TO: OR-NorCAL-NV Regional VHF and HF A.R.E.S. 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
FROM: 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” - 14 NOV 2000 - No. 28
“TRAINING + EXPERIENCE + DISCIPLINE = PREPAREDNESS”
THIS WEEK:
1 - CONVERGENCE...and a PREDICTION
2 - CALIFORNIA EMSA DRILL REPORT
3 - JOSEPHINE COUNTY “SET” REPORT
4 - SKYWARN AND ARESWARN - UPDATE
5 - NEW SECTION PIO APPOINTED
6 - IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ...
7 - COMING ATTRACTIONS
8- WEDNESDAY REGIONAL ARES NETS
1 - CONVERGENCE...and a PREDICTION
by D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, SV SEC North
CONVERGENCE is the term used when onlookers and uninvited helpers “appear out of
nowhere” at disasters, accidents, fires, and other emergency events. It is very
common
and usually adds to the already difficult problems faced by emergency management
officials.
APATHY is another common behavior we must face. If you have been in the A.R.E.S. or
another organized EMCOMM group, for even a short amount of time, you probably have
heard some ham say something like this: “I am available for a REAL emergency,
but in the
meantime don’t bother me with any preparedness or training activities. I
already know how to operate a radio” . Well...maybe.
The problem with this is, even if they do know proper emergency net operating procedures,
they will not be familiar the local and regional emergency plans. They will not
know, and will not have had much previous experience working with the regular members of
the team.
These volunteers, even if willing to work cooperatively, cause additional work for those
in leadership positions. They will need a “quickie course” in the local
plan, will need to be registered with the served agency, and must be briefed about the
event. This takes time and additional man/woman power. And they will need to
be supervised.
It also may present a public relations headache for an EC, DEC, or SEC. Local hams may
become upset when EMCOMM operators are brought in from adjacent counties (or cities) under
a mutual aid plan. It is important not to alienate these persons. The
Sacramento Valley Section Mutual Aid Guide offers a few tips on how to handle this
problem. It is available at: www.qsl.net/k6soj
Now, I am going to go “out on a limb”, and make a prediction. I predict,
that amateur radio, as we know it, will be gone within the next ten years. It is
granted that many of you agree with me on that. We’ve already witnessed
significant change over the past ten years.
But what will amateur radio be like in 2010?
I PREDICT, that “amateur radio” will consist of smaller band segments,
designated for “hobby use”. These frequencies will be for unlicensed (or at
least no examination
requirement) operation. They will be unregulated, (except stations must stay within
the allocated “hobby” bands).
There also MAY be certain narrow band segments allocated for EMCOMM only by auxiliary
communication reserve groups such as ARES and ACS/RACES to provide back-up communications
for government agencies; and, (if we’re lucky) these bands will also be
available for emergency communications on behalf of “approved” non-profit
organizations. Only licensed and authorized operators will be permitted to use these
band segments, and then only under tightly controlled conditions.
Operators who want to “DX” or participate in a contest or just ragchew awhile,
will be told to “take it to the “hobby band”.
I hope I am wrong!
I wonder if any of you can see the connection between CONVERGENCE and my PREDICTION?
2 - CALIFORNIA EMSA DRILL REPORT
The California statewide emergency drill sponsored by the Emergency Medical Service
Authority began at approximately 0730 November 9th. On a county-by county basis,
hospitals, blood banks, health departments and other agencies; in cooperation with the
Governor’s Office of Emergency Service, forwarded information via telephone,
government radio systems, and amateur radio.
The OES / ACS was operational on their daytime frequency of 7230 LSB. The State Department
of Health ran a separate net on 7245LSB during the exercise.
ARES and some RACES units were activated in counties that utilize the
amateur resource. In the SV Section, the ARES/RACES/ACS team in Modoc County
(District 1), and ARES teams in Butte and Shasta Counties (District 2) participated in
cooperation with local emergency management officials.
The OES MAR III REOC in Redding (K3OES) was active, and the MAR III Assistant ACS Officer
(K6SOJ) was active.
A FEW OBSERVATIONS:
a) There is much room for improvement in operating and traffic handling
skills for the majority of EMCOMM operators. (E.g. - not using or not being familiar
with ITU phonetics) I heard several attempts to forward formal traffic, under
marginal conditions, and the operators were unable to pass it due to not knowing standard
ITU (ICAO) phonetics.
b ) Non-participating counties (i.e. - non-ARES participating)
“cripple” the entire operation. In one example, intra-county traffic could
not be passed for lack of a relay station. If the adjacent county had been
cooperating...they could have served very effectively by being available for relay duty.
c) There is a shortage of amateur digital stations and operators.
d) ALL of us in the A.R.E.S. have a HUGE educational job before us to
inform local officials about the existing emergency preparedness and traffic nets (many of
which operate
daily); and that it is not necessary to “re-invent the wheel” every time an
emergency occurs or an exercise is planned.
3 - JOSEPHINE COUNTY “SET’ REPORT
by Bill Leiken, KC7IXX, AEC
The A.R.E.S. group from Josephine County, Oregon has participated in a major county wide
SET (Simulated Emergency Training). Called Quakex2000, an imaginary devastating earthquake
presented the scenario designed to test the response, communications, and resources of the
county. The SET began with known circumstances, and proceeded with timed inputs from the
Event Controller developed to further stress all systems and procedures.
The event took place October 24 and lasted 6 hours. Planning and scripting of the exercise
was professionally prepared by American Medical Response, Portland Unit. Led by the county
Emergency Manager in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) others involved included the
Sheriffs Dept, Dept of Public Safety (Fire and Police) Grants Pass High School, Three
Rivers Community Hospital, the Department of Public Works, American Red Cross, and County
Dept of Health. Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) were set up on a permanent basis in
the City of Cave Junction, and Dept of Public Works.
A total of 17 ARES members participated as follows; 5 in the EOC, 2 at Grants Pass High
School, 3 at Public Works, 5 in Cave Junction, and 2 at Three Rivers Hospital. 147
Messages were passed into and out of the EOC (also the site of the Incident Command). Of
these, 113 were transmitted by amateur radio, 93 of which were packet communications, the
remainder being voice on VHF simplex and duplex. Nine digital photographs were transmitted
using a digital camera at the high school and transmitted on packet in the UHF
band. Through interconnect, these were immediately displayed on a large screen monitor in
the Incident Command room.
First in the nation, is the Student Emergency Response Team at Grants Pass High School.
Specially selected students receive medical response training in order to aid their fellow
students in the even of an emergency. During the SET some 30 students feigned injury
(including stage make-up and blood) to test the response of the SERT (now at 13 members)
and transportation to the hospital to test their ability to handle mass casualty
treatment.
Other situations included a ‘lost’ dignitary, impassable roads, traffic-clogged
highways, damaged bridges, utility outages, fire, and landslides.
For further information, contact Bill Leiken, KC7IXX, AEC, Josephine County email: buckeye@cdsnet.net
--------------------------------
(Editor’s note: Thanks Bill for the great report. I have invited the
Josephine County ARES/RACES Team to EMCOMM 2001 and present a workshop on transmitting
DIGITAL IMAGES via PACKET radio.)
4 - SKYWARN NEWS
Jim Reynolds, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Randy Miltier, K7RPM, SKYWARN Coordinator
Gary Pederson, N7GK, Asst. SKYWARN Coordinator
A SKYWARN Program is being developed for Southern Oregon and Northern California.
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer spotters
reporting
severe weather.
NWS WEATHER SPOTTER CLASSES:
COOS COUNTY on Monday, November 20th. Location is the Coquille Fire Hall (3rd and
Adams) in Coquille from 6 to 8 p.m.
NOTE: This is the last class scheduled and sponsored by the Medford NWS office until next
Spring. Classes will begin around April or May to talk about summer weather. 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).
--------------------------------------
ARESWARN INFORMATION:
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 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.
5 - SV Section Manager, Jerry Boyd, K6BZ, has announced that Donna
Ferguson, N6SVV, AEC for Modoc County has been appointed as a ARRL Public Information
Officer. Donna will be serving mostly by covering events in Districts 1 and 2.
Welcome and congratulations Donna!
6 - 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
7 - COMING ATTRACTIONS...
*** OREGON ARES SET. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2000 ***
*** EMCOMM 2001 - MARCH 31, 2001 - PALO CEDRO, CALIFORNIA ***
8 -REMINDER: WEDNESDAY NIGHT NET 1900 to 1930L - The OR-NorCAL-NV
Regional ARES " early net" is on 3987 kHz + or - (7232 or 1982 kHz alternate)
This net is open to all ARES and other EMCOMM stations.
1930 to 2000L - OR/NorCal/NV A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 + or - (7232 or 1982 kHz
alternate)
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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.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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