well as to arrange for the delivery of
supplies and equipment needed by boat as well as the patient evacuations,
sometimes by helicopter.
Without HF communications capability that week we spent on "hospital island"
we would have been severely handicapped in our efforts to provide for the
needs of hospital staff and patients. Although we had VHF and UHF FM
capabilities we found ourselves using HF assets more because VHF/UHF
frequencies did not give us reliable, timely communications with those we
needed to reach. However, some UHF repeaters stood up to the challenge and
were used by search and rescue, as well as others, but we were not
effectively served by VHF and UHF circuits. HF SSB was our primary lifeline
to the outside world. Thanks for your recent discussion of these issues in
the ARES E-Letter. -- Richard Webb, NF5B, West Burlington, Iowa
From ARRL News: Links to Current Events
---------------------------------------
MARS: "Pacific Endeavor-14" Exercise Stresses International Cooperation
Radio Amateur Named to FEMA National Advisory Council
California Hams Activate to Support Shelter Communications Following Wildfire
SKYWARN Volunteers Muster as Severe Weather, Tornado Hit Southern New England
Army MARS Demonstrates ALE, Courts Young Volunteers at ARRL National
Centennial Convention
Maritime Mobile Service Network Aids in Separate Land-Based Emergencies
Ham Radio Aids in Rescue of Injured Colorado Hiker
September is 2014 National Preparedness Month
---------------------------------------------
This is the first National Preparedness Month that will also include the
America's PrepareAthon Fall Day of Action on September 30. We hope you will
join us once again in this major annual campaign.You may find that you are
already planning on doing something that qualifies as an AP event. We hope
you will find our resources helpful and look forward to hearing about your
activities during National Preparedness Month. We are hoping to promote
private sector activities both internally and externally - including in our
September newsletter. For more tips and information about NPM visit:
www.ready.gov/september -- FEMA
K1CE For a Final
----------------
The ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut last month was a
huge success, and I enjoyed seeing old and new friends alike, along with
many readers of the ARES E-Letter. I also appreciated the time that ARRL's
Mike Corey, KI1U, and Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, spent with me going over ARRL
programs and consequently, our publications. They were both busy with
convention duties, yet graciously managed to spend an hour with me at ARRL
HQ. Thanks to both of them. - Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor, Daytona Beach, Florida
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