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Subj: ARES E-Letter May 18, 2016
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : ARES@WW
The ARES E-Letter May 18, 2016
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
In This Issue:
* LAX High Desert ARES Supports Walk MS
* San Diego ARES Drill Showcases Microwave Bandwidth/Speed Capability
* New Books: Army MARS at 90
* Train-Bus Crash Mass Casualty Exercise in Southern Florida
* Preparing for Wildfires
ARES© Briefs, Links
-------------------
Maritime Mobile Service Network Responds to Mayday Call from Stranded Vessel
(5/16/2016) Canadian Radio Amateurs Went on Alert to Assist in Alberta
Wildfire Emergency, Evacuations (5/11/2016); ARRL Ham Aid Gear Headed to
Ecuador to Support Earthquake Relief, Recovery (5/7/2016); IARU Region 2
Calls for Emergency Communications Workshop Papers, Presentations
(4/28/2016); Amateur Radio Praised Following Participation in Washington
Interoperability Exercise (4/21/2016); Lack of Power Stymies Amateur Radio
Post-Quake Aid in Ecuador (4/20/2016); EchoLink VoIP Service Proving
Valuable in Handling Ecuador Earthquake Traffic (4/20/2016)
This Week: Dayton Hamvention© Forums of Interest to ARES Members
The Dayton Hamvention© is this weekend, and features great forums of
interest to readers who plan on attending:
Friday, May 20-- 9:15-10:15 Room 3 SHARES HF EMCOMM SHARES - SHAred
RESources Government HF Emergency Radio System. This session, conducted by
Ross Merlin WA2WDT, the SHARES Program Manager, will discuss the recent
expansion of the federal SHARES HF Radio Program to support state agencies,
county Emergency Management agencies, and critical infrastructure/key
resources providers in addition to the legacy stakeholder group of Federal
agencies. SHARES provides emergency backup and interoperability
communications for many of the civil agencies previously supported by the
MARS programs. Recently all MARS members were granted access to the SHARES
program, and the MARS and SHARES are working more closely together to
improve and maintain the readiness of HF emergency communications. The
presentation will conclude with a question and answer session.
Saturday, May 21 -- 9:15-10:15 Room 3 SATERN:"The Times They Are A-Changin"
Moderator: Bill Feist, WB8BZH. Speakers: Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, National CRD
Secretary and National Disaster Liaison; Bill Shillington, W9ZCL,
Territorial SATERN Coordinator, Central Territory; and Bill Feist, CEM,
WB8BZH, National SATERN Liaison. Busroe, who is responsible for The
Salvation Army's National Disaster Services program, was to present SATERN
Founder Major Patrick E. McPherson, WW9E, with The Salvation Army's
Exceptional Service Award for his dedicated service in founding and
developing the SATERN program over the past 28 years; McPherson became a
silent key this week (see below).
Sunday, May 22 -- 9:15-10:15 Room 1 Amateur Radio Disaster and Emergency
Communications Panel Moderator: Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL Emergency
Preparedness Manager. A chance to hear from representatives from Amateur
Radio's largest organizations active during times of disaster and emergency.
Speakers: Rob Macedo, KD1CY, VOIP WX Net and VOIP Hurricane Net; Julio
Ripoll, WD4R, Amateur Radio at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC; Paul
English, WD8DBY, US Army MARS; David Stapchuk, KD9DXM, US Air Force MARS;
Stan Broadway, N8BHL, Hurricane Watch Net; and Bill Feist, WB8BZH, SATERN.
ARRL Understanding Local MOU's webinar; Date Changed
ARRL Headquarters will be offering a training session for ARES© Emergency
Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators and Section Emergency
Coordinators on local, section, and state level Memorandums of Understanding
for ARES. The training webinar date has changed: it will be held on
Wednesday May 25, 2016 at 8pm Eastern Time. You may register for the webinar
here. The webinar will be recorded and made available online afterward. All
EC's, DEC's and SEC's are encouraged to participate. -- Mike Corey, KI1U,
ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager
Cascadia Rising: Major Earthquake Exercise in Pacific Northwest
The FEMA Cascadia Rising exercise, the largest DHS-FEMA exercise of 2016,
will begin on June 7. The scenario is an earthquake and tsunami disaster
involving the entire Pacific Northwest. On June 7, the exercise will start
with a blackout of all normal, regular communications systems.
Emergency/disaster alternate communication systems will be provided by the
amateur service. ARRL HQ and W1AW will be active and involved. Two DoD
exercises will run concurrently. More information can be found at the FEMA
2016 Cascadia Rising website. Oregon and Washington ARES/RACES organizations
are both to be heavily involved with a significant investment of HF activity
planned. This will be a major opportunity to showcase ARES/RACES programs
and capabilities. -- John Core, KX7YT, incoming Oregon Section Manager; ARES
District 1 Emergency Coordinator
[A 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) and the
resulting tsunami is the most complex disaster scenario that emergency
management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest could face.
Cascadia Rising is an exercise to address that disaster.
June 7-10, 2016 Emergency Operations and Coordination Centers (EOC/ECCs) at
all levels of government and the private sector will activate to conduct a
simulated field response operation within their jurisdictions and with
neighboring communities, state EOCs, FEMA, and major military commands.
Conducting successful life-saving and life-sustaining response operations in
the aftermath of a Cascadia Subduction Zone disaster will hinge on the
effective coordination and integration of governments at all levels -
cities, counties, state agencies, federal officials, the military, tribal
nations - as well as non-government organizations and the private sector.
One of the primary goals of Cascadia Rising is to train and test this whole
community approach to complex disaster operations together as a joint team.
-- FEMA]
SATERN Founder, Director Maj. Patrick McPherson, WW9E, Silent Key
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) Founder and past
National Director Maj Patrick E. "Pat" McPherson, WW9E, of Coloma, Michigan,
died May 14 at Lakeland Medical Center in St Joseph, Michigan, where he'd
been admitted on May 10 with breathing difficulties. He was 70. After
serving as SATERN Director for more than 23 years, McPherson stepped down 5
years ago, although he reassumed the role in 2014-2015 on an interim basis.
An ARRL member and a second-generation Salvationist, McPherson founded the
disaster response and relief arm in June 1988 with one other US and two
Canadian radio amateurs. Just 2 months after its founding, SATERN responded
to provide communication between the US and Jamaica following Hurricane
Gilbert. Complete ARRL obituary here. -- Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, ARRL News
LAX High Desert ARES Supports Walk MS
-------------------------------------
On Saturday April 30, 2016 the LAX (ARRL Los Angeles Section) High Desert
District ARES group provided communications support for Walk MS, an annual
Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser in Lancaster, California. [High Desert refers
to areas of southern California deserts that are above 2,000 feet and below
4,000 feet.] There were an estimated 2,000 walkers, volunteers, spectators,
and sponsors. The course covered 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) and the
participants' fitness and health varied widely including those with mental
and physical disabilities and wheelchair-bound entrants.
The LAX High Desert ARES group fielded 16 operators who coordinated
communications with EMS, law enforcement, and two SAG vans. The operators
also provided communications for the two dozen high school freshmen who
comprised the bulk of the on-course volunteers.
A net control station was established in the main staging area with a
portable antenna and solar power array. Nine on-course stations were
staffed/operated and an operator was assigned to each of the two SAG vans.
Tactical call signs were assigned to each station, and primary and secondary
2 meter simplex frequencies were employed.
The LAX High Desert ARES team handled 64 radio messages, the bulk of the
calls related to the welfare and progress of the last walkers, including
"Tail End Charlie." The operators also fielded calls for the resupply of
water at rest stops, redeployment of stations as the walk progressed, and
numerous traffic control issues at busy intersections. This year's event had
an on-duty deputy sheriff who was also an amateur operator on the net
serving as a link for quick and smooth response to traffic problems,
redeploying sheriff's volunteers as needed.
By noon, Tail End Charlie finished the walk with an operator following
behind. With all stations and attendees accounted for, the net was closed. A
short debriefing was conducted and notes were taken for discussion at the
next ARES meeting. All event communications were handled efficiently,
largely due to the group's collective experience from drills, ongoing
training, and the long history of supporting this event. -- Brian Basura,
N6CVO, Assistant DEC, ARES High Desert District, ARRL Los Angeles Section
San Diego ARES Drill Showcases Microwave Bandwidth/Speed Capability
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A recent San Diego ARES (SDGARES) drill featured a remarkable microwave link
established between the southern California city's Sharp Coronado Hospital
and the Club de Radio Experimentadores de Baja California (CREBC) club
headquarters in Tijuana, Baja through the efforts of the CREBC club, the
Coronado Emergency Radio Operators (CERO) and the High Data Rate Emergency
Network of San Diego (HDRENS). Mike Burton, N6KZB, at CREBC HQ, and the
Coronado Hospital ARES group (WW6RB, N6QKE, KK6DKW and W3NRG) working from
the hospital conference room were in high speed video/audio contact
extensively such that in effect the two sites were working in tandem: There
was no waiting for voice channels to be free or typing and accessing data
messages. It was just like having both groups in the same room all the time.
The reliability of the link and connection was outstanding -- the video
definition was excellent as was the audio such that one could follow the
voice exchanges between CREBC and ARES at the Coronado hospital just by
listening to the speaker in the CREBC club room in Mexico. In addition, the
software gave the groups the ability to send files of any size back and
forth and to connect to the commercial Internet if needed. The Sharp
headquarters visitors and hospital staff who passed through could be seen at
CREBC, and vice versa. The drill garnered good public relations for SDGARES.
- Ed Sack, W3NRG
[A new (March 2016 publication date) ARRL title, High Speed Multimedia for
Amateur Radio -- Build a High Speed Amateur Radio Microwave Network, can
help ARES members learn to take advantage of the broadband capabilities of
high speed data in the microwave regions for emergency/disaster response
communications. From ARRL: Using commercial off-the-shelf equipment and
developing their own software, groups of hams have created high speed
wireless Amateur Radio digital networks with wide area coverage.
The possible uses for these high speed data networks in the Amateur Radio
community are endless. Virtually any service that works on the regular
Internet can be adapted to an Amateur Radio high speed multimedia (HSMM)
network, including video conferencing, instant messaging, voice over
Internet protocol (VoIP), network sensors and cameras, remote station
control, and many other services. With the capability to send real-time
video and data files, the public service and disaster support aspects of
Amateur Radio are expanded tremendously.
This book introduces HSMM networking, explains the basics of how it works,
and describes the various technologies in use today. Later chapters explain
in detail how to deploy your own HSMM network, along with various
applications to put it to work. Well illustrated step-by-step instructions
will guide you through the process of installing and configuring software
needed to get your HSMM network up and running. Available for purchase here.]
New Books: Army MARS at 90
--------------------------
Army MARS at 90, Helping Protect the Homeland, An Unofficial History was
just published in March, by author Bill Sexton, AAR1FP/FL, N1IN. The
commentary represents Sexton's observations as a 25 year veteran of Army
MARS, including a 10 year stint on the HQ staff; he served as the
organization's Public Affairs Officer for most of its ninth decade. The book
covers the history of the system from its inception to changes in its
mission from 2010 to the present. Sexton was close to the heart of MARS
planning and operations, having reported directly to the Chief; he retired
from the Chief's Special Staff in 2014. The recent changes he writes about
are the re-purposing of the auxiliary from supporting civil agencies to more
direct support of the military, and more involvement with ARES: ARES and
RACES were asked to join in a major Defense Department test of the panoply
of amateur emergency response entities, which was held last November.
The book starts off with one of the current challenges facing the country --
terrorism - and how amateur service operators in MARS could keep the nation
connected by HF in the event the Internet, cell and other vital systems were
taken out. MARS, a mainly infrastructure-independent system, could be one of
the few surviving, and the first contact with survivors, in a national scale
disaster. The author then recounts the origins of the program, when the
Signal Corps and ARRL partnered to provide a needed transcontinental
wireless network, and how the basic mission hasn't changed that much. The
Army Links Up with the Amateur read a QST headline. The liaison helped ARRL
justify hams' continued access to spectrum, including against emerging
commercial broadcast interests. The Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) later
became MARS.
Controlled and scheduled nets in a system, not unlike the present-day
National Traffic System, were formed. The first disaster for the AARS was
the 1926 flood that took out communications. AARS members called for help
from the Army and Red Cross for the horrific Great Okeechobee Hurricane of
1928 disaster in Florida. Sexton adds archived photos, which are as powerful
as the disaster photos of today. [Sexton credits another MARS member, Bill
Gabour, AB5G, a leader in Louisiana MARS, for his prowess and patience in
handling the 60 illustrations and other technical details of publishing this
book.]
The AARS was shut down with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but ARRL's efforts
led to the War Emergency Radio Service where selected hams could operate on
2-1/2 meters for emergency messages. It was the forerunner to RACES. After
the war, AARS was reestablished as MARS and was started up just in time to
see service for the Korean war.
Prior to WWII, the ARRL had started ARES to focus on civilian
emergency/disaster response, based on local VHF operation. ARRL also started
the National Traffic System (NTS) in 1949, based on the previous military
model. MARS had a longer-haul HF network, too, and it seemed that ARES, NTS
and MARS would be logical partners, but they competed for hams from the same
pool. Some members saw MARS as a threat, unfortunately over a long period of
time, although there were exceptions. Recent events and cooperative
exercises have helped to thaw the trilateral relationship. (MARS, NTS and
ARES were not the only entities vying for candidates for membership: RACES
was formed by the federal government in 1952, at the onset of the Cold War,
to be activated during conflict or during an emergency by a local emergency
management (formerly Civil Defense, or CD) agency.There was friction between
ARES and RACES, well into the modern era, although it seems to be
dissipating). Sexton also discusses the friction between Army MARS and the
Navy and Air Force programs. The Navy terminated its MARS program last year.
Service to Vietnam Soldiers
Sexton turns in a moving chapter on MARS' support for service personnel in
Vietnam, a new purpose for operators that had commenced with the Korean
conflict. MARSgrams were relayed, and phone patching followed for soldiers
to talk to their families at home. In-country MARS operators faced constant
peril from enemy fire. Calls were terminated abruptly when operators had to
fight. The MARSgram and phone patch era ended with the first Gulf War, with
the advent of e-mail and satellite phone service; participation in MARS
dwindled.
Return to Emergency Communications
MARS returned to its original mission of emergency/disaster relief
communications. MARS operators adopted/developed new technologies such as
Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) and Winlink. The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) signed an agreement with MARS. Challenges to MARS' use
of the Winlink 2000 system came (with concern over use of the unsecure
Internet), but went. Sexton covers changes in leadership, empowering
volunteer leadership; major disaster drills and the need for
interoperability; and the renaissance that occurred when the Army recently
renewed its interest in MARS.
Barely a week before a crucial DoD test of "all-radio" cross-country
capability that members had spent months preparing for, Superstorm Sandy
uprooted training schedules with a bigger challenge. Stressed-out operators
passed both tests. Last Fall, a major communications exercise included
interfacing with local amateur groups such as ARES. ARRL reported success,
"especially in terms of ARES-MARS cooperation." Sexton concludes his book
with current history, and a look ahead to MARS' centennial; and a set of
appendices.
A Labor of Love
There was a trifecta at work on this superb, fascinating, and at times,
gripping tome: Sexton's 40 years as writer and editor of daily newspapers,
his decade of service as Army MARS Public Affairs Officer, and lastly but
most importantly, his passion for the organization. Some of the anecdotes
brought tears to my eyes, having lived my young adulthood during the Vietnam
era. Sexton's book taught me a lot about the organization and only now do I
fully realize that MARS has represented the very finest in Amateur Radio's
richest traditions of service to humanity.
Army MARS at 90, by William C. Sexton, N1IN, self-published March 2016,
privately printed. N1IN@XXXX.XXX -- K1CE
Train-Bus Crash Mass Casualty Exercise in Southern Florida
----------------------------------------------------------
When a train and just about anything else cross paths, the results are not
good. According to the US Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad
Administration Office of Safety Analysis, 2016 has recorded 155 incidents
and 20 fatalities. Last year, the total was 2,059 incidents with 240
fatalities.
This past April Fools' Day, the train versus bus incident in Arcadia,
Florida, however, was only a drill. The Florida Department of Health along
with public safety agencies from DeSoto County staged a mock train-bus
accident along the tracks that pass Morgan Park in Arcadia, designed to
field test the first responder and hospital emergency departments. Hendry
County Emergency Management staff and reservists, led by EM Director Brian
Newhouse, KJ4WIC, and Finance & Logistics Chief Cristina Mercado were
invited to participate in the exercise to take advantage of the training
opportunity.
Hendry County CERT Coordinator Margaret England, KM4OVY, ARES Emergency
Coordinator Frank Harris, WA4PAM, and Volunteer Coordinator Tony Fanska,
KC0SJU, provided perimeter safety control around Morgan Park's still-open
public roads. Throughout the exercise, all of the operators in the group
stayed connected on a 2-meter simplex frequency. A total of thirteen
"victim-patients" including Hendry County CERT and ARES team members were
made up to appear like they had serious injuries: A real steel spike
"embedded" in one victim's abdomen, fractured ribs, flying glass cuts, and a
cerebral hemorrhage from a fractured skull were all simulated with detailed
makeup.
Once the players were in place, DeSoto County Fire-Rescue responders
descended on the scene, triaged the victims (sorted them by injury
severity), and transported them to DeSoto Memorial Hospital, in what would
later be termed a "very quick" response lasting about one hour, half the
normal time.
In the after-action hot wash at the DeSoto County Emergency Operations
Center, the facilitators gave emergency services high marks, citing
inter-office cooperation, communications skills, and solid training. During
the meeting, some of the CERT and ARES "victims" arrived, some still in
makeup and fresh from the emergency room, to applause from the professional
teams. The Hendry County CERT team members had praise for their DeSoto
counterparts, complimenting them on their positive attitude and performance.
Director Newhouse said "I was proud to have our staff and reservists work
with the outstanding professionals in DeSoto County today. I'd like our
teams to continue along this path to make Hendry County the place other
jurisdictions can look to as an example of what can be done with a small
group of dedicated staff and volunteers. Hopefully, when the word gets
around locally, it will encourage more residents of Hendry County to take
CERT and Amateur Radio courses for membership and licensure so they can be
ready to help their neighborhoods after a disaster."
Hendry County CERT Coordinator Margaret England, KM4OVY, added, "I was
impressed at how smoothly the Incident Command System was implemented by the
responders, emergency workers, and hospital staff during the train bus wreck
simulation. I look forward to Hendry County CERT volunteers' participation
in future emergency exercises in order to help in our neighborhoods and
community."
Brenda Barnes, Planning Consultant & Public Information Officer for the
Florida Department of Health in Hendry and Glades counties said "This was a
great training experience for everyone involved. You respond like you train.
This training exercise provided the opportunity for us to learn together but
also allowed us to strengthen our professional relationships." - from the
Big Lake Amateur Radio Club website, Hendry County, Florida, used with
permission of Andrew Frame, WD4RCC, Reservist, Hendry County Emergency
Management; Hendry County Assistant EC and SKYWARN Spotter
Preparing for Wildfires
-----------------------
A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as
a forest, grassland, or prairie. There's a misconception that wildfires only
happen in western and the Great Plains states. While wildfires are more
common in certain states, they can occur anywhere in the country. In
addition, homes and business are more susceptible to wildfires as building
development expands into once forested areas. This is called the wildland
urban interface, and this interaction can put individuals at risk for
exposure to wildfire. To help reduce the chance of wildfire, the America's
PrepareAthon! How to Prepare for a Wildfire guide calls on everyone to
practice fire prevention, such as learning terms relevant to wildfire
communication that are used by the National Weather Service:
Fire Weather Watch: Potentially dangerous fire weather conditions are
possible over the next 12 to 72 hours.
Fire Weather/Red Flag Warning: Fire danger exists and weather patterns that
support wildfires are either occurring or expected to occur within 24 hours.
(Your community may also use the National Fire Danger Rating System to
provide a daily estimate of the fire danger [i.e., low, moderate, high, very
high, and extreme]).
Evacuation Notice: Local authorities may issue an evacuation notice to alert
residents that a fire is nearby and it is important to leave the area. When
authorities issue a mandatory evacuation notice, leave the area as soon as
possible.
More here, from FEMA. Please also see "Wildfire Communications: Fog and
Friction", pp. 85-86, February 2014 QST, for education and training
references on safety and providing amateur service communications for
responding agencies and public safety.
______
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