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   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   June 15, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
      
   In This Issue:   
      
    *  ARES Supports Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach   
    *  HDSCS Follows Up on Issues from Orange County Drill   
    *  Before Deployment: Personal, Family Safety First   
    *  FEMA Encourages Preparedness for the 2016 Hurricane Season; ARES Should   
       be Ready Now   
    *  K1CE For a Final   
      
      
   ARES Briefs, Links   
      
   Do you like the ARES E-Letter? Can you think of anything to improve it? We   
   value your opinion! Please click to take a brief survey. Thank you for   
   subscribing to the ARES E-Letter! -- Your Editor, Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
   Pacific Northwest Earthquake Exercise Reaching for Realistic Response   
   Scenario; ARES/RACES Heavily Invested (6/6/2016); Colorado Creates Auxiliary   
   Emergency Communications Unit (6/8/2016); ARES Volunteers Take Part in Search   
   for Missing Plane (6/6/2016); Houston Area ARES Activates in Response to Flood   
   Emergency (6/2/2016)   
      
   The 2016 Florida Statewide Hurricane Exercise was supported by the state's   
   ARES and other groups' activities, conducted on Wednesday May 18, with net   
   operations on HF center frequencies of 3.950 MHz and 7.242 MHz, and on the   
   SARnet linked system of UHF repeaters. Propagation was challenging on both the   
   80-meter and 40-meter bands; many relays were needed. But, with patience and   
   diligence, the exercise with coordination with the state EOC (SEOC) yielded   
   experience, practice and honing of skill sets for participating operators.   
   Test messages were sent to the state EOC station KA4EOC from all three Florida   
   ARRL sections. Many were delivered via SARnet. The SEOC KA4EOC station was not   
   co-located at the main EOC campus in Tallahassee, but instead was situated at   
   a remote military complex Camp Blanding, operating from a communications unit,   
   as a planned part of the hurricane exercise to test the state EOC's   
   Continuation of Operations Plan (COOP). The scenario had the Tallahassee SEOC   
   facility so severely damaged that the COOP had to be initiated. - from an   
   after action report by Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Strait   
   Hollis, KT4YA   
      
      
   Early Reports from Pacific Northwest Cascadia Rising Earthquake/Tsunami   
   Exercise: Major Exercise, Major Success   
      
   The largest FEMA exercise of the year, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the   
   Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) and the resulting tsunami was the scenario   
   posed to emergency management, public safety and ARES/RACES officials and   
   volunteers in the Pacific Northwest, June 7 to 10. Cascadia Rising has just   
   concluded with a large showing by amateur operators, and after action reports   
   are just starting to roll in. Emergency Operations and Coordination Centers   
   (EOC/ECCs) at all levels of government and the private sector were activated   
   for this major effort.   
      
   Members of the Island County Amateur Radio Club (W7AVM) on Whidbey Island WA   
   Red Cross official Ron Conlin thanks Island County Amateur Radio Club member   
   Michael Dunn, KG7WFV, for communications assistance passing emergency message   
   traffic from a field triage and treatment facility located in a church during   
   the Cascadia Rising catastrophic earthquake exercise. (Vince Bond, K7NA, photo)   
      
   Whidbey Island, Washington, coordinated with local emergency officials and   
   facilitated the flow of radio message traffic from their homes, emergency   
   operations centers and field shelter sites during the four-day, multi-state   
   exercise.   
      
   The local exercise scenario called for a temporary breakdown of commercial   
   communications facilities, creating an urgent need for amateur radio   
   point-to-point communications. Members also hoisted antennas and forwarded Red   
   Cross message traffic via voice and packet from a field triage site located in   
   a community church on the island.   
      
   The exercise activities scattered throughout Whidbey created keen interest   
   from the public about the value of ham radio operators to bridge the   
   communications gap immediately following any disaster. -- Vince Bond, K7NA,   
   Island County Amateur Radio Club PIO   
      
   Andrew Phelps, Director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, said   
   "Thanks to our amateur radio partners and Oregon ARES/RACES for your   
   participation! Vital to our success!" (from John Core, KX7YT, ARRL Oregon   
   Section Manager).   
      
   Bruce Bjerke, K7BHB, Oregon Section Emergency Coordinator, Oregon ARES/RACES,   
   reported that immediately following the exercise on June 10 during the hot   
   wash with FEMA and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management staff, State   
   Communications Officer Terry Pietras, W7JOC, introduced the ARES/RACES members   
   of the State Amateur Radio Unit, highlighted their contributions, and stressed   
   that they are all volunteers having contributed hundreds of hours in training   
   and preparation for the exercise. Pietras also recognized the importance and   
   performance of the county ARES/RACES units throughout the state. Earlier, the   
   Director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Andrew Phelps, KI7SIY,   
   visited the radio room to personally thank operators.   
      
   Bjerke said "we operated the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), HF SHARES, 60   
   Meter Interoperability Net, FEMA VTAC, CAP radio, four VHF Regional Repeaters,   
   the Winlink station, and the HF Net." One hour after the "ground shook" at the   
   beginning of the exercise June 7, more than 45 ARES/RACES stations lit up the   
   State ARES/RACES HF Net. Thirteen county EOC stations had been activated for   
   the first day of play, and as many more became operational for situational   
   awareness. Over the course of the next three days, more than 22 county units   
   would activate and operate for periods of from one to all four days.   
      
   Around the state, the activated county ARES/RACES units passed more than 300   
   Winlink and ICS-213 voice messages during scripted communications outages.   
   Many other ARES/RACES units in other counties created their own local test   
   elements, partnering with hospitals, the Red Cross, and other responders to   
   realistically train for anticipated challenges.   
      
   Oregon Section ARES/RACES members trained hard and realistically for more than   
   two years to prepare for this exercise. "Our last two SET'S were particularly   
   arduous," said Bjerke. "We asked our county units to operate for 24 hours,   
   from Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) locations/trailers, and with   
   emergency power only." "We scripted out mountaintop repeaters, existing   
   fixed-site antennas, and allowed HF Winlink operation only," said Bjerke. In   
   the end, our training protocols proved to be more demanding than the actual   
   exercise, but we were ready to excel at anything they threw at us, and a great   
   performance was the result." (Thanks, Bruce Bjerke, K7BHB, Oregon Section   
   Emergency Coordinator)   
      
   More on the Cascadia Rising exercise after action reports in next month's   
   issue.   
      
      
   ARRL 2016 Hurricane Preparedness Webinar July 21, 8 PM EDT   
      
   Registration is open now for the 2016 ARRL Hurricane Webinar, July 21 at 8 PM   
   EDT. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a panel of experts on new   
   developments and preparations for this year's hurricane season, which runs   
   from June 1 to November 30.   
      
      
   New, 2nd Editon of Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio Now Available   
      
   Fully updated, the second edition of the ARRL publication Storm Spotting and   
   Amateur Radio is a valuable resource for the Amateur Radio operator who   
   volunteers as a trained storm spotter. This book includes information on   
   resources, training, equipment, safety, storm spotter activation procedures,   
   reportable weather criteria, developing a local storm spotter manual, and the   
   experiences of storm spotters from around the country. Purchase here.   
      
      
   ARES Supports Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach   
      
   The running of the 43rd Shamrock Marathon and Half-Marathon took place on   
   Sunday, March 20, 2016 and was a large, successful event. The amateur radio   
   community was out in force to help for the 37th year in a row and with their   
   planning and participation, a safe and well-staffed marathon was the result.   
   The Shamrock Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier marathon.   
      
   The Virginia Beach AmateurRadio Emergency Service (VBARES) has been in the   
   forefront of helping the organizers of this event with communications services   
   spread out over three days and five runs. On Saturday, the 8K run and two   
   children's runs take place. On Sunday, the 1/2 Marathon and the Full Marathon   
   are run. 30,000 participate as runners, with thousands more cheering the   
   runners on. Many of the ARES volunteers have someone they know in the races.   
      
   The amateur volunteers from the Tidewater area are placed at each mile marker   
   along the course, at all water stops, and at the medical tent. They run   
   supplies in vans, track the last runners on the course, provide a liaison with   
   the local emergency operations center, and transport runners who drop out or   
   request minor medical attention. A hotel room is provided by the organizers   
   for the VBARES team to manage ARES operations and control the net. The Net   
   Control team consists of six volunteers who spend the entire weekend at the   
   hotel monitoring radio traffic and relaying information to the organizers.   
      
   The Shamrock Marathon began in 1973 with 59 runners and 38 finishers. It has   
   grown to be one of the favorite marathons in Virginia, with the course passing   
   along the beautiful Boardwalk and historic Cape Henry lighthouse. Before 1979,   
   as the number of runners grew, the organizers asked the local Citizen Band   
   radio community to help with communications. Demand exceeded supply and in   
   1979, the function was turned over to the Dam Neck Radio Club of Virginia   
   Beach, starting an enduring partnership between race organizers and Amateur   
   Radio.   
      
   George Schmidt, WA4GDB, led the initial efforts. As a youth, he built an HF   
   radio to put on his bicycle, starting his mobile and public service careers   
   early.   
      
   Schmidt served the event for years, and turned over the reins to Al Crawford,   
   WA4TCJ, and Tom Moore, WS9B. Crawford and Moore continued in their leadership   
   roles through the years with a great support team from the Virginia Beach   
   Amateur Radio Club (VBARC). Others have made significant contributions to the   
   event.   
      
   Planning   
      
   Planning for the event starts well before the March races. Recruiting   
   volunteers starts in September with pitches at VBARC meetings. Moore starts to   
   meet with organizers to listen to their concerns and offer suggestions.   
   Meetings are also held with the Public Service Committee of VBARC. A Standard   
   Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook was recently drafted for the    
   olunteers/operators.   
      
   Once the volunteers have signed up for the Marathon/Half-Marathon, individuals   
   are assigned to specific locations on the course: 26 operators for the mile   
   markers for the full marathon and 13 for the half marathon; others are   
   assigned to the water stops, the EOC, as drivers and riders for two pick up   
   vans, two supply vans, and the "Tail End Charlie" vehicle, which follows the   
   last runner. Two operators are assigned as shadows for the race directors.   
   Rounding out the assignments is an operator at the start and finish lines, and   
   the operators who serve as net control stations and run   
   the APRS assets. A total of 66 volunteer operators support the marathons.   
      
   On the Thursday before the race, the mile markers and timing clocks are   
   gathered from the race organizers and distributed to the hams per their   
   assignments. A pre-race meeting is held that evening to receive materials and   
   instructions, and be briefed on last minute changes. Materials include maps,   
   and clock instructions. Safety vests are distributed to all volunteers. Event   
   organizer J and A Racing provide handsome green jackets with each volunteer's   
   name and call sign sewn on them for identification.   
      
   On Friday morning, the vans are equipped for the race: the tail end Charlie   
   van and the two pick up vans are fitted with mobile dual band radios and an   
   APRS radio. Warning lights are attached to the vans, and water, blankets and   
   gloves are put inside. The two supply vans are also fitted with radios. The   
   lead vehicles have a radio and APRS unit installed on Saturday night. All vans   
   are secured for pick up on race day. On Sunday morning, the marathon course is   
   inspected for the proper locations of the mile markers and clocks. Operators   
   then head to the hotel room to set up the net control function.   
      
   The net control station equipment consists of two Yaesu FT-8800R dual band   
   mobile radios supplied by the local ARES group, with two Diamond antennas   
   strapped to the upper floor balcony. Two repeaters are used: one for north end   
   of the course and the other for the south end. The net control station is   
   located in the center of the course, yielding good coverage for the mobile and   
   hand held units. The APRS receiver is set up and tested; several computers are   
   booted up. Organizers give the hams a flash drive with runners' data to be   
   loaded onto the net control computer.   
      
   The day before, for Saturday's races, net control operators check in the   
   course operators and net control responsibility is transferred to the start   
   line operator who retransmits the countdown to the start, and then the start,   
   for all operators to hear. The start line net control operator individual   
   retains net control priority for several minutes. The operators on the course   
   record and report the first three male and female runners to net control,   
   along with any issues needing to be relayed to the race directors. Minor   
   medical issues are reported to net control and a pick up van is dispatched to   
   take the runner to the finish line or nearest medical tent. In the event of a   
   serious medical problem, all radio communications other than the emergency   
   communications are stopped, and the runner is stabilized and evacuated. When   
   the 8K is over, the VBARC crew supports the other Saturday races.   
      
   Sunday activity starts at 5 AM with the operators and net control finalizing   
   details, and troubleshooting. Then, roll is called and on-course stations are   
   checked in. call. The start of the Half Marathon is at 7 AM with up to 10,000   
   runners, followed by the full marathon at 8:30 with up to 4000 runners. As the   
   runners are on the course, net control and the on-course operators track the   
   runners, report injuries, watch for problems and try to resolve any issues   
   that arise. As the day wears down, radio traffic is mainly runners' needs,   
   supply issues at water stops, location of the vans and securing a mile marker   
   or clock location when the last runner has passed through. The volunteer ham   
   operator is free to leave once his station has been secured.   
      
   Once the last runner has crossed the finish line, net control operators secure   
   their station, pack up and leave. Radios, lights and APRS gear are removed   
   from the vans, stowed, and the vans are returned. Race data is collected for   
   the hot wash and planning for next year, and the operators head home.   
      
   Tom Moore, WS9B, compiles the collected data and files a report with the race   
   organizers. Moore accepts emails from the volunteers with recommendations for   
   changes for next year. Every suggestion is considered, and results in the   
   Shamrock Marathon radio communications being conducted and coordinated very   
   efficiently by the members of VBARES. Moore and his committee spend hundreds   
   of hours planning, talking to volunteers and using the best in Amateur Radio   
   practice and communication gear, to help the city of Virginia Beach   
   successfully pull off the Shamrock Marathon and other races and runs through   
   the entire year. VBARES members are especially proud of the contributions that   
   they make to the community, and the community shares that pride with VBARES.   
   -- Steve Isenmann, W0JTC, Virginia Beach, Virginia   
      
      
   HDSCS Follows Up on Issues from Orange County Drill   
      
   The Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS) antenna team is   
   starting its follow up at hospitals that exhibited problems during the Orange   
   County (California) Multi-Agency Spring Drill. The HDSCS is a group of about   
   80 radio amateurs who have volunteered to provide backup internal and external   
   communications for critical medical facilities in Orange County, whenever   
   normal communications are interrupted for any reason. Last year, the HDSCS   
   celebrated its 35th year of service.   
      
   Most of the issues seem to be related to recent hospital remodeling or new   
   construction. A few hospitals though, are moving their command centers, or   
   adding an alternate command center, and now want HDSCS assistance to determine   
   the best locations for antennas on the roof and the most appropriate locations   
   for terminations of coax runs.   
      
   Later this month, the HDSCS Field Day team will operate Field Day at the   
   Huntington Beach Hospital, which is hosting HDSCS for the 13th year. This year   
   there is a new CEO and disaster coordinator to show what we can do in setting   
   up emergency communications in a major area wide disaster by making use of   
   existing structures, such as flag poles and exterior stairways. In addition,   
   hospital staffers deploy surge capacity tents and portable generators for   
   HDSCS use. With this collaborative effort, the hospital can show accrediting   
   agencies how they work with resources from the community. -- April Moell,   
   WA6OPS, District Emergency Coordinator, Orange Section ARES   
      
      
   Before Deployment: Personal, Family Safety First   
      
   Prepare yourself and your family to ensure their safety and the protection of   
   your property well in advance of any possible activation; you may be required   
   to report to your assignment immediately without being able to stop at home   
   first. Here are a few things to keep in mind:   
      
   ú Your family needs at least three days of non-refrigerated food and bottled   
   water available.   
      
   ú Have a medical kit available and make sure your family knows how to use it.   
      
   ú Have fire extinguishers at home; make sure your family knows how to use them.   
      
   ú Make your family aware of escape routes from the immediate area. Give them a   
   map.   
      
   ú Pre-designate a place for them to go: a friend's house or alternate   
   agreed-upon meeting place.   
      
   ú Have phone numbers in your wallet/purse for your family's alternate   
   shelter(s).   
      
   ú Have alternate means of communication should cell/landline phone systems be   
   down.   
      
   ú Consider registering with the Red Cross's Safe and Well service.   
      
   ú Keep valuable documents in a safe place or take them with you.   
      
   ú Have cash on hand for you and your family as ATMs will likely be down.   
      
   These are just a few ideas; there are many more. Study FEMA's Ready website   
   for more. The above list was adapted from the Department of Homeland Security   
   - Office of Emergency Communications - excellent reference guide Auxiliary   
   Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG).   
      
      
   FEMA Encourages Preparedness for the 2016 Hurricane Season; ARES Should be   
   Ready Now   
      
   FEMA, an ARRL partner, is calling on individuals and families across the   
   nation to prepare for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season, which began two   
   weeks ago and runs through November 30. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center   
   outlook for 2016, released at the end of May, states the season will most   
   likely be near-normal, but uncertainty about the formation of Atlantic storms   
   makes predicting this season particularly difficult.   
      
   ARES operators should already have plans and procedures, protocols, and   
   frequencies in place, ready for emergencies and disasters spinning off from   
   hurricanes. Inland ARES groups should also be prepared as severe weather   
   generated by hurricanes can impact communities hundreds of miles inland. When   
   a hurricane hits, it can bring high winds, heavy rainfall, coastal and inland   
   flooding, rip currents, and even tornadoes. Storm surge produced by hurricanes   
   poses the greatest threat to life and property along the coast.   
      
   "The United States has not had a significant impact from a hurricane or   
   tropical storm since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012," said FEMA Administrator   
   Craig Fugate, KK4INZ. "But luck isn't a strategy when it comes to being ready.   
   If you live in a potentially affected state, you are at risk for storm surge,   
   extreme winds and flooding during a hurricane. Now is the time for you to   
   learn your evacuation routes and develop a hurricane evacuation plan. Prepare   
   now and enjoy the summer with confidence that if a storm threatens you'll be   
   ready."   
      
      
   Monitor Pre-Planned Hurricane Emergency, Disaster Frequencies   
      
   On HF, monitor the activity of the venerable Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325   
   MHz. The Net is a group of amateur operators, trained and organized to provide   
   essential communications support to the National Hurricane Center. Net members   
   are dispersed throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Central America for   
   communications coverage from storm-affected areas to the forecasters at the   
   NHC.   
      
   Reports are relayed from the field to the National Hurricane Center amateur   
   station WX4NHC. The primary mission of the Hurricane Watch Net is to   
   disseminate tropical cyclone advisory information and collect observed or   
   measured weather data from amateurs in the storm affected area as well as any   
   post storm damage, and convey that information appropriately. The Hurricane   
   Watch Net activates whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of expected   
   landfall. When activated, the net runs on 14.325 MHz during the day and 7.268   
   MHz at night.   
      
   The VoIP SKYWARN/Hurricane Net combines both the Echolink and IRLP linked   
   repeater networks for handling critical wide area communications during major   
   severe weather events. The weekly VoIP SKYWARN/Hurricane Preparation Net meets   
   every Saturday evening at 0000 UTC Sunday. Use the EchoLink *WX-TALK*   
   Conference server Node #:7203, which is integrated with IRLP Reflector 9219.   
      
      
   K1CE For a Final   
      
   Have a fun and safe Field Day!   
      
   ARRL Field Day remains the mother of all emergency/disaster/public event   
   training exercises. Miss it at great expense to your annual training regimen.   
   It's in two weeks! It is always held annually on the fourth weekend of June -   
   this year, June 25-26.   
      
   ARRL Field Day is the most popular (and in my opinion, the most fun)   
   on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. More than 35,000 radio   
   amateurs gather with their clubs, ARES groups or simply with friends to   
   operate from remote locations, ideally outdoors in a true field somewhere.   
      
   The experience and training gained from transporting your radios and antennas   
   to the field, setting them up, using them as you would in an eme   
   gency/disaster/public event, troubleshooting problems, deriving efficiencies   
   and effectiveness, and learning lessons and fixes to be applied for the next   
   time, are arguably more valuable than any other training exercise, class or   
   manual.   
      
   Activate for this month's Field Day and make yourself a better public service   
   field operator for yourself, your ARES member-teamates, and the public safety   
   agencies and public event organizers and managers we work with during the rest   
   of the year.   
      
   I'll be operating Field Day with Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, from the summits of the   
   beautiful and rugged White Mountains of New Hampshire, on emergency power, of   
   course! Look for W1MJ and give us a contact! I hope all readers have a great   
   Field Day, the mother of all emergency/disaster preparedness training   
   exercises! -- 73, Rick Palm, K1CE, Daytona Beach, Florida   
      
   __________   
      
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... We suspend our disbelief and we are entertained.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)