5-1-2 Bulletin No. 55

The 5-1-2  BULLETIN - 22 May 01 - No. 55


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:

+ FEEDBACK (FROM DOWN TRINIDAD WAY)
 “Sir, I just received my copy of the March 2001 issue of WORLDRADIO and found your website. I looked at it and I wish to commend you and your members for a well designed and informative page. I am an amateur radio operator on the island of Trinidad and Tobago and I am involved in communication with the National Emergency Management Agency.  Hence my reason for looking at your page. Keep up the good work.
73 de Irvine Niffikeer, 9Y4IBN”.

COMMENT - Here in the United States our FCC regulations, Part 97.1(e),
describe of the reasons for the amateur service (in addition to emergency
communications) as: “Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique
ability to enhance international goodwill.”  Thank you Irvine, for your
“feedback”. Keep up the good work in Trinidad and Tobago, and stay in
contact with us.

+ NET REMINDER - 5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES AND NWS NETS

DAILY:
1200 to 1230L: Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)

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)
(NOTE TO ALL ARES and other EMCOMM LEADERS (including, but not limited to SECs, DECs, ECs, AECs) in any section, district or county: 

Although this net is primarily for District 5 (OR) and Districts 1 and 2 (SV); you are all cordially invited to check in and participate in the discussion(s).  A
wide range of EMCOMM topics are covered.)

+ ARES and other EMCOMM NETS- 
(updated March 19, 2001)list at: www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/index.htm

+ ICS COURSE IN JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON - 
Medford, OR. July 23-27, 2001.
Info: Kelly Jo Jensen at: (503) 378-2911 or kjensen@oem.state.or.us

+ AND NOW...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.

39. The identification of workers and volunteers will be a problem; it will
be difficult to determine who is working where and on what.

COMMENT:  Based upon my own experience in over 35 years in emergency and disaster work, I say: “Even under the best of conditions, and where there has been the most adequate planning and preparation possible, anticipate chaos and confusion during the first 24-72 hours in a disaster. Then there is always some “self-appointed expert” (who doesn’t have a clue as to what it’s really all about); spouting off about how everything was disorganized and mismanaged.  It’s a disaster...you idiot!  What did you expect?  Everything to run smoothly?  Go home and watch television.

Identification IS important.   Both official (e.g. - ID cards), and the other visible ID, (e.g - badge, cap, vest, jacket; and vehicle ID items such as visor cards, stickers, or magnetic signs.)  Identification materials should be fairly well standardized, at least within a particular jurisdiction.  But... it isn’t very “professional” to look like a walking patch and decal advertisement. Nor, does it instill much confidence in your ability to perform, if you look like you just returned from a HOBO convention!  It is OK (in my opinion) to show some “esprit d’corp” for your unit, by wearing matching caps, vests, or whatever. Wear clean and comfortable sturdy clothes and footwear, and bring a change of clothes with you.

Be sure your ID cards for any agencies with which you are serving are up-to-date.   (Your EC, ACS and/or RACES Officer will help you with this.) HOWEVER...no matter how much ID you have, if you are in an area where you are not authorized to be, or are running around acting like a jerk, you may be asked to leave.  EMCOMM (and other volunteers) typically are asked to respond to a staging area for “sign-in” and assignment.  (Your local plan may designate certain pre-assigned posts.  Be sure notify your team leader [EC, RO, etc.], when you have arrived at your post...and when “QRV”.)

TRAINING BULLETINS that appear in this bulletin are also archived at:
 www.qsl.net/k6soj
(PLUS A “PLETHORA” OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING MATERIAL)

+ 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

MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN PAGE:
http://www.qsl.net/wx7mfr/SKYWARN/index.html

CURRENT NWS WEATHER BULLETINS AND WARNINGS ARE AVAILABLE VIA A LINK AT:
www.qsl.net/k6soj

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+ (Mt. Ashland repeater - WX7MFR/R); 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 < gpederso@orednet.org >

NWS WEATHER SPOTTER CLASSES: (EMERGENCY COORDINATORS please announce these on your local nets, in your local newsletters, etc.)

MODOC COUNTY: May 24, 7-9 PM, Modoc County Office of Education Conference Room, Alturas, CA.

SISKIYOU COUNTY:  May 22, 7-9 PM  Mount Shasta City Hall (upstairs)

SISKIYOU COUNTY:  May 23, 7-9 PM  Yreka (CDF Training Room)

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 about the SKYWARN program, contact: Gary/N7GK < gpederso@orednet.org > via e-mail or on 147.26+ (Mt. Ashland).

REGIONAL ARES WEATHER AND ROAD NETS (ARESWARNS) for SV Districts 1 and 2 are on the MUTUAL AID FREQUENCIES of 7232 LSB (daytime) and 3987 LSB (nighttime). 1982LSB (nighttime alternate).  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 ARESWARNS 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.

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 ...
  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.

+ FIELD DAY 2001 - JUNE 23-24.

2001 FIELD DAY RULES AND FORMS: www.arrl.org/contests/forms/index.html#FD or check the May issue of QST 
p. 112. If you haven’t reviewed and familiarized yourself with this information...please do so.

NOTE: Announcements of field day sites sponsored by EMCOMM groups and
special service clubs will be listed below. (Send the name of the sponsoring group, the approximate location of your FD site, a contact person, and an email or web address, or phone number.)  Listed below are some of these...

FIELD DAY sites sponsored by EMCOMM groups:

+ CALIFORNIA OES/ACS
WHO: “Anybody and everybody from any ACS/RACES/ARES/VIP/REACT
organization statewide.”
WHERE:   El Dorado N.F. (5 miles from Silver Springs Campground )
CONTACT: Bill Pennington, WA6SLA <Bill_Pennington/OES@oes.ca.gov>

+ The SOJOURNERS (State Of Jefferson Operators United Relay Network and Emergency Radio Service) www.qsl.ney/w6soj
WHO: Members, (guest operators by permission only), visitors welcome.
WHERE:  Klamath N.F., Goosenest R.D., Juanita Lake.
CONTACT: D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ <k6soj@arrl.net>

+ Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
WHO: All operators are welcome
WHERE: Nyack, CA. I-80 @ Nyack across from the Nyack general store.
CONTACT: Matt Diridoni, KC6RUO, President SFARC at: 916-632-4084;or, Wayne
Mikel, KE6DJE, Placer County ARES EC at: 916-645-0565

+ Lassen Amateur Radio Club, <www.qsl.net/k6lrc/>
WHO: All visitors are welcome, operator training rotations.
WHERE: Highway 139, Antelope Summit Day Use Area.
CONTACT: Terry L. Cobb SR, K6ME <k6me@arrl.net>

+ 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!
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