If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2016-05-18   
      
   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(R) 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(R) Forums of Interest to ARES Members   
      
   The Dayton Hamvention(R) 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(R) 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 em   
   rgency/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@arrl.net -- 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.   
      
   ______   
      
   ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information   
      
   Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most   
   popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.   
      
   Subscribe to NCJ -- the National Contest Journal. Published bi-monthly,   
   features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA   
   Sprint and QSO Parties.   
      
   Subscribe to QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published   
   bi-monthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns and   
   other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.   
      
   Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter(monthly public   
   service and emergency communications news), theARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly   
   contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!   
      
   Find us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.   
      
   ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio   
      
   Donate to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member   
   dues!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month. ARRL   
   members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data   
   Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/.   
      
   Copyright (C) 2016 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... We are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)