“There are people who make things happen,
People who watch things happen,
And people who don’t know anything happened.”
- ARISTOTLE
The 5-1-2 BULLETIN - 4 September 01 - No. 70
TO: OR-NorCAL-NV ARES and other EMCOMM Stations, ARRL Officials, other EMCOMM
and Public Safety Officials; in Oregon District 5, California SV Section
Districts 1, 2...and BEYOND.
FROM: D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, ARES SEC, SV Section (North), editor.
Assistant ACS Officer MAR III California OES
INTERNET: www.qsl.net/k6soj E-MAIL: k6soj@arrl.net
CA OES ACS INLAND REGION WEBSITE: www.acs.oes.ca.gov/Inland
+++ SHORT CIRCUITS
- Brief (important) announcements:
+ REMINDER TO EMERGENCY COORDINATORS:
(Your monthly reports are due)
+ FCC TAKES EMERGENCY NETS VERY
SERIOUSLY -
Excerpt: (The interfering operator’s alleged action).... "reflects an
alarming failure in understanding what Amateur Radio was established for and the
basis for its allocation of broad frequencies and privileges," - Riley
Hollingsworth.
Full story at: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/08/30/1/?nc=1
(This one should be required reading for all hams)
+ RESCUE RADIO: ATTY GENERAL ASCHROFT PRAISES HAM
RADIO
- Full story below.
(Thanks to Neil Mckie, WA6KLA, for forwarding this item)
+ “OREGON FIRE” (TRINITY COUNTY
CALIFORNIA)-
(So named because it started on Oregon Mt. near Weaverville)
Received from Buck Buckley, W6HOR, TRINITY COUNTY ARES EC -
28 AUG 01 @ 2238L:
“Short report, more to follow...
About 2:30-3:00PM, Tuesday (8/28), a fire was reported north of Weaverville on
the western side of highway 299W. Didn't take long to grow to 100 acres on
both sides of 299W, then it started towards the north end of Weaverville So far
people have been evacuated from several areas in the north and north west end of
the city - the Evacuation centers are at the Victorian Motel where the Red
Cross is set up with about 200 evacuees, The Lutheran Church and the evacuees
from the Hospital, are at the Douglas City School. Critical cases have been air
evacuated to Redding hospitals. Some others are/will be transported to
facilities in Redding.
Responding were W6MAC (at Redding CDF), WO6P at the CDF Weaverville FD and
KE6YGR at the Victorian Motel with the ARC and Drew K1SAR on the fire
line. All four from Shasta County. W6HOR responded at the Victorian for a period
setting up with the ARC then returned to home QTH to act as HF backup for the
Repeater system which is SOLAR powered and it was not known how long it would
hold up at night. Also involved were KF6OAH and KF6OAI, N6NOM who acted as
relays from their home locations. Among the evacuees were Bob WD6AIA and
wife Jayne, Johnny WA6BXN and wife Lois, George WD6FHX and wife Lillian
KB6EHF, Tom W6BVC and wife Iris, Horatio KB6EJH and wife Rose, Ed WB6JZN and
wife Vi KB6QBS, Evacuees above assembled in the Ace Hardware parking lot to
decide what to do next. The group from Redding CDF were very well appreciated as
you can see many of our people up here were more like victims and
therefore not really available. Several other hams have reported in to
offer assistance and or to get information - all were polite, and short in their
questions/answers. More to follow as time permits.” - Buck, W6HOR
EC Trinity County.
Received from Buck Buckley, W6HOR, TRINITY COUNTY ARES EC -
3 SEP 01 @ 1125L:
“The "Oregon" fire started out near Oregon summit, just west of Weaverville on Tuesday and very quickly spread westward to the outskirts of Weaverville, ten houses and three trailers were destroyed. The response from "Mutual Aid" was terrific, the number of agencies, fire departments, police (sheriff's), Red Cross, CYA, CDC, OES, Salvation Army, the Local Amateur Radio Operators who provided communications back-up to CDF and kept traffic off the fire channels, those and others were almost uncountable, and any I've missed all I can say is "SORRY"..
The massive efforts, cooperation from Mother Nature with wind changes were responsible for the quick demise and very low home destruction rates, approximately 150 homes that were in immediate danger were SAVED. The actions and responses from the "Local" population was such as to make anyone PROUD. I would love to be able to cite more examples, but time and the fact that everyone was just too darn busy to stop and take notes - however such little things as "Station 3" opening up with free coffee to firefighters.
The "La Grange" restaurant (that never before had served breakfast)
opening early (Bless you Sharon), and the Victorian Inn making available it's
large recreation room available to all comers including the Red Cross which
served food and counseling, (no hug Doug but one heck of a good handshake) the
Wonderful people from Animal Rescue and the Animal hospital & Motel for
taking in all sorts of cats, dogs without charge... All in all not only were the
Fire Fighters wonderful but the people and merchants of Weaverville, many of
whom I have missed, just made one PROUD to live in this wonderful community.
With thousands getting ready to depart, a fire was "started" in the
area just west of Hayfork, on the Hyampom Road which in the very dry country
spread like the proverbial "Wild Fire". The support that was being
relieved from Weaverville was quickly diverted to Hayfork where the Trinity
County Fairground were established as a command post and center for all
activities.
Mother Nature turned out to be rather fickle and shifted her winds several times in the extremely mountainous country. Getting crews into many areas was extremely difficult but saying no to a dedicated firefighter is rather dumb. Air support was terrific as was the efforts of the Fire Crews on the ground. This fire (named the Hyampom Fire) was started on Thursday (8/30) by ARSON, and was almost contained by Sunday noon. Then Mother Nature blew and it started again within the lines of containment but quickly crossed the first line of containment and then the second line threatening several homes. A new second line was established, bless those wonderful CAT operators and hand crews.
I was released Sunday evening about 8PM with the understanding we might well be called out again on Monday if things blew up again.
Summary:
The road between Hayfork and Hyampom was closed and opened again, and as of
Sunday afternoon some residents were on "Alert" and probably still
are. During the Thursday - Sunday period some residents had been evacuated but
all have been allowed to return by Sunday.
Traveling the lines with a Public Information Officer of the CDF/USFS, the attitude of everyone I met was very positive with regards to the support and very nervous with regards to their own situation, all had packed and were ready to leave on a moment's notice - and I note they KNEW someone would come by and tell them if they needed to move out. The people of Hayfork, and Weaverville too are all of "Frontier Stock" and it seems everyone knew where they would go (Friends), where their animals would go and just what they would take with them. Gads these people make me proud. The people I am talking about live in the true backwoods and finding homes was a real chore for the information people but all things are possible with the proper effort.
My own job was communications and we had tremendous support from not only our
own local people but from the hams of Shasta County, just as one big
brotherhood/sisterhood of concerned friends and co-workers. I have a listing of
16 hams from Shasta and 10 from Trinity along with several others that came on
and offered assistance, bless then all. (for CDF and for Dave Thorne, K6SOJ,
SEC. Estimated hours to follow when time permits)
Finally;
My feelings are RESPECT, PRIDE and LOVE - all coupled with the need for a nights
rest and a good shower. R. "Buck" Buckley, W6HOR, EC Trinity
County.”
For more information (including some pretty impressive pictures):
http://www.trinitycam.com/
http://www.tcoe.trinity.k12.ca.us/
http://www.tcoe.trinity.k12.ca.us/~tcarc/
COMMENT: Thanks Buck. Not only for a great report, but for your
tireless efforts, and all the volunteers that supported you in these two
incidents. Well done! And as Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith
(George Peppard) of the A-TEAM used to say (and as I have said many times
before):
“I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!”
+ NET REMINDER - 5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
AND NWS NETS
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L: Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)
NOTE: ALL STATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR AND/OR CALL ON 146.52 MHZ
DURING THE NOON NET TO RELAY CHECK-INS OR TRAFFIC.
WEDNESDAYS:
1915 to 1930L: NWS WX SPOTTER NETS (see NWS-SKYWARN section below)
1930 to 2000L: A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate) ALL ARES
and other EMCOMM leaders are welcome. A net roster is available at: www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/net.htm
+ ARES and other EMCOMM NETS
-
list at: www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/index.htm
+ THIS WEEK’S TRAINING:
The article: “DISASTER / MAJOR EMERGENCY -- WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
by Lt. Dan Blackston, Chula Vista Police Department” appeared in its entirety
in BULLETIN # 36 (January 9) and is archived at : www.qsl.net/k6soj. Below are excerpts from
that article with comments.
61. “There will be initial chaos; supplies, materials and equipment needed
will not be readily available.”
COMMENT: Maybe that’s why the call them disasters! Sidewalk critics
like to point out where the “doer of good deeds could have done better”.
I say, even under the best of circumstances with the best of pre-planning,
training, and over all preparedness...expect confusion, delays,
and...”chaos”, during any major disaster. Just be sure that YOU do not
become part of the problem, by being poorly prepared.
TRAINING BULLETINS that appear in this bulletin are archived at:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
+ NWS-SKYWARN NEWS
Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Peterson, N7GK, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
-----------------------------------------------
!FREE! - ARES / SKYWARN software is available at: http://www.qsl.net/k6soj/projects/index.htm
MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN PAGE HAS CHANGED TO: www.qsl.net/mfrskywarn
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.
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
The Medford NWS WX SPOTTER NET is on Wednesdays at: 1915L on 147.26+ (CTCSS:
123.0) Mt. Ashland / WX7MFR/R); (NOTE: As of 29 August the 146.26+ repeater is
operational.) SIMULTANEOUSLY ON: 146.55 SIMPLEX (Siskiyou and Klamath Counties);
AND 146.97- the Likely repeater (Modoc County).
FROM 1920 to 1929L: on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate), relays and other check-ins will be accepted and forwarded. ALSO, a packet WX SPOTTER NET is being developed to run concurrently SKYWARN will be activated on these frequencies during severe weather events.
The NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND is on 145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn. NWS is asking for SKYWARN and ARES packet stations to connect and let them know your location, the type of antenna and power you use to access the Mt. Ashland node. The “connect” to NWS packet bbs (direct) is 145.090 and the ID is NWSMFR. Then connect to NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The NWSMFR at nws mfr is a node.
Questions? contact Gary, N7GK < gpederson@orednet.org >
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 // 3987 LSB for announcements regarding anticipated severe WX.
+ ARRL/ARES SIMULATED EMERGENCY
TEST (SET) October 6-7, 2001
See September QST (p.53)... Or: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.html
+ 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...send it to: k6soj@arrl.net
+ COMING ATTRACTIONS ...
MORE... “SATIRICAL SYMPHONIES”
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? THE SERIES CONTINUES
HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? - A FUN QUIZ
+ EMCOMM 2002
April 20-21 2002 - Bishop Quinn High School, Palo Cedro, CA. www.emcomm2002.net
+ PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE 5-1-2
BULLETIN ARE ARCHIVED AT:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
+ The “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - Copyright (c) 2001 - D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and re-circulate items from this
bulletin providing appropriate credit is given to the “5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
BULLETIN” and/or the author or originator of the material. Send
corrections, updates, etc. to: k6soj@arrl.net
+ PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY!
------------------------------------
FROM: ARNewsline(tm) Report #1255 - August 31st, 2001
RESCUE RADIO: ATTY GENERAL ASCHROFT PRAISES HAM RADIO United States Attorney
General John Ashcroft had nothing but praise for ham radio operators who
participated in a recent anti-terrorism drill in the Mid-West. Ashcroft was in
Dayton Ohio when the city conducted a Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness
Test on Friday, August 17th. According to District Emergency Coordinator Ron
Moorefield, W8ILC, the Attorney General liked what he saw:
"John Ashcroft, the US Attorney General was really amazed at how all of our departments work very closely. He did make a comment to me: `...I have heard of Amateur Radio but you people are professionals. You are not amateurs.' That was a quote from him.
He [also] said that you guys had your act together and backed up everybody and kept everybody informed of what was going on."
The exercise, also known also as an Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Drill was held at the University of Dayton Arena. The American Red Cross first asked the Amateur Radio community for communications assistance. Ten operators took part and another twenty were on stand- by alert. Moorefield says it was a very well planned exercises:
"Everything fell into place. There was about 53 different departments involved. There was also enough time conducted for the drill so that each agency could set up what they had to set up."
The radio amateurs were used to shadow important officials, communicate with local hospitals and talk to shelters set up by the Red Cross. Communications took place over the Dayton Amateur Radio Association's 146.94 MHz repeater and the Kettering Medical Center repeater on 145.11 MHz. Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, says that the hams in Dayton seem prepared for any eventuality:
"We are living in an age now with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that makes this something we must all be concerned about, and the Amateurs are well aware of it. And I think that they will be prepared.
We would not barge in on something like this but we would wait until we were called and given a place."
As a result of the exercises success, the state of Ohio has now been granted about 2 million dollars to aid local officials to fight possible terrorism through training and procurement of badly needed equipment . Moorefield says that even hams will be trained.
"The federal government has offered us some preliminary training on how to deal with coming in to such a [disaster] scene. I am starting to set some classes toward he end of the year and get a number of amateurs involved."
Moorefield says that the classes will be open to all interested radio amateurs living in the area. Attorney General Ashcroft who was there to oversee the Weapons of Mass Destruction exercise declared it a complete success.
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