TO: OR-NorCAL-NV Regional VHF and HF ARES Stations
SECs, DECs, ECs, AECs in OR District 5 and CA Districts 1, 2;
ARRL Officials and other HF EMCOMM stations
Selected EMCOMM and Public Safety Officials
Editor: D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, SEC, SV Section (North)
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ACS Officer MAR III California OES
www.qsl.net/k6soj
THE “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - 26 DEC 2000 - No. 34
“HAPPY NEW YEAR”
REGIONAL ARES NETS
WEDNESDAYS:
1900 to 1930L - The OR-NorCAL-NV Regional ARES " early net" is on 3987 LSB (1982
LSB alternate) ALL ARES and other EMCOMM STATIONS are WELCOME and are encouraged to
check-in.
1930 to 2000L - OR/NorCal/NV A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate)
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L -Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB
THIS WEEK:
1 - “ROLLING BLACK OUTS” - Part II
2 - NEW AEC IN BUTTE COUNTY
3 - NWS SKYWARN NEWS
4 - IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ...
5 - COMING ATTRACTIONS
6 - NET ROSTER - UPDATE
1 - “ROLLING BLACK OUTS” - Part II
The guide and plan below is “generic”. It is designed for all ARES
operators. Emergency Coordinators are welcome to integrate it into the local
emergency plans and should feel free to adapt it, as needed, to their own local situation.
IS YOUR TEAM TRAINED AND PREPARED?
(Permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute.)
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE GUIDELINES AND “GENERIC” PLAN
FOR WIDESPREAD AND / OR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURES
by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
Emergency Coordinator SV Section (north)
December 2000
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BEFORE THE EMERGENCY:
1 - MAINTAIN your radios, accessories, lighting, and other gear in a “state of
readiness”.
Keep your batteries charged, your generator serviced, and a enough fresh fuel (safely
stored) to keep it running at least 24 hours. Always keep the fuel tank in your
vehicle(s)
at least 1/2 full. (When the power is out...service stations cannot pump fuel.)
2 - PARTICIPATE in daily and weekly nets, drills, and training. Get to know your EC,
AEC, and other members of your ARES team. Keep familiar with your local and regional
emergency plan.
3 - CULTIVATE good public relations on a daily basis. Let your friends, neighbors,
and local community leaders know what amateur radio is and what it is capable (and not
capable) of doing.
DURING A POWER OUTAGE AND / OR TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURE:
1 - CHECK ON your family and neighbors. Especially any elderly, disabled, or infirm
persons you know about. If assistance is needed summon help as appropriate.
2 - ACTIVATE your station by connecting to your auxiliary power source. Monitor the
designated EMCOMM frequencies. Keep an accurate log of pertinent information and
traffic.
3 - CONSERVE power, and help keep the frequencies clear, by not transmitting unless you
have traffic or useful information.
4 - AS SOON AS a net has been activated, check in when your area is called. Advise the
NCS of your availability for assignment(s).
5 - YOU MAY BE asked to stay at home and serve as a relief NCS or a relay station. ARES
stations (fixed or mobile) with both VHF and HF are of special value.
6 - IF YOU GO MOBILE, travel self-contained. Appropriate clothing, food and
drink. First Aid Kit. Tool Kit. A good flashlight or two plus extra batteries
is essential...as is a clipboard, notepad, pens and pencils, and local maps. Be sure
you have an adequate supply of blank RADIOGRAMS ready for formal traffic.
7 - RESPOND as directed by your NCS or to the nearest location where people may congregate
in an emergency. This may be a local fire station, community hall, school, general
store, or even an intersection. When surveying an affected area, be alert for people
that may have an immediate need for communications or other special needs. Obey all laws,
stay out of the way of emergency vehicles, and periodically keep the NCS station informed
of your location.
8 - IDENTIFY yourself as an emergency communications unit. Wear your ARES cap,
jacket, or other ID materials. On vehicles, the magnetic ARES signs are nice.
Or you can make placards and place them above your dashboard.
9 - INTRODUCE yourself to local officials. Briefly tell them who you are, what you
can do, where you will be located, and that they may refer persons with emergency,
priority, or health and welfare messages to you. Remain polite, but DO NOT accept
routine traffic until the NCS gives the OK.
10 - THE NCS (at the direction of the EC or acting EC) may ask you to move to other
locations (such as a hospital, clinic, utility office or city hall).
11 - IF YOU MUST leave your post or assignment notify the NCS. Allow enough
time to
find a replacement.
12 - KNOW your own limitations. Do not try to be a “marathon operator
here”. When
your relief arrives, give him / her a brief report, and go get some rest. You may be
needed tomorrow!
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“Recognition and enhancement of the amateur service to the public as a
voluntary non-commercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing
emergency communications”. - FCC Part 97.1(a)
------------------------------
OUR REGIONAL ARES PLAN FOR MUTUAL AID IS AVAILABLE AT: www.qsl.net/k6soj
2 - NEW AEC IN BUTTE COUNTY
Ken White, KC6RSS, EC for Butte County has announced that Randy Wells, as been appointed
as his AEC for Digital Communications. Ken also reports that he a class on digital
(primarily packet) communications is scheduled for Butte County in January.
3 - SKYWARN NEWS
Jim Reynolds, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Randy Miltier, K7RPM, SKYWARN Coordinator
Gary Pederson, N7GK, Asst. SKYWARN Coordinator
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer
spotters reporting severe weather The ARRL/ARES has a national “memorandum of
understanding” (MOU) with the NOAA/NWS
NWS WEATHER SPOTTER CLASSES:
NOTE: The Medford NWS office reports that classes will resume around April or May. Watch
this spot and/or check in to the ARES nets for updates and announcements.
WEEKLY SKYWARN NET:
Sundays at 1930L on the Mt. Ashland 147.26+ repeater (WX7MFR/R) ALSO activated during
severe weather events.
The NWS/Medford “service area” consists of nine counties: Coos, Curry, Douglas,
Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Lake, (OR); Modoc and Siskiyou (CA). If you have any
questions
concerning the ham radio part of the program, contact Randy/K7RPM < k7rpm@arrl.net > or,
Gary/N7GK < gpederso@orednet.org > via e-mail or on 147.26+
(Mt. Ashland).
REGIONAL ARES WEATHER AND ROAD NETS (WARNS) for SV Districts 1 and 2 are on
7232 LSB (daytime) and 3987 LSB (nighttime). Up/down QRM. OREGON District 5, and all
ARES stations elsewhere, are CORDIALLY INVITED to participate. During a SEVERE
WEATHER EVENT, the HF WARN meets hourly AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUR, until all
information and traffic is passed, (more often as needed).
LOCAL ARES WARNS are activated by a local EC or AEC per your local plan. Check with
your EC for more information about your area. It is recommended that they meet at
the TOP OF EACH HOUR, and include a local HF - VHF station for relay / interface duty with
the regional net.
-----------------------------------
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 // 3987 LSB for announcements
regarding anticipated severe WX.
4 - IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO REPORT about
your ARES team or other EMCOMM unit...and would like it posted in the 5-1-2
BULLETIN...just send it to: k6soj@arrl.net
5 - COMING ATTRACTIONS...
*** 146.52 OUR NATIONAL CALLING FREQUENCY
*** STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT - DECEMBER 31, 2000***
(Yes Virginia, there IS a place for CW in EMCOMM)
*** EMCOMM 2001 - MARCH 31, 2001 - PALO CEDRO, CALIFORNIA ***
6 - NEW ROSTER - UPDATE
A current 5-1-2 ARES Regional Net Roster is at: www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/net.htm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ECs and AECs: WE NEED YOUR HELP - BE A NET CONTROL OPERATOR! (NOTE: ALL ARES Leadership
personnel (ECs, AECs, DECs, and SECs), and ARRL OES and ORS, from any District and/or
Section are welcome to check in as visitors. If you wish to be on the discussion list
(second round), just indicate that when you check in.)
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IF YOU ARE A PRIVATE OR GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY, OR JUST A "MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC"; AND YOU NEED EMERGENCY OR DISASTER RELATED
COMMUNICATIONS...JUST CALL "5-1-2". WE'RE OPEN...24 HOURS A DAY!
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