The ARES E-Letter
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
January 19, 2011
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
==> THE VIEW FROM THE OZARKS
Ozarks New Year's Eve Tornado Outbreak Involves SKYWARN, ARES®
The past year ended on a tragic note as killer storms swept across
southwestern Missouri. At least nine tornadoes, two of which produced
fatalities and numerous severe thunderstorms pounded the Missouri
Ozarks over 14 hours on December 30 into New Year's Eve. The SW
Missouri Regional SKYWARN Net was activated by Net Coordinator Jim
Sellars, N0UAM, on the 145.49 MHz N0NWS repeater at 10:30 PM on
Thursday as the first severe storms were entering into the National
Weather Service (NWS) forecast area in Stone County just south of Table
Rock Lake.
First responders, SKYWARN mobile intercept spotters, other SKYWARN
spotters and emergency managers throughout the region provided critical
reports to the NWS via Amateur Radio. Taney County Emergency
Coordinator Don Birk, NA9X, and the K0EI station operating from the
Stone County 911 Center provided critical real time severe weather
observations from their local nets via Amateur Radio to the NWS as
three severe storms that produced four tornadoes lashed the Table Rock
Lake area into the early hours of New Year's Eve. Cody Hudson, KF5HLZ,
observed a tornado and associated power flashes as the storm heavily
damaged the condominiums and boat docks at the Indian Point area of
Table Rock Lake and reported them directly into the Regional Net.
Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms continued north into Christian
County where the county's ARES group was activated. Christian County
Emergency Coordinator Pat Conway, WA6JGM, and his group passed
information and spotter reports into the Regional Net. Conway along
with Emergency Management/CERT liaison Rich Vogt, KB9YZE, assisted
emergency management after a tornado caused EF-1 damage between Sparta
and Fordland in the early morning hours.
Severe thunderstorms continued through the night across all of
Missouri. As daybreak approached, additional super cell thunderstorms
developed and affected large areas of southwest and central Missouri,
and tornadoes were reported in Polk, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties
including an EF-3 tornado within the sprawling Fort Leonard Wood
military complex. ARES groups and emergency managers provided real time
and relayed reports on the situation into the Regional SKYWARN Net.
Groups in Polk, Webster, Douglas, Laclede, Pulaski, Wright and Phelps
Counties tracked and reported on these dangerous storms. Texas County
Emergency Coordinator Richard Wood, KB0MPO, and his group relayed their
observations of the Fort Leonard Wood storm from their vantage point on
the south side of the Fort in real time to the NWS enhancing the
warning process and helping increase warning lead times.
Ken Baremore, W0KRB, Missouri Section Emergency Coordinator, said of
the response: "Events like these prove the effectiveness of a well run
SKYWARN operation. The ARES and spotter groups handled the transfer of
information, data and spotter reports seamlessly as the storms crossed
the various county areas of responsibility and effectively passed the
information from their local nets into the regional net and then to the
Weather Service." "This can only be accomplished via a coordinated and
active SKYWARN and ARES organization. The weekly local and regional
ARES/SKYWARN training nets help reinforce this proper reporting and
coordinating of procedures."
Steve Runnels, KD4OPZ, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the
National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri, added "The thing
that struck me about this event was the amount of Amateur Radio support
we received during the overnight and into the early morning hours. This
proves that the Amateur Radio community is always ready. It also shows
the strength of their commitment to the communities they live in and
the National Weather Service's mission to protect life and property."
SW Missouri SKYWARN can be heard when activated here
. - Jim Sellars,
N0UAM [An additional tornado report from ARRL HQ can be found here
.]
In This Issue:
IN THIS ISSUE
- The View from the Ozarks
- EmComm Bill Reintroduced in New Congress
- Hurricane, Emergency Management Conferences Provide Networking
Opportunities
- East Bay Adopts ARES Standards of Training
- N5FDL Opinion: The EC's Most Important Job
- EOC-to-EOC Exercise This Month in Washington State
- Limited Edition ARES 75th Anniversary Patches Available
- San Diego Searches for ARES Training Officer
- Missouri SEC Changes
- Michigan Group Honors One of its Own
- Letters: Automating ICS-213 Forms
- Training: What is the Incident Command System?
- Emergency Communications Advisory Committee Roster
- North Carolina AREA 11 DEC Appoints New Emergency Coordinator
- Neighborhood Disaster Tabletop Exercises for CERTs, Neighborhood
Watch Programs
- Tips
- K1CE For a Final
==> EMCOMM BILL REINTRODUCED IN NEW CONGRESS
The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act, which died
at the end of the 111th Congress, has been reintroduced in the 112th
Congress as HR 81
. The sponsor is
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). The new bill -- which was
introduced on January 5 -- has been referred to the House Committee on
Energy and Commerce.
Rep Jackson Lee first introduced the bill -- HR 2160
-- in the 111th Congress in April 2009
.
It gained an additional 41 co-sponsors but did not progress out of the
committee of jurisdiction. A similar bill introduced in the Senate -- S
1755
-- made it all the way through that body in December 2009, but likewise
was not taken up by the House. The objective of the bill -- which is
supported by the ARRL -- is for the Secretary of Homeland Security to
study the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in
emergencies and disaster relief and to identify and make
recommendations regarding impediments to Amateur Radio communications,
such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential
antenna installations.
"We are hopeful that this early start will lead to success in the new
Congress," commented ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.
==> HURRICANE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES PROVIDE NETWORKING
OPPORTUNITIES
Hurricane Season may seem a long way off, but it's not. It's less than
six months away. Here are hurricane and emergency management
conferences to attend for purposes of training and networking:
2011 National Hurricane Conference
- April 18-22, 2011,
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia. The ARRL is a Participating
Organization.
Governor's Hurricane Conference - May 15-20,
2011, Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, Florida
2011 Texas Emergency Management Conference
--
April 26-29, 2011, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio,
Texas
Count on a robust Amateur Radio/ARES presence at each of these
conferences. If you are associated with any of these meetings and have
information on Amateur Radio activities to be planned, please inform
your editor K1CE for inclusion in a future issue.
==> EAST BAY ADOPTS ARES STANDARDS OF TRAINING
Over the past year, ARRL East Bay (California) Section Emergency
Coordinator Herbert Cole, AI6AT, visited many ARES groups and presented
a vision for the future of ARES within the Section. (East Bay is
comprised of Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties). Working
in cooperation with, and at the behest of Section Manager Jim Latham,
AF6AQ, the East Bay Section leadership has been focused on establishing
a section-wide ARES protocol that better leverages the talents,
resources, training, and needs of the four-county area of
responsibility.
As a result of the work that has occurred over the past year, Cole
announced that the Section is adopting uniform training standards and
credentialing requirements in cooperation with the ARRL San Francisco
Section ARES program. The purpose of this action is to enhance their
public service mission by pursuing common training and credentials that
may be employed across section boundaries, and to establish the
foundation for a robust and viable ARES Mutual Assistance Team
(ARESMAT) capability should the need ever arise.
As provided by the ARRL, the only requirements for ARES membership
continue to be a valid Amateur Radio license and a sincere desire to
serve. There will now be two levels of East Bay Section ARES
membership: Full and Associate.
Those East Bay Section ARES members who have met specific training
requirements will be designated Full ARES Members. Full ARES members
will be issued photo ID cards free of charge by the Section Manager
upon completion of all required training. The training requirements
are:
IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
EC-001 Introduction to Emergency Communications - Level 1/Basic
("IS" courses are offered on line at no charge in the FEMA Emergency
Management Institute's Independent Study Program
. "EC" courses are offered by the
ARRL to ARRL members and non-members for a small fee. [Note that the
former ARRL Emergency Communications Level 1 course is being revised
and will be released as "Introduction to Emergency Communications"
early this year. Check for news of availability and enrollment
information on the ARRL Web site. This introductory course will provide
the basic information needed to participate in ham radio public service
and emcomm activities -- ed.]
Full ARES Members will also be expected to complete any training that
is required by ARES served agencies. East Bay Section ARES members who
have not yet met the specified training requirements will be designated
Associate Members. Associate members will be issued the standard ARRL
ARES ID (form FSD-224) by their ECs. ARES members must have Full ARES
Member status to qualify for ARES leadership appointments and must
complete the following requirements within one year of their
appointments. Current leadership appointees must attain Full ARES
Member status and complete the following requirements by December 31,
2011.
Emergency Coordinator (EC) and Official Emergency Station (OES)
appointees:
Full ARES Member requirements plus:
IS-800 National Response Framework, An Introduction
IS-802 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #2 Communications
and either of these two courses:
a. EC-002 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course Level II*
b. EC-016 Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for
Radio Amateurs
Assistant District Emergency Coordinators (ADEC) appointees and above:
Full ARES Member and EC/OES requirements plus either of these two
courses:
a. EC-003 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course Level III*
b. EC-016 Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for
Radio Amateurs
*Courses EC-002 and EC-003 have been replaced by EC-016 and are no
longer offered, but those members who have completed them may use them
to meet requirements.
Cole looks forward to working with members to build their ARES program
into a model for others across the country to emulate. -- Herbert Cole,
AI6AT, Section Emergency Coordinator, East Bay, California [Note: All
ARRL online courses (except EC-016) are currently under construction.
ARRL HQ is changing platforms and will be offering courses beginning
this year. Visit ARRL's Web site for updates and available courses in
the future. The currently available Public Service and Emergency
Communications Management for Radio Amateurs course (EC-016) will
continue to be offered online in its present format. Click here
for more information].
==> N5FDL OPINION: THE EC'S MOST IMPORTANT JOB
What is the most important job of an ARES Emergency Coordinator? Some
will say it's responding to emergencies, or writing emergency plans.
Others will say it's recruiting ARES members or installing radios at
served agencies. There are dozens of answers and all are important.
One, however, really stands out.
What's the EC's Job #1? I say it's giving your ARES volunteers
something to do on an ongoing and frequent basis. Why? Because the
quickest way to lose volunteers is to not use them. This is the
"use-it-or-lose-it" fitness maxim applied to another kind of
muscle--volunteer power.
If you aren't regularly exercising your response capability, I'd
suggest that you really don't have one. Your ARES group may look good
on paper, but how will it perform in the field?
"But, we don't have many emergencies around here," I can hear you
saying. Not all of us live in tornado alley, where spring days often
end with SKYWARN call-outs. Hurricanes are a fact-of-life in our Gulf
and Atlantic coasts and hams are part of those preparedness efforts.
Earthquakes threaten our Pacific Coast, especially California. And if
it's not an earthquake, it's wildfire--and hams respond to both.
However, if you don't live in a place where the big hazard is
well-known and frightening enough to focus your efforts on, it may be
hard to have an ongoing mission to keep your volunteers energized. If
that's the case, you need to find something for your people to do. It
doesn't have to be directly emergency-related, though that would
certainly help.
If you are searching for activities, first make sure Amateur Radio is
included in scheduled emergency drills in your area. Second, if you
have Community Emergency Response Teams
(CERT) where you live, link up with
them. CERT is a natural partner for Amateur Radio and many groups do a
great deal of training. As do Search-and-Rescue (SAR) teams.
The bike ride, marathon, Christmas parade, and other community events
aren't emergency-related, yet provide useful training. Anything that
gives you a reason to place people in the field and support them with a
net is close enough to a real event to be useful. Maybe a local Scout
troop could use Amateur Radio support for one of its events. My local
CERT group is now providing canteen service and air bottle filling for
the fire department. This is a wonderful assignment and it is being
coordinated using Amateur Radio.
I haven't even mentioned ARRL events, such as Field Day
and the Simulated Emergency Test
, that are
intended to offer emergency communications training. And if you are out
of strictly ham ideas, how about training for the Incident Command
System, CPR, and advanced first aid? You can also develop your own
drills and exercises, just to test various elements of your ARES
emergency plan.
The point I want to make is that active, engaged volunteers are what we
need. If we aren't doing something big every quarter and little things
in between, our volunteer resource is not as robust as it should be. A
good Emergency Coordinator must work hard to create activities to keep
ARES members trained and interested. And that's the kind of ARES
members that will be there--skilled and ready--when we need them.--
David Coursey, N5FDL, Tracy, California [See also http://www.n5fdl.com
- ed.]
==> EOC-TO-EOC EXERCISE THIS MONTH IN WASHINGTON STATE
Quarterly exercises are held in Washington state to promote Amateur
Radio voice and data connectivity among the state's EOCs. All counties
across the state are invited to participate. The Camp Murray EOC is
involved in this month's state-wide exercise. (Camp Murray is located
adjacent to Fort Lewis ,
Washington. It is home to the Washington National Guard
, Washington
State Guard and
the Washington Air National Guard
). For this
month's exercise on January 29, state-wide participants will test the
capability of using simplex frequencies to contact neighboring EOCs. In
addition to using simplex, they will test performance and efficiencies
with an EOC that is minimally staffed and using team members located at
home or some other off-site location to augment EOC communications. For
Camp Murray, the goal is preparation for a scenario in which support
staff is unable to travel to the Camp Murray EOC due to damaged
infrastructure. The exercise mission is to contact as many stations as
possible and to contact as many remote Camp Murray team members as
possible.
A VHF net will be conducted with the net control station using WebEOC
software to log who checks into
the net and when they leave, as checking out of a net properly is just
as important as checking in.
The use of the Winlink messaging system will
also be promoted. The Camp Murray RACES station W7EMD will be minimally
staffed. Many members of the team will be operating from off-site
locations and will be using the tactical call of "EMD" with their
assigned number after that. A call for Camp Murray may be answered by
one of these stations.
For this exercise, simplex coverage will be tested. All EOCs will
switch from repeaters to simplex frequencies and try to contact other
EOCs. The net control stations will log information into WebEOC and the
information will be available for all WebEOC users. A formal net will
also run on 75 meters for coordination purposes. -- John Rader, AA7ZV,
Camp Murray Station Manager, Washington State
==> LIMITED EDITION ARES 75TH ANNIVERSARY PATCHES AVAILABLE
The ARRL has agreed to permit the League's West Gulf Division officials
to produce a limited number of ARES 75th Anniversary patches. The magic
word is "limited." One production of the patches will be run. Once the
patches are sold, no more will be permitted to be produced. The ARRL
has not produced and does not intend to produce any 75th Anniversary
patches. So the only Anniversary patches that will ever exist, will be
the ones produced in this run.
The patches will be 3.5" in diameter, in full color and will have the
blue 75th Anniversary banner at the bottom of the patch. Click here to
order and pay through
PayPal or download an order form and mail the order form with a check
to the address on the order form. Delivery will be January/February. --
John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, ARRL West Gulf Division Vice Director
==> SAN DIEGO SEARCHES FOR ARES TRAINING OFFICER
The ARRL San Diego Section is looking for an ARES Training Officer.
This position will be immediately responsible for coordinating the ARES
training program. Emphasis will be on preparing to provide emergency
communications for various agencies. Standard training topics will be
covered: Personal Conduct, National Incident Management System (NIMS),
Message Handling, Basic Radio Fundamentals, Operations, and Safety.
Some specialty training will also be coordinated, such as First
Aid/CPR, HIPAA , Hospital Orientation,
Web EOC , Driver Safety, Wild Fire
Safety Training and CERT Topics. Persons interested in this
responsibility should contact Steve Early, AD6VI , or
attend the monthly ARES meeting at Scripps Memorial Hospital. Click
here for more info. -- Steve Early, AD6VI,
San Diego Section Manager
==> MISSOURI SEC CHANGES
Dale Bagley, K0KY, Missouri Section Manager, has announced with regret
that Dennis Gedeon, KB0NHW, has stepped down from the post of Section
Emergency Coordinator. "Gedeon served as SEC for over two years and
accomplished much during that time," said Bagley. He appointed more
than 60 ARRL members to ARES leadership positions by encouraging an
increase in participation by all ARES personnel, and by promoting the
training of the membership. Bagley thanked Gedeon for his excellent
service to the Amateur Radio emcomm community in Missouri as SEC.
Bagley has nominated Kenneth Baremore, W0KRB, of Battlefield, Missouri,
to serve as the new SEC: "Baremore is an excellent candidate owing to
his outstanding record as District "D" District Emergency Coordinator
and EC for Green County. Bagley said he was impressed with Baremore for
many years observing his ARES meetings/forums presented during numerous
hamfests. Bagley said he believed that Baremore has "great ability and
knowledge that will serve him and the Missouri Section ARES well as he
takes the reins as SEC."
==> MICHIGAN GROUP HONORS ONE OF ITS OWN
The Muskegon County Emergency Communication Services
, Inc. a local non-profit amateur radio group
involved in emergency communications in Muskegon County, Michigan has
awarded James Meyers, KC8PCJ, the "Al Ronning Outstanding Service
Award." The award is given each December to a member of the group that
has gone above and beyond the call of duty to the organization. This
recognition is given in memory of Al Ronning, K8AER, who was an
inspiration to other members of the group in his tireless effort in
public service. Ronning was a member of the group that died in an
automobile crash in December 2006. James Duram, K8COP, Emergency
Coordinator for Muskegon County, awarded the plaque to Meyers at their
December meeting.
==> LETTERS: AUTOMATING ICS-213 FORMS
I have been working with John Blowski, KB2SCS, on a program to somewhat
automate the ICS-213 form. Blowski has developed a 213 program that
when run, gives users an on-screen 213 form to fill out. The user can
then select to e-mail it. The program then takes the user through a
SAVE and an E-MAIL ADDRESS block and opens the user's e-mail client,
which can then be used for Winlink, allowing for pasting the form
information in as text ready to send.
Another feature lets the user alternatively send it as an attachment.
If the receiving end user is also running the program, it can be opened
and then printed. I think many might find this a very helpful program
with emcomm groups using Winlink e-mail functionality. Click here
for more information. --
John Galvin, N5TIM , Allen, Texas
==> TRAINING: WHAT IS THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM?
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to
incident management that:
- Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and
agencies.
- Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.
- Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel,
procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational
structure.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic,
proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of
government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to
work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from,
and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size,
location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and
property and harm to the environment.
The National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide to how the Nation
conducts all-hazards response - from the smallest incident to the
largest catastrophe. This key document establishes a comprehensive,
national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. The
Framework identifies the key response principles, roles, and structures
that organize national response. It describes how communities, States,
the Federal Government, and private-sector and nongovernmental partners
apply these principles for a coordinated, effective national response.
-- FEMA
==> EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ROSTER
The ARRL ECAC (Emergency Communications Advisory Committee) was
established at the January 2010 Board of Directors meeting to provide
the Board with expert advice on emcomm policy issues facing the League.
Each of the 15 ARRL Divisions has a representative on the ECAC. There
is also a representative from Radio Amateurs Canada, a Board of
Directors liaison, HQ staff liaison, and administrative liaison.
The following committee members are exceptionally qualified and
recognized members of the emergency communications community. The
committee reports to the Board's Programs and Services Committee. The
activities of the committee are limited to studies of emergency
communications issues that are national in scope. Here are your
representatives by ARRL Division:
Atlantic
Jim Cross, WI3N
Central
Bill Niemuth, KB9ENO
Dakota
Jim Zahradnicek, KD0S
Delta
Jim Coleman, AI5B
Chairman, Great Lakes
Dale Williams, WA8EFK
Hudson
Jim Mezey, W2KFV
Midwest
Reynolds Davis, K0GND
New England
Dave Colter, WA1ZCN
Northwestern
Gordon Grove, WA7LNC
Pacific
James R Latham, AF6AQ
Roanoke
Charlie Miller, AE4UX
Rocky Mountain
Jeff Ryan, K0RM
Southeastern
Barrett Kanne, W4TGA
Southwestern
Grant Hays, WB6OTS
West Gulf
Glen Reid, K5FX <%20k5fx@arrl.net>
RAC
Doug Mercer, VO1DTM
Board Liaison
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
Staff Liaison
Mike Corey, W5MPC
==> NORTH CAROLINA AREA 11 DEC APPOINTS NEW EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
North Carolina ARES Area 11 District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) Gary
Lang, K4GHL, recently announced the appointment of Jared Gohlke,
KJ4WWG, to the position of Rowan County EC.
Gohlke, a 10 year resident of Kannapolis, North Carolina, is a
certified Law Enforcement Officer with over nine years on the job
working for the Kannapolis Police Department. He is a certified traffic
crash reconstructionist, field training officer and a radar operator.
He is a member of both Rowan and Cabarrus Amateur Radio Clubs.
Rowan County ARES consists of many members of the Rowan County Amateur
Radio Society who assist not only local government entities but other
non-governmental agencies as well, including the EH Dole Red Cross
chapter and the United Way of Rowan County.
Rowan County ARES operations are not limited to communications support
for government agencies, but also historically assist with bicycle
races, foot races, and other general public events where radio
communications are needed. Rowan County ARES holds a weekly on air
training net on the N4UH repeater. More information here
. -- Gary H. Lang, K4GHL, North Carolina
ARES Area 11 District Emergency Coordinator
==> NEIGHBORHOOD DISASTER TABLETOP EXERCISES FOR CERTS, NEIGHBORHOOD
WATCH PROGRAMS
A team of national, regional and state organizations invites Community
Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Neighborhood Watch programs along
with Neighborhood Associations to participate in one of the scheduled
disaster tabletop exercises being facilitated via the Internet.
These exercises have been designed specifically for organizations that
work to support the disaster caused needs of community and neighborhood
residents during and following a disaster. By participating in one or
several of these exercises you will be able to assess your
organization's existing disaster response capabilities. There is NO
CHARGE for participation in any of the exercises. Six distinctive
exercise scenarios are available:
- Earthquake
- Flood
- Hurricane
- Influenza Pandemic
- Tornado
- Wildfire
For additional information and registration click here
. -- submitted by
James Burrough, N5DTT, Bellaire, Texas [I have not vetted this program
other than briefly assessing its Web site, but it looks like it is
worth considering for exercise opportunities for ARES groups. Feedback
would be welcomed. -- K1CE]
==> TIPS
Possible Solution for ARES Call-Up Tree
Here is a possible solution for ARES leadership needing a phone tree
service for alerts and warnings: The One Call Now™ phone message
service
.
According to its Web site, it "delivers automated phone calls, within
minutes, to any group, large or small. Schools, congregations, sports
teams, businesses and municipalities throughout the country rely on us
for routine reminders and emergency notifications. Our
multi-dimensional and multi-lingual emergency notification service
delivers your messages via voice, text to speech, SMS text, and
e-mail."
Although I haven't personally tested the service, it might be worth
considering for your group -- K1CE
How To Use a DSTAR Reflector
There is a good discussion of how to use a DSTAR Reflector System here
, courtesy of the
Northeast Florida DSTAR Repeater Network
==>
<<>>
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* Origin: The home of the Emergcom echo (1:116/901)
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