Emergency-Communications

From ri-arrl.org:

The October ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is a longstanding ARRL opportunity for Sections to come together and evaluate how hams can contribute value to statewide preparedness efforts. Are we organized, reliable, disciplined? A supportive and inclusive team able to problem solve in real time, and collaborate with a sincere interest to provide a public service? Is this a team served agencies can trust to turn to?

Each July QST issue has, for decades, highlighted each Section ARES and other teams that have come together to participate in the annual October SET challenge. It is one measure of a Section’s preparedness maturity to be able to follow up in this way and self-report their own progress year over year.  RI ARES has not been in a place to report results for at least a decade. But the good news is that is changing in October 2023.

The RI ARES official SET started this Saturday October 21 and will run until Sunday at 10pm. We held two nets so far this weekend, with this summary of Saturday reports to date:

• 15 check-ins
• 8 airport weather traffic reports for 4 RI airports
• accurately passed to at least 2 MARS members
• via 80m and 2m voice, and so open to all license classes,
• including a new Technician ham licensed less than 2 months. (wow!)

The Sunday SET nets will begin October 22nd at Noon, with the last one at 10pm.

Want to join the momentum? Please see RIARES.org and the Incident Action Plan put together by A-SEC, Jeremy Taylor, K1JST.

For more on the Practice Exercise held  two weeks ago , please see:

Ken Gehalo, N1RP, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

I wanted to make you aware of two winter weather spotter training sessions coming up along with a coastal flooding specific training session. I have attached 3 fliers for these courses if you want to share with your friends. You can also access the online registration here:

Here are the registration links for the courses:

Oct 26th 6 PM – https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8169718174673470550
Nov 13th 6 PM – https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2244470903414422869
Nov 15th 6 PM (coastal flooding) – https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8169718174673470550
If you have taken the winter focused course recently, you don’t have to retake the course. We recommend you take a refresher course every 3 years for each track we offer (winter, summer, ice jam and coastal flooding).

—
Donald M. Dumont
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
Incident Meteorologist (IMET)
National Weather Service, Gray, ME
Office: 207-688-3216 x223
donald.dumont@noaa.gov
www.weather.gov/gyx

From wma.arrl.org:

The Western Massachusetts section of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service will hold their 2023 Simulated Emergency Test from 10:00 AM local time on Saturday, 21 October to 10:00 AM local time on Sunday, 22 October 2023.  This test will involve ARES members attempting to receive and report airport weather information to the Department of Defense via the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System.  [Full story]

Maine SEC Keith Anoe, KE4UCW, writes on the MaineSection-ARES-RACES list:

Good evening, all, I hope this messages finds you well and ready.

With the approach of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lee the Maine Emergency Communication Net (MECN) will be activated and have its first net at 08:00hrs and then on the hour as needed.

Please remember that the primary purpose of any MECN is to facilitate “Emergency Communications” for supported agencies, i.e., between the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and a County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), EMA to EMA, or any other first responder agency Fire or Police Departments etc.

The secondary purpose is to facilitate information ARES/RACES Groups and supported agencies, ARES/RACES members and the public.

All Nets will be opened with request for ARES/RACES group repressive or supported agency, then other stations. Message traffic and status or information will be requested from the ARES/RACES group repressive or supported agency. After they have provided their status and/or information, the NCS will provide them with the opportunity to secure from the net. The intent is to give them the opportunity to return to their duty supporting their group. They do not need to secure, just be given the opportunity. Then the remainder of the net roster will be provided with the opportunity to provide information to the net.

We encourage participation that is short and to the point during emergency activation. We also encourage that you send any appropriate reports to your local town or county for action for processing and action.
Everyone stay safe

—
Maine Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
https://groups.io/g/MaineSection-ARES-RACES/messages
Androscoggin County Emergency Coordinator (EC)
keith@anoe.us
(207)629-7197

Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes:

If you have General/Advanced/Extra Class HF privileges, you are invited to join us for this Connecticut STATEWIDE Radio Event.

WHAT: HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023

DATE: Saturday – September 16, 2023.

TIMES:

TEST #1: 75m phone @ 0800 hrs. on 3.965 MHz (+/-)

TEST #2: 40m phone @ 1100 hrs. on 7.280 MHz {+/-)

Information about HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023 at:
https://www.ctaresregion2.org/events/ct-ares-statewide-nvis-tests-75m-40m/9032/?filter_reset=1

YOUR Participation Matters.

Why? Great Question!
We are looking to see how well HF NVIS works across the State of Connecticut. And, we need a lot of stations participating (that’s YOU). With sufficient data (Signal Reports) from a bunch of stations across the state, we can get a better idea of how well this works and where the problems might be.

GET “READY” and STAY “RADIO ACTIVE!”

Have FUN with HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023

Good News
We now have about 1.5 weeks left to GET “READY” for this HF NVIS event.

Step 1
REGISTER to PARTICIPATE
This will help me immensely to prepare for the event.
Send an email to:
WA1SFH “aT” Optimum “diT” net

Step 2
Learn about NVIS and the types of antennas that work for HF NVIZ communications.

For more HF NVIS information
You will find HF NVIS related videos and articles at the link below that will help you learn about HF NVIS communications and present ideas for antennas to use and/or build.
LINK: https://www.ctaresregion2.org/forum/nvis

Step 3
Get your Gear “READY”

– HF Radio, NVIS Antenna/s, Coax, Antenna Supports, Etc.) for this event.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Douglas, WA1SFH doing to GET “READY”?

a) For this event, I am duplicating the simple dipole design for 75m and 40m antennas and installation as discussed in the video W0SV Club: NVIS Presentation (see link above).
BTW: I have obtained a working copy of the presenter’s Excel Spreadsheet.
With this Spreadsheet, you enter the Frequency you want to use, and it gives you a starting place with: key information about antenna lengths, heights about ground, and reflector lengths for that frequency.
– If you want it, please let me know and I will be happy to send it to you.

b) Got to scout around for a local Operating Site
Since my house does not have enough open land to run the 75m NVIS antenna and I have an S-7 noise level at home, I will need to “Go Portable”.
– I already have my eye on a local park where I can set up before 8 am.

YOU Make it Happen!

JOIN US for a FUN Time with HF NVIS “Warm-Up” 2023

SEE YOU “ON THE AIR”!

73,
Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
District Emergency Coordinator,
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Connecticut Section – Region 2
Cell: 203-494-3885

Eastern MA Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, writes on Facebook:

We conducted Cape and Islands ARES Exercise 78 on Saturday. We had our big mast up for VHF and it didn’t disappoint. HF had its challenges, but some of our other sites had some better luck. We had great turn out at our Mid Cape field site…..Thanks to all who participated at all our sites and at home/mobile.

Join us for the next NE-ECAPS (New England EmComm And Public Service) meeting this Thursday, July 13 at 8:00 PM, hosted by Jack Ciaccia, WMØG, Assistant Director for Emergency Communication and Public Service.

One of the most critical functions that ARES provides is situational awareness. And one of the tools to provide this vital information that we can use is Amateur Television (ATV)/Digital Television (DTV). Tonight’s presentation will be “ATV and Public Service.” Our guest speaker will be Jim Andrews, KH6HTV. Jim is one of the most knowledgeable persons on the subject, both as an ATV/DTV equipment developer and an experienced ARES member.

• What: next NE-ECAPS meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8pm
• Topic: ATV and Public Service, presentation by Jim Andrews, KH6HTV 
• Zoom link contact: NE-ECAPS@groups.io