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CX2SA > ARES 21.03.15 14:54l 473 Lines 24960 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: ARES E-Letter March 18, 2015
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : ARES@WW
The ARES E-Letter March 18, 2015
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
-Digital Comms Innovator Connecticut ARES Active for Blizzard of 2015
-National Hurricane Conference in Austin at End of Month; Popular Amateur
Radio "Disaster Communications" Session Scheduled
-ARES Operators: Do NOT Miss Field Day
-IARU Releases New Emergency Telecommunications Guide
-ARRL Partners: March is Red Cross Month
-Tornado Exercise March 28
-Emergency Communicator's Notebook
-Weapons, Safety and Personal Responsibility
-ARRL Partners: The Civil Air Patrol
-Free Community Responder ICS Training in California
News in Brief
-------------
The use of Amateur Radio in disaster preparedness and response was among
"best practices" cited in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Smart Sustainable Development Model Report for 2015. International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, is a member of the
Smart Sustainable Development Model Advisory Board, which prepared the
report, published in January. The IARU is an ITU sector member.
"I strongly believe that telecommunications and [information and
communication technology entities] are critical to saving lives as well as
integrating communities and countries into the global economy particularly
as we enter the post-2015 development era," ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau Director Brahima Sanou said in the preface to the report,
which deemed Amateur Radio operators "well suited to respond in times of
crisis." More here.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARESİ) volunteers in the US Southeast were
put on alert on February 26, as the region faced an unaccustomed ration of
severe winter weather. Tennessee, which saw at least 30 winter storm-related
fatalities, was placed on a Level II state emergency operations center
activation level, indicating a major disaster -- an event likely to exceed
local capabilities and require state and federal assistance. Tennessee
Section Emergency Coordinator Daniel O'Donovan, W4DOD, said February 26 that
Tennessee ARES volunteers in several counties were on standby, monitoring
established nets, or actively staffing shelters and other locations. He said
the American Red Cross had six shelters open in five counties, with 224
occupants. More here.
Digital Comms Innovator Connecticut ARES Active for Blizzard of 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The state of Connecticut was hard hit in the January 2015 North American
blizzard, a powerful nor'easter that ended up hurting Canada and the middle
and eastern portions of the US. Transportation was affected, and snow
emergencies were declared in six states with travel bans enacted in four of
these states, including Connecticut.
Eastern Connecticut appeared to be the "winner" with regard to snowfall
totals in the massive storm. Two Red Cross shelters in the state's Region 4
(encompassing roughly the eastern third of the state) were staffed by
Amateur Radio operators, according to reports by Section Emergency
Coordinator Wayne Gronlund, N1CLV. SKYWARN coordinators and spotters
collected and reported weather data for the National Weather Service (NWS)
during this storm.
"This activation provided another excellent opportunity to make use of the
new CT-ARES DMR Network," reported Gronlund. "Increased usage of this
powerful statewide communications resource is expected in the future." The
ARRL Connecticut Section, under the helm of a number of dynamic leaders such
as Gronlund and veteran Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, has worked hard
to develop new technologies for applications in ARES and other sectors of
the section, while preserving the best of the older, tried and true ones
such as packet radio.
CT ARES provides recommendations and documentation in digital/data
communications for general Amateur Radio operations, public service, and
emergency communication. ARES members are encouraged to become more familiar
with digital/data communications including doing their own experimentation
and development.
Packet radio remains a vital communication technique for digital/data
communication. "While digital/data communication modes continue to evolve,
we recognize that packet radio will be one of the user links into any
digital data radio system for many years to come." The data technologies
available to Connecticut partner agencies in the state include Flexnet/FBB
and Winlink 2000 (WL2K). The Flexnet/FBB system can handle text-only
messages, NTS traffic, and bulletins. The WL2K system is more e-mail based,
allowing for file attachments such as SITREPS (situation reports). All state
emergency management regional offices can access the WL2K server in
Westbrook through 100% RF links connecting the ten W1SP WL2K RMS Gateways.
This means they can exchange messages even if all Internet connections are
down. Flexnet/FBB and WL2K systems are interoperable.
CT-ARES DMR
DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) mode radio has been adopted by ARES in
Connecticut as the primary means for command and control of ARES operations.
W1SP, the Connecticut State Police Amateur Radio Club, has put up over 23
UHF linked repeaters around the state and several additional clubs have
linked their UHF repeaters to the net as well. It is now practical for ARES
members to coordinate their efforts from almost anywhere in the state using
a handheld DMR radio. CT-ARES nets held on Sunday evenings at 8:30 and
during recent alerts have had as many as 55 check-ins from among all five
state regions as of February 2015.
The most commonly used talk-groups are CT-ARES Statewide, CT Tactical 1-5
and 11-15, and local. A receive-only talk-group, ARES ALERT MSG, will
override all other talk-groups on the network's repeaters so ARES can
announce emergency activations and nets.
Mode Basics
To use DMR, hams need radios capable of decoding the DMR signals. As of
today, the least expensive DMR radio that will work on the CT-ARES network
is the Connect Systems model CS700, at around $200. This is a hand-held, 4
watt UHF radio capable of both traditional analog UHF and DMR-ETSI modes.
There are other brands of DMR radios available, notably Hytera and Motorola.
These are substantially more expensive, but have more sophisticated features
such as the ability to automatically "roam" by detecting and switching to
whichever repeater has the strongest signal. (DMR-ETSI is an open European
standard for digital radio, which is compatible with the Motorola "Mototrbo"
system). To get started in DMR, apply to www.dmr-marc.net for a unique
subscriber ID number, which will be listed in a public database with your
call sign and first name, allowing other DMR radio users to identify you
when you press PTT.
Hams will need to program the radio with Contacts, Zones, Color Codes, Time
Slots, Receive Groups and more. Collectively, they can be saved as a data
file called a "code plug" created using software available from the radio's
manufacturer.
Watch the CTARES website for changes to the repeaters in the net,
talk-groups, programming tips, and word of in-person seminars on how to
program radios. [The above information on DMR is from the ARRL Connecticut
ARES Region 3 website, Region 3 DEC George Lillenstein, AB1GL, and Assistant
DEC Bill Storey, AB1LZ].
National Hurricane Conference in Austin at End of Month; Popular Amateur
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio "Disaster Communications" Session Scheduled
-------------------------------------------------
The always-popular Amateur Radio Disaster Communications Session will be
held once again at this year's National Hurricane Conference slated for
March 30 - April 2 at the Austin (Texas) Convention Center. The Amateur
Radio session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, afternoon from 1:30 PM to
5:00 PM.
This training session will discuss general Amateur Radio involvement in the
tropical events of the past several years as well as historic hurricanes of
significance. Specific presentation topics will include National Hurricane
Center (NHC) Director Dr. Rick Knabb who will discuss the importance of
Amateur Radio surface reports to the hurricane forecasting process, an
overview of WX4NHC-The National Hurricane Center radio station, the
Hurricane Watch Net, and the VoIP Hurricane Net. It will also take an
in-depth look at the New England and Mid-Atlantic response to Hurricane
Sandy. For the second time at an Amateur Radio Workshop session at the
National Hurricane Conference, a presentation and overview of the Canadian
Hurricane Centre Amateur Radio Operations will be given. An ARRL Emergency
Communication High-Level Overview will be presented and other topics on
Amateur Radio response to significant disaster related events will be
presented as time allows.
Moderator/Speaker is Rob Macedo, KD1CY, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford,
Massachusetts. Speakers include Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net;
Dr. Richard Knabb, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida; Jim
Palmer, KB1KQW, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Bob
Robichaud, VE1MBR, Canadian Hurricane Centre, Fall River, Nova Scotia.
Conference details here.
There is a collection of videos of presentations from last year's conference
and Amateur Radio session here.
ARES Operators: Do NOT Miss Field Day
-------------------------------------
ARRL Field Day is the flagship emergency/disaster/public event training
exercise. Miss it at great expense to your annual training regimen. It is
held annually on the fourth weekend of June - this year, June 27-28.
ARRL Field Day is the most popular (and in my opinion, the most fun)
on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. More than 35,000 radio
amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate
from remote locations, ideally outdoors in a true field.
The experience and training gained from transporting your radios and
antennas to the field, setting them up, using them as you would in an
emergency/disaster/public event, troubleshooting problems, deriving
efficiencies and effectiveness, and learning lessons and fixes to be applied
for the next time, are more valuable than any other training exercise, class
or manual.
Activate for June's Field Day and make yourself a better public service
field operator for yourself, your ARES member-team mates, and the public
safety agencies and public event organizers and managers we work with during
the rest of the year. See the June issue of QST for more information on this
year's Field Day, including the rules and scoring. And lastly, have a ball!
- K1CE
IARU Releases New Emergency Telecommunications Guide
----------------------------------------------------
A new version (January, 2015) of the IARU's emergency telecommunications
guide was developed to provide the IARU member-societies around the world
with materials suitable for training their members to participate in
emergency or disaster events. It is also designed to provide guidance to the
individual Amateur Radio operator who has little or no experience in
handling emergency communications but desires to enhance their ability to
participate in such events or to simply have a better understanding of the
process. IARU member-societies are encouraged to distribute this guide among
their membership and, if necessary, to provide a translation into a language
used within their own country. This guide can also be used in conjunction
with other training materials by leaders within the emergency communication
community to train radio operators in the basic theory and practice of
handling emergency telecommunications traffic. Download here.
ARRL Partners: March is Red Cross Month
---------------------------------------
During Red Cross Month, you can become part of the American Red Cross. Be
ready for the next emergency by working on a preparedness plan for your
household.
The Red Cross has received several national and international awards for the
apps they've developed including the recent "Best Mobile App During Times of
Disaster" award from Global Brands Magazine for the Hurricane App. The First
Aid app was also mentioned recently on a well-respected news outlet.
Red Cross natural disaster apps provide expert, emergency information when
and where you need it. They include the following:
FIRST AID APP The First Aid App features step-by-step instructions, videos
and animations for everyday first aid scenarios and prioritized steps to
take in an emergency with a 9-1-1 call button.
TEAM RED CROSS allows people to learn about Red Cross volunteer
opportunities in their community, to sign up to help those in need and
receive an overview on basic tasks to be able to go to work quickly helping
others.
HURRICANE APP People can download the Red Cross Hurricane App to have real
time hurricane safety information at their fingertips. They can use the app
to receive weather alerts and get information on Red Cross shelters. The app
also features a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and the
one-touch "I'm Safe" button lets someone use social media outlets to tell
family and friends they are okay.
FLOOD APP Download this app to have step-by-step instructions on what to do
if flooding threatens, even if the cell towers and television are out. Find
Red Cross shelters and know what to pack in your family emergency kit.
TORNADO APP This app includes features like a high-pitched siren and tornado
warning alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued. This
feature allows users to make critical decisions and to take actions to help
keep themselves and their loved ones safe even in the middle of the night.
An all-alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been
cancelled
EARTHQUAKE APP Be ready for an earthquake with the Red Cross Earthquake App.
Receive alerts and notifications when an earthquake occurs, prepare your
family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the
power is out - a must have for anyone who lives in an earthquake-prone area
or has loved ones who do.
WILDFIRE APP Wildfires often begin unnoticed and spread quickly so it's
vital that people know what to do to help protect themselves, their loved
ones and their property. The Red Cross Wildfire App features preloaded
content gives users instant access to information on what to do before,
during and after wildfires - even without mobile connectivity.
SPANISH APPS Many of the Red Cross apps have an English- and
Spanish-language toggle. These include First Aid as well as Hurricane,
Tornado, Earthquake, Wildfire and Flood apps.
All of these Red Cross apps can be found in your app store by searching for
American Red Cross.
Tornado Exercise March 28
-------------------------
Formidable Footprint - A National Community/Neighborhood Exercise Series
A team of national, regional, state and local agencies and organizations
have undertaken an effort to develop, conduct and evaluate a recurring
series of disaster exercises entitled "Formidable Footprint." This series of
exercises serves as an opportunity for community and faith based
organizations along with governmental agencies to assess their capability to
prepare for, respond to and recover from a variety of natural disasters
which affect communities and neighborhoods across the United States. Many
ARES organizations across the country participate.
The Disaster Resistant Communities Group was established to provide a host
of disaster planning and preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation
services to local government agencies and departments as well as community
and faith based organizations.
Their philosophy is to: Develop innovative concepts to meet the needs of the
emergency management community; and enhance a community's ability to plan
and prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigation the effects of
future disasters. Registration and more info here.
Emergency Communicator's Notebook
---------------------------------
Here are more excellent operating tips from the St. Louis Metro ARES/RACES,
with permission and courtesy of Assistant EC for Operations Gary Ross
Hoffman, KB0H, and Bob Gale, WA4GDX, and their organization, which serves
the City of St. Louis and the county of St. Louis. Thanks to them - keep up
the great work. - K1CE
Preparing your new radio
Are you planning to use your new transceiver for emergency communications?
Make sure that you have made the proper preparations. Is the necessary
hardware in place everywhere that you may want to mount it? Did you get an
extra supply of all of the fuses that it requires? Do you have a waterproof
bag or box in which to transport it? Do you have all of the necessary
accessories, including the manual, in that bag? Did you program all of the
frequencies you'll need into the radio? And most importantly, did you
familiarize yourself with the radio's operations sufficiently so that you
can enter and store a new frequency, offset, and tones without referring to
the manual? -- KB0H and WA4GDX
Recheck
During an exercise or actual emergency, you may need to leave the primary
frequency for a period of time. This may be to pass a formal message, make a
repair to your station, or simply to take a break. Always let the net
control operator know that you are leaving the frequency. When you return to
the primary frequency, call "recheck" to let the net controller know that
you are back. -- KB0H
Silicon or graphite spray
When setting up a field antenna, use a spray can of silicon or graphite to
lubricate the ends of your mast sections. You will find it much easier to
disconnect the sections when you are ready to tear down. -- KB0H
Cheap batteries are not cheap
Buying very cheap alkaline batteries in bulk may seem like a good idea, but
you are likely to find that many of them have already started to decompose
before you even open the wrappers. Stick with the better brands. -- KB0H
Moist wipes, the duct tape of personal hygiene
Imagine that you've just finished setting up your antenna in a particularly
filthy environment. Or that you've just helped get the generator going. Or
that you've just eaten a power bar and your hands are all sticky. Now you
have to operate your station. Do you really want to get gunk all over your
equipment? Suppose you have to take a message? What will IT look like once
you had your dirty hands all over it? Operators who have worked long
missions will tell you that having moist wipes in your bag is as important
as having duct tape.
Have something handy for your throat
Everyone who talks on the air has experienced a moment when he or she
suddenly could not talk. It may have been due to a dry throat, a cough,
congestion, or a number of other things. For extended sessions at the radio,
have something to soothe your throat on hand. It could be a drink or
something as simple as cough drops. Please note that if you do keep liquids
nearby they should be in spill-proof containers. -- KB0H
What about your pets?
Have you included your pets in your emergency preparations plan? If not,
please check www.ready.gov/caring-animals. -- FEMA
Weapons, Safety and Personal Responsibility
-------------------------------------------
Recently, I've seen questions on carrying weapons on ARES deployments. Here
is the statement of Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, released
March 31, 2014 and supersedes any prior communication on the subject.
"Anyone seeking permission to carry weapons during an ARES deployment is to
be advised that the ARRL cannot give such permission. Neither does the ARRL
prohibit legal weapons, but the ARRL accepts no responsibility or liability
for injury or damages to anyone as the result of possession of a weapon by
an ARES volunteer. The responsibility or liability for injury or damages to
anyone as a result of an individual's possession of a weapon remains with
the individual. ARES volunteers must obey all federal, state, and local laws
while on deployment. When supporting a served agency, ARES volunteers must
also adhere to the policies of the served agency. The ARRL does not expect
volunteers to participate in a dangerous activity or to place themselves in
what they perceive to be a dangerous or unsafe environment. Volunteers
should avoid or cease participating in any ARRL activity or deployment under
circumstances which make them uncomfortable."
ARRL Partners: The Civil Air Patrol
-----------------------------------
The nation-wide CAP communication system has 840 HF radio stations, 5,000
fixed-land radio stations and 10,000 mobile radios, deployed in CAP units in
every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Using volunteer
operators trained to professional standards, the CAP communications network
is a ready force for homeland security and the protection of life and
property.
The system operates in support of all CAP missions, including Emergency
Services, Aerospace Education and the CAP Cadet Program. The focus of the
CAP system is tactical communications, including air to ground, ground team
to ground team, and communication with mission base. Interoperability with
other agencies is stressed. In most cases, a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) is signed with each agency before operation on each other's frequencies.
The Civil Air Patrol operates primarily on frequencies assigned by the
United States Air Force. As a result, all CAP radios must comply with NTIA
standards for transmitting and receiving. This requirement also applies to
all radios used by other agencies that are permitted by MOU to operate on
CAP frequencies.
Advance planning is a priority of the communications program. Communication
managers at all levels develop mission communication plans and manage
resources to ensure sufficient assets are available to accomplish the
missions of CAP. Because "emergency communication is our business," CAP
communicators are obligated to have standard procedures developed and
trained for communication under demanding conditions.
ARRL and CAP
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and ARRL has had a revised agreement since 2005,
to provide a "broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations
during emergencies and disasters, for education of members regarding the
capabilities and regulatory environments of CAP and the Amateur Radio
Service, to promote interest in public service especially among the nation's
youth, as well as other activities in which cooperation may be mutually
beneficial."
Free Community Responder ICS Training in California
---------------------------------------------------
The Alameda County (ARRL East Bay section, California) Public Health
Emergency Preparedness agency is holding training for Community-Based
Organizations (CBO) such as ARES in the Incident Command System (ICS) for
emergency response training and as an everyday project management tool. The
training is designed to teach participants the system that professionals use
for emergency responses, and leaves the participants able to mount their own
responses when professional public safety resources are overwhelmed and
unable to respond immediately. Participants will receive a simple, ready to
use emergency management system tool that clearly outlines incident roles
and responsibilities. A session was held on March 12 in Oakland, and another
is scheduled for April 9 in Berkeley. More info here.
_____
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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