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   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   November 19, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
   In This Issue:   
      
    *  120 Operators Support the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon   
    *  Well-Known Eastern Mass SKYWARN Group Activated for Nor'easter   
    *  ARRL Seeks Nominations for International Humanitarian Award; Deadline   
       December 31   
    *  Letters: More on Operating in Winter   
    *  SET 2014 Success Stories   
    *  Letters: On Formidable Footprint Exercises   
    *  Update on Hawaii Lava Flow "Slow Motion Disaster"   
    *  ARRL Partners: Safety Tips from Red Cross   
      
   120 Operators Support the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon   
      
   Sunday, October 12, 2014 - One hundred twenty radio amateurs provided   
   communications support for the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and its   
   2000 volunteer medical teams that work at 20 Aid Stations, two in-course   
   field medical tents and the main medical facility in Grant Park. New for   
   this year, the teams also walked with the nine Triage units who attended to   
   runners within Grant Park. The hams communicated back to the ambulance   
   company if further medical support was needed. Some of the ham operators on   
   these teams walked as many as nine miles in the Park.   
      
   The historic and long-running Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the   
   pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes and everyday runners alike. On   
   race day, runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries set out to   
   accomplish a personal dream by reaching the finish line in Grant Park.   
      
   Most of the amateurs were deployed to the Aid Stations and helped the   
   medical teams with communication issues. This was the sixth year that the   
   ham radio community has supported this event. Operators came from four   
   states and from cities as far away as Madison, Milwaukee, Indianapolis,   
   Peoria and Pittsburgh. Twelve local ham radio clubs were represented. One   
   team has come from Peoria every year for the past six years, and provides   
   their own lodging and then drives back at the end of the event.   
      
   Six local repeaters, and several simplex channels are employed. Many of the   
   stations and communicators needed to be operational by 6:30 AM to let   
   organizers know when the medical teams arrived and to assure that their   
   medical services and supplies were in place and ready. Once the race begins,   
   the hams continue to support the ambulance company and medical teams with   
   information about transports and supplies.   
      
   Eight operators worked at the Forward Command tent, alongside event   
   officials, Chicago City Services and other agencies, providing health and   
   welfare traffic to the medical doctor in charge, the medical logistics teams   
   and the ambulance company.   
      
   An event that attracts more than 2.5 million spectators and 45,000 runners   
   only can happen with the support of many people. There were 12,000   
   volunteers, for instance. The 120 radio amateurs are a relatively small part   
   of the enormous operation but provide a level of redundancy to the multiple   
   levels of communication systems the event organizers use. Rob Orr, K9RST,   
   serves as volunteer Lead, and needs more volunteers for next year. Contact   
   Orr at k9rst@arrl.net. - ARRL Illinois Section News   
      
   Well-Known Eastern Mass SKYWARN Group Activated for Nor'easter   
      
   WX1BOX, the Taunton (Massachusetts) SKYWARN Amateur Radio Club station that   
   has often served as a model of excellence for the rest of the country, was   
   activated for a late September nor'easter storm that caused strong to   
   damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Nationally-known SKYWARN figure Rob   
   Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts Assistant SEC and ARES SKYWARN   
   Coordinator reported "At the height of the storm, fifty thousand people were   
   without power and reports at one point were coming in as fast as one or two   
   per minute." Rainfall of 2-5 inches, with isolated 7 inches, caused flooding   
   during the morning commute. The WX1BOX Amateur Radio team was thanked for   
   their efforts by the National Weather Service Taunton forecaster team. -   
   Eastern Massachusetts Section News   
      
   [Check out the excellent website of the WX1BOX SKYWARN program here. -- ed.]   
      
   ARRL Seeks Nominations for International Humanitarian Award; Deadline   
   December 31   
      
   As Amateur Radio operators provide public service and promote international   
   goodwill and understanding, the International Humanitarian award is   
   dedicated to those amateurs who, through Amateur Radio, are devoted to   
   promoting the Welfare of mankind.   
      
   The selection of the recipient of the award is made by a committee appointed   
   by the President of the ARRL. Any licensed radio amateur world-wide, or   
   group of amateurs, who by use of Amateur Radio skills has provided   
   extraordinary service for the benefit of others in times of crisis or   
   disaster, is qualified to receive the award.   
      
   Nominations for the award will be accepted by the committee from a licensed   
   radio amateur, governmental or any other organization that has received the   
   benefits of the radio amateur's extraordinary service within the last 3   
   years. In the event that no nominations are received, the committee may   
   determine possible recipients or may decide to make no award in a given   
   year.   
      
   All nominations and supporting materials for a given year's award must be   
   submitted in writing in English to "ARRL International Humanitarian Award,   
   225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111," in sufficient time that they are   
   received by December 31. A summary of the actions of the nominee that   
   qualify the recipient for the award must be included, along with statements   
   from at least two references including names and addresses for verification.   
   The award is to include the following elements: An appropriate plaque or   
   medallion to be presented to the recipient(s) at a home convention or event   
   within the US, or the ARRL National Convention or a mutually agreed upon   
   arrangement to be made with recipients residing outside the USA. An article   
   describing the extraordinary achievements of the recipient(s) is to be   
   written for use in QST, other ARRL venues and consumer magazines.   
      
   Letters: More on Operating in Winter   
      
   I appreciated your article in the November 2014 issue of QST (Public Service   
   column) on operating in winter and the cold. I'd like to add several points:   
   It's better to travel in a small group (3 or 4 minimum) so that if one is   
   hurt and/or a victim of exposure, an evacuation can be started immediately.   
   Use the buddy system, developed by scuba divers to ensure immediate rescue   
   and life support if indicated.   
      
   Operators in the field should dress in layers, and have a personal   
   thermometer and wind chill charts to have a realistic assessment of   
   conditions, and thus risks. Batteries drain faster in the cold so insulate   
   yours for longer life. Have a personal heat source such as chemical hand   
   warmers not only for your hands, but tucked in shirt pockets under your   
   jacket and/or pants pockets to keep the body's core warm for better   
   functioning and safety.   
      
   Have a comprehensive knowledge of the area in which you are working, and   
   carry a map and compass (plus a GPS receiver), and know how to use them.   
   Your eyes are among the most   
      
   important navigational aids that you have, so protect them with ski goggles   
   and/or sun glasses, approved for the demanding operating environment (glare   
   from snow, etc.). -- Frank E. Bonneau Jr., N7WCF   
      
   SET 2014 Success Stories   
      
   Idaho SET Sees Upswing in Participation for 2014   
      
   Michael Meier, WB7RBH, is Idaho's Section Emergency Coordinator and Public   
   Information Coordinator, and is always looking for ways to get more of the   
   state's amateur community involved with public service communications,   
   including the annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET). Meier's ARES   
   organization plans for and participates in the SET, and tries to tailor   
   their operation for the state's diverse geography, including mountains and   
   plains. For the past three years, they've concentrated on message handling   
   and the use of recognized message formats, while tracking depth and breadth   
   of statewide participation by message totals and origins. After-Action   
   Reports helped identify strengths and weaknesses.   
      
   This year, however, was different, reported Meier. "One of the counties   
   (Latah) was planning a county wide exercise, which involved 24 hours of   
   operation and testing of almost all modes including voice, digital, and cw.   
   Bill Ward, K9GRZ, the planner of this operation, wanted to know if Meier   
   could help him recruit other counties to give them more check-ins to lend   
   more realism. So, SEC Meier started a campaign to get the word out via   
   numerous outlets, including the state's ARES website www.idahoares.info, and   
   also through email, club notifications, and posted news.   
      
   The SET plan developed legs, and interest grew rapidly. Planners put a net   
   control in a tent out in the wilderness, running nominal transmitter power,   
   portable antennas, and purposefully less-than-ideal operating conditions.   
   "We wanted to simulate conditions realistically to hopefully see what would   
   happen in the real world," said Meier. Stations in several counties were set   
   up at the local EOCs, while others teamed up and "went portable" like a   
   Field Day operation.   
      
   Starting on October 11, per a previously agreed upon protocol, stations   
   employed HF SSB for the first 20 minutes of each hour, then digital PSK31   
   for the next 20 minutes, and finally cw for the last 20 minutes. Stations   
   working all three modes were kept very busy, with the operation continuing   
   non-stop for 24 straight hours. Local ARES groups and nets were also   
   encouraged to take VHF-UHF check-ins and relay those stations into the   
   larger operation. Net frequencies and bands were changed smoothly on the fly   
   as propagation and conditions dictated.   
      
   When all activity and messages were tallied, Idaho had 1400 check-ins to the   
   SET in 24 hours. On HF, 619 SSB contacts were noted from 24 Idaho counties   
   and eight other states, with 88 individual stations participating. There   
   were 219 cw contacts made from all six Idaho ARES Districts, eight other   
   states and by 24 individual stations. PSK31 was popular, with 127 contacts   
   made from 12 counties, five other states, and 31 individual stations. On   
   VHF, 424 contacts were made by 96 stations.   
      
   An overall total of 1389 contacts were made by 239 stations. According to   
   Meier, some 5.3% of Idaho Amateur Radio operators participated, "which is   
   outstanding," he said. "I am so inspired by our Idaho Amateur Radio   
   operators and ARES," Meier concluded. "All of our ARES operators stepped up   
   and conducted a fantastic SET 2014; this one is going to be hard to beat."   
      
   SET 2014 - Operation Shaky Endeavor in Missouri   
      
   The morning of the fourth of October started cold with the forecast for a   
   sunny but cool fall day. The page went out to operators at 9 AM to respond   
   to a staging location near a major shopping mall in St. Peters, Missouri.   
   The SET scenario indicated a severe earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic   
   Zone that had also triggered a large quake in the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone   
   near the Illinois/Indiana border. These quakes resulted in significant   
   damage in the St. Louis metro area, including all surrounding counties. St.   
   Charles County ARES responded to the page and about 20 volunteers arrived to   
   assist in the damage assessment exercise.   
      
   ARES operated for and in four operations centers in St. Charles County and   
   performed damage assessment in areas throughout the county. Agencies   
   including the National Weather Service, St. Peters Law Enforcement, Mall   
   Security, St. Charles County Sheriff's Department, four Emergency Management   
   agencies and two hospitals were contacted, totaling 11 agencies in five   
   communities.   
      
   The St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management allowed ARES to use   
   their Mobile Command Center at the staging site and as the location for   
   operation of the simplex net. The higher level net was operated from the   
   County Emergency Operations Center in downtown   
      
   St. Charles. The exercise concluded at 1230 hours and all participants were   
   requested to meet at the County EOC where the hot wash was held and lunch   
   was provided by the St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management.The   
   group was addressed by Bill Grimsbo, N0PNP, the St. Charles County Emergency   
   Coordinator (who is also the Missouri District C Emergency Coordinator),   
   Jeff Young, KB3HF, the Missouri Section Emergency Coordinator, and Capt.   
   Dave Todd, Director of the Division of Emergency Management. "Again this   
   year, we learned much about what works and what does not," said Grimsbo.   
   "Next year, we will apply the lessons learned to help us improve our   
   disaster communications systems and techniques."   
      
   Lessons learned from last year's SET that were applied this year included:   
   Separating antennas and getting the simplex net antenna up about 20 feet   
   solved the communications issues experienced last year with coverage;   
   ensuring there were at least three people at Staging at all times reduces   
   the work load of the NCO; and mobile two-man teams is a must to ensure the   
   communications does not interfere with driving.   
      
   Some areas to improve identified this year included: the EOC to EOC and   
   Agency to Agency traffic should be restricted to the EOC net, not handled at   
   staging, which should handle only the traffic with the field teams; better   
   logging of damage assessments is needed; reports and traffic at staging was   
   difficult to manage and it might be better to have the field teams fill out   
   damage assessment reports rather than reporting them over the air.   
      
   Special thanks went to Dave Kampmann, WS0Z, and Shelley Lasater, KD0WAB, for   
   the many hours of effort they put into exercise planning and to the ARRL for   
   supporting ARES and providing this opportunity to participate in a   
   nationally recognized activity like the Simulated Emergency Test. - William   
   Grimsbo, N0PNP, St. Charles County ARES Emergency Coordinator   
      
   Letters: On Formidable Footprint Exercises   
      
   In re your note in last month's issue on the Formidable Footprint exercises,   
   there is NO CHARGE for participation in any of the exercises. Not only are   
   they FREE, the exercises are good. Locally, we used one to help Scouts get   
   one of their merit badges. The Solar Storm exercise would be one Amateur   
   Radio operators should do together and for their community. -- Lloyd   
   Colston, KC5FM, Director, Altus Emergency Management, Altus, Oklahoma   
      
   [For more information on the Formidable Footprint series of exercises, click   
   here. From its website: "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."-- ed.]   
      
   Update on Hawaii Lava Flow "Slow Motion Disaster"   
      
   Bob Schneider, AH6J, Pacific Section Manager, reports the front of the Puna   
   lava flow is still stopped. "However, there are now several breakouts along   
   the side and the first house has been destroyed. There is no forward   
   movement as of today, November 12," he reported. "The result of the side   
   breakouts is that the flow is getting wider."   
      
   In an ARRL news report dated October 29, amateurs were drafting plans in   
   case they needed to activate in response to the Puna lava flow. Lava flows   
   are nothing new to many Hawaiians, said Schneider, who called it "a   
   slow-motion disaster." ARRL deployed Ham Aid kits to Hawaii for a possible   
   lava flow response. Schneider said DECs have been establishing area-specific   
   ARES standard operating procedures in the event of an activation.   
   Conventional telecommunication systems were working and power to the area   
   was still holding, he said. Hawaii Civil Defense authorities deployed a   
   remote emergency operations center to the affected region in September.   
      
   ARRL Partners: Safety Tips from Red Cross   
      
   Bitter cold temperatures and snow are hitting two-thirds of the country,   
   exposing people to dangerously frigid weather and causing home heating   
   systems to work overtime to keep everyone warm. The American Red Cross is   
   urging people to use caution when heating their homes in these cold   
   conditions and offers way to stay safe during the deep freeze.   
      
   HOME FIRE SAFETY -- Seven times a day, someone in this country dies in a   
   home fire. Heating fires are the second leading cause of these fires which   
   occur more often as cold weather sets in and people turn on their heating   
   system. The Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce the   
   number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent over the next five   
   years   
      
   Heating a home can be expensive. Almost half of the families in the United   
   States use alternate heating sources such as space heaters, fireplaces, or   
   coal or wood stoves to cut costs while staying warm. These supplemental   
   heating sources can be dangerous if not used properly. The Red Cross offers   
   the following safety tips on how to prevent heating fires:   
      
    Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains   
   or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.   
      
    Don't leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended. Turn off space   
   heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before   
   going to bed or leaving home.   
      
    Place space heaters on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as   
   ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep   
   children and pets away from space heaters.   
      
    When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if   
   the heater falls over.   
      
    Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.   
      
    Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep your fire in your fireplace. Make   
   sure it's large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.   
      
    Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces   
   professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.   
      
   WINTER STORM SAFETY -- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm   
   during cold weather, as well as gloves and hat. Other safety steps include   
   the following:   
      
    Bring pets indoors. If that's not possible, make sure they have enough   
   shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.   
      
    If you lose power, go to a designated public shelter to stay warm.   
      
    Avoid driving in sleet, freezing rain, snow or dense fog. If you have to   
   travel, keep a disaster supplies kit in the car.   
      
    Check on your elderly neighbors. Help those who may need special   
   assistance, including people with disabilities and children.   
      
    Before tackling strenuous tasks such as shoveling show, consider your   
   physical condition.   
      
    Know the signs of hypothermia - confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and   
   severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate   
   medical attention.   
      
    Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white,   
   blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin. --   
   American Red Cross   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)