[CC-ARES-RACES] ARES E-Letter for April 18, 2007

[Tom Abernethy, W3TOM]

The ARES E-Letter
April 18, 2007
================= 

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

<http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>,

===================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce at arrl.net>;; 
===================================

+ The View from Flagler County

Dr. Gray's Hurricane Forecast: 17 Named Storms, 9 Hurricanes, 5 Major
Hurricanes. He had earlier forecasted 14 Named Storms, 7 Hurricanes
and 3 Majors. Predictions are once again higher than the average. For
more info, <http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/>

It's Volunteer Recognition Day this Sunday. Flagler county ARES
members are invited to the Emergency Management Division's event to
be held at the EOC. The day will include food, awards and prizes. The
host is Troy Harper, our EMD's Chief. Thanks, Troy!

The Flagler EOC is also the venue for a meeting of the East Central
District ARES ECs next Saturday, conducted by DEC Jay Musikar, AF2C.
The district includes the Orlando metroplex. The indefatigable
Northern Florida SM Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, will be in attendance, as
will yours truly. Hurricane season preparation will be a featured
agenda item.

-----------------------
In This Issue:

+ The View from Flagler County
+ ARRL Update on Red Cross Background Investigations 
+ Gwinnett County Georgia ARES Conducts Tornado Exercise
+ New Mexico Tornado Outbreak
+ All Hazard Alerting in Norfolk, Virginia 
+ Maine ham radio EmComm volunteer credentialing bill dead 
+ Letters: GAO Report on Interoperability
+ Florida Fire Department Honors Radio Amateur
+ ARRL, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Ink Pact
+ ARES Supports ADA Bike Run in Sarasota, Florida
+ Letters: Georgia Tornados Follow-Up
+ Letters: RVs as ARES Assets
+ Letters: Wikipedia Referencing
+ Letters: TSA Wants Staffers as Amateurs
+ Letters: Red Cross/ARRL Relations in Major Disasters
+ ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
+ Quick Links
+ K1CE For a Final
_______________________

+ ARRL Update on Red Cross Background Investigations

NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 16, 2007 -- In March, the ARRL posted its position
statement <http://www.arrl.org/announce/ARRL-ARC-bg-check.html>
regarding the American Red Cross background check policy for
volunteers. This updates information the League has obtained about
that program. 

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and Chief Technology Officer
Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, met March 20 at American Red Cross offices in
Washington, DC, with two attorneys from the Red Cross General
Counsel's office and two management-level staff members from Red
Cross Disaster Services.

ARRL asked the Red Cross staff if ARRL ARES volunteers would be
subject to the American Red Cross background check if they are
providing communications for more than seven days. The position of
the Red Cross is that ARES volunteers would not be permitted to
provide communications at a disaster site for more than seven days
without submitting to the Red Cross background check procedure. 
Discussion was then held regarding the Red Cross announcement that
credit checks and mode-of-living checks would not be conducted.
ARRL's stated concern was that the ARC background investigation
consent form states that a consumer report and/or an investigative
consumer report -- which includes certain credit checks and includes
mode of living checks -- will be obtained on the volunteer signing
the form.

The ARRL team asked if the Red Cross would be willing to modify the
consent form so that it limits the authority granted by the person
signing the form to criminal background checks only. The Red Cross
representatives did not indicate a willingness to modify the consent
form.

The ARRL team also suggested alternatives to the Red Cross
investigation firm, MyBackgroundCheck.com. ARRL was given an
indication that the Red Cross is also unwilling to accept background
checks conducted by other entities, because the Red Cross would be
required to compare the methodologies of its selected entity with
those of the alternative background-check provider.

ARRL reiterates its recommendation that members carefully review any
consent document permitting a private organization to conduct a
background investigation on that person. The current Red Cross
background check consent form does include permission, without
further consent from the volunteer, to conduct a consumer report
and/or an investigative consumer report. The Federal Trade Commission
and Federal statutes define investigative consumer reports as
including a mode-of-living check as well as certain credit checks.

ARRL will not suggest what organizations or agencies should or should
not be supported by volunteer Amateur Radio communications. ARRL does
wish to facilitate the provision of volunteer services, however.

+ Gwinnett County Georgia ARES Conducts Tornado Exercise
 
In support of Severe Weather Awareness week, Gwinnett County ARES in
Georgia conducted a tornado exercise on February 24. The exercise was
designed by Assistant Emergency Coordinator Ed Woodrick, WA4YIH.
 
ARES members were notified on Friday evening to be on alert for
activation for severe weather expected to move through the area
during the night. A resource net was started with alert information
from the county EMA, which requested a list of stations available for
deployment on Saturday. At 0700 Saturday morning, another net was
activated with specific deployment instructions by EC John Davis,
WB4QDX.
 
The exercise called for voice and digital communication links to be
operational by 0900 at three locations within the affected area. A
Command Post was established at a Fire Station with UHF voice
communications and VHF packet to a Public Information Area in a mall
parking lot about a mile away. A second voice and digital link was
established from the Command Post to a Staging/Dispatch area about
five miles away. A Mobile Communications Vehicle operated on
self-contained generator power from the parking lot area.
 
There were several key concepts and practices that were targeted for
this exercise. Simplex communication was used among the three
locations due to their close proximity, keeping repeaters free for
dispatching and movement of ARES personnel. Simplex operation
required additional planning for higher-powered mobile-type equipment
and outside antennas instead of HTs. Careful frequency planning and
use of both VHF and UHF frequencies prevented interference. The use
of packet provided a means for transferring large amounts of data
including health and welfare inquiries.  
 
Several challenges were added to the mix during the exercise to
simulate real problems. At one point, a Command Post voice operator
was informed that their frequency was no longer usable due to
interference. The operator quickly switched to the pre-planned backup
frequency and continued to pass traffic.
 
"The exercise was a successful test of our ability to support
Gwinnett County's emergency needs. We passed over 60 dispatch
messages and 150 missing person names during the three hour
exercise", said Davis. "We plan to conduct additional field and
tabletop exercises during the year as a part of our ongoing
training." The exercise was planned and closely coordinated with
Major Alan Doss, Director of Gwinnett County Homeland Security and
Greg Swanson, Gwinnett County Emergency Services Coordinator. A
review of the exercise was presented at the February ARES meeting
attended by Swanson.

+ New Mexico Tornado Outbreak

New Mexico radio amateurs activated March 23 for 13 tornados. A day
before the storms, SKYWARN Coordinator and National Weather Service
(NWS) meteorologist Keith Hayes, KC5KH, at the Albuquerque NWS office
(WX5ABQ) warned New Mexico's ARES DECs and county emergency managers
of the potential for severe weather. ARES teams and SKYWARN weather
spotters consequently were already in the field and ready when the
string of tornados struck. 

"The teamwork by the ARES teams, support from the surrounding county
emergency managers, the NWS forecasts and real-time radar support,
WA5IHL's Mega-Link [repeater system] and numerous SKYWARN
observations saved lives," Jay Miller, WA5WHN, observed. During the
weather emergency, ARES volunteers relayed real-time weather
information to NWS offices in Albuquerque and in Midland, Texas.

Robert Tice, W5TIC, reported in with a tornado spotting west of Tatum
at about 5 PM. Jim Morrison, KM5BS, observed a large tornado on the
ground just south of Roosevelt County at about 5:45 PM. That prompted
the first of many tornado warnings for the counties along the
Texas-New Mexico state line.

The city of Clovis was especially hard hit. "We have always trained
for a single tornado, but not eight of them at the same time," Blaine
Smith, KB5UOT, in Clovis commented afterward. Using the KK5OV
EchoLink node, hams in Clovis established a backup connection with
Jory McIntosh, KJ5RM, at the Fort Worth National Weather Service
Office. McIntosh was able to pinpoint the exact course of destructive
tornados that hit the city.

The state EOC lost contact with Clovis, Logan, Texico, Carlsbad, and
Portales. Sandoval County DEC Mike Scales, K5SCA, was able to relay
information from hams in tornado-stricken areas to the state EOC via
the state-wide Mega-Link repeater system. 

The American Red Cross requested Amateur Radio assistance to staff
shelters in Logan and Clovis. John English, WB6QKF, was on the air
from the Albuquerque Red Cross office to assist in setting up those
shelters. -- New Mexico PIO Charlie Christman, K5CEC, and other
reports

+ All Hazard Alerting in Norfolk, Virginia

In Norfolk, Virginia, Tidewater Wireless <http://www.W4VB.org> and
Norfolk ARES <http://Norfolk-ARES.org> have teamed up to provide a
multi-repeater system with linking capabilities and emergency power.
NOAA All Hazard Alerting Devices also directly interface with the
repeater systems: One system uses a CATAUTO WX-200
<http://www.catauto.com/wx200.html> and the other system is using a
Radio Shack CAT 12-249 <http://radioshack.com>. 

Newer VHF Mobile rigs have the Alerting feature built in, when
enabled. Some newer HT's also have the feature. Hand held Alerting
Devices are included in ARES members' "To-Go" kits. 

The reason is that NWR broadcasts warnings and post-event information
for all types of hazards: weather (e.g., tornadoes, floods), natural
(earthquakes, forest fires and volcanic activity), technological
(chemical releases, oil spills, nuclear power plant emergencies,
etc.), and national emergencies (e.g., terrorist attacks). Working
with other Federal agencies and the FCC's Emergency Alert System
(EAS), NWR is an all-hazards radio network, making it the most
comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the
public.  <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/allhazard.htm> -- Rich Davis,
W4NMH, Norfolk CERT, EC Norfolk ARES

+ Maine ham radio EmComm volunteer credentialing bill dead 

A bill in the Maine Legislature that would have required credentials
for Amateur Radio emergency communications volunteers is dead.
Sponsored by State Rep Stanley Gerzofsky of Brunswick, LD 696
received an "ought not to pass" recommendation March 14 from the
Maine Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. The
committee's action followed a March 7 public hearing. On March 21,
the measure was placed in the legislative files, effectively killing
it. The bill would have included registered and credentialed
emergency communications volunteers among individuals the Maine
Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) could call upon to help in an
emergency or disaster. Before they could be issued a valid MEMA
identification card, Amateur Radio EmComm volunteers would have had
to meet certain training criteria and other requirements, including
certifications from the ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The measure also would have required EmComm volunteers to
undergo criminal history and driving record background checks. Maine
Gov John E. Baldacci is KB1NXP.

+ Letters: GAO Report on Interoperability

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report this
month on interoperability issues likely to be taken seriously by this
congress. Among them, it cites technical solutions including VoIP,
and software defined radios. It also addresses the core issues having
little to do with technology, including the resistance to the use of
plain language instead of codes and industry specific protocols.

As we move towards the digital future of Amateur Radio, I'm starting
to question the wisdom of some of our systems, like D-Star, which are
not directly interoperable with first responders. APCO 25 would seem
a better choice, since spending in the first responder community
dwarfs that of Amateur Radio. It's likely that ultimately Amateur
Radio digital systems using APCO 25 would be less expensive to
manufacture than D-Star versions and assuming the radios were capable
of wide-band receive, we'd still retain our ability to use our radios
to directly monitor public service frequencies, which is a huge asset
during an emergency. Currently, I own an ICOM ID-800H D-Star
transceiver but I've also purchased a handheld scanner with APCO 25
capability. It would be nice to have both in one radio.

First Responders: Much Work Remains to Improve Communications
Interoperability (GAO-07-301). Washington, DC: GAO Report to
Congressional Requesters, April 2007.
<http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-301> -- Les Rayburn, N1LF,
National Communications System-NCS047; Navy MARS NNN0HSI;
ARES-SHARES-Skywarn; ARRL EmComm Level 3 Certified Official Emergency
Station

+ Florida Fire Department Honors Radio Amateur

The 2007 Firefighter of the Year in Dania Beach, Florida, is Steve
Adams, N4JRW -- a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT).
The 31-year fire department veteran was cited for his "unselfish
dedication to the department and his fellow firefighters." An ARRL
member, Adams says he's participated in a lot of public service and
emergency operations. "I am very proud of this honor," he told the
League. "I was totally taken by surprise." Adams oversees the ham
radio program for the Dania Beach and Hollywood EOCs. During
hurricane emergencies, Adams and his son Josh, N4OSO, staff both
EOCs. Over the years, Adams has spent many hours of his own time to
put the best equipment and procedures in place so Amateur Radio can
back up normal telecommunications in an emergency or disaster. Ham
radio also permits the local EOC to link with the Broward County EOC.

+ ARRL, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Ink Pact

ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
(NPSTC) <http://www.npstc.org/> have signed a Memorandum of Agreement
(MoA). The League is an NPSTC member organization, and the MoA
culminates efforts begun in 2003 to formalize the relationship
between the two organizations.

"This agreement promotes the concept of strength in unity," the MoA
says. "Speaking with one unified voice provides a clear and strong
message from the public safety community." The MoA also aims "to
promote a consensus input decision-making process." The NPSTC has
been among the organizations that have asked the FCC to thoroughly
explore the potential of broadband over power line (BPL) technology
to interfere with public safety and other licensed radio systems.

A federation of public safety organizations, NPSTC serves as a forum
for the exchange of ideas and information for effective public safety
telecommunications in the US and abroad.

Under the ARRL-NPSTC pact the ARRL designated Chief Technology
Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, to be its primary representative to the
Council (ARRL Atlantic Division Vice Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM,
is the alternate representative). Rinaldo will participate in NPSTC
meetings and serve on committees and working groups. The League also
has agreed to provide "other expertise, advice and resources" to
further the goals of the MoA and in support of the NPSTC Charter and
to promote NPSTC as "the collective voice of public safety
telecommunications."

NPSTC agrees to provide a National Support Office that will, among
other things, coordinate its outreach activities and provide
"national level technical assistance to the public safety
telecommunications community."

In addition to the ARRL, the Council's 13 member organizations
include the American Red Cross, the Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials -- International (APCO), the International
Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Association of State
Telecommunications Directors.

NPSTC is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Council will
mark "10 Years of Progress" during its Committee & Governing Board
Meetings June 11-13 in Denver, Colorado.

+ ARES Supports ADA Bike Run in Sarasota, Florida

The second annual American Diabetes Association Sarasota Tour de Cure
bike run was held on the back roads of Manatee County Sunday, March
18. The Sarasota Emergency Radio Club, in collaboration with the
Manatee County ARES, fielded their own team of sixteen amateur
operators to provide communications over the 12, 40, 62, and 101 mile
legs of the course.

In territory where cell phone service can be spotty, amateur
operators stationed at rest stops, SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles,
logistics supply van, and safety patrol units positioned at strategic
locations provided a communications web of safety, security, and
coordination. Despite the predawn event following a St. Patrick's Day
Saturday night, and unseasonably chilly morning temperatures, the
hams were front and center as planned. Event organizers attributed a
35% drop in participants from registrants to the weather.

The use of the NI4CE "Big Stick" linked repeater system provided
clear communications by many units utilizing hand held radios. The
two groups want to express their appreciation to the West Central
Florida Group, Inc. for the use of the repeater, and to the west
coast amateur community in general for the courteous, uninterrupted
use of this repeater during a normally busy weekend period.

The base of operations, start and finish lines, and center of good
food, fun and entertainment was staged at the Lakewood Ranch Park
adjacent to Lakewood Ranch High School. The Sarasota County Emergency
Management/American Red Cross communications trailer contained the
Net Control operations center. 128 man-hours on ride day and 40
pre-event hours were spent on this project.

+ Letters: Georgia Tornados Follow-Up

Glad to see the mention [in the last issue] of Georgia ARES
operations during the March 1 storms. Georgia has a series of
EchoLink-enabled repeaters scattered across the north and central
part of the state and many of these are linked together during severe
weather, including a link to WX4PTC at the National Weather Service
office in Peachtree City. 

When it was announced by NWS that a tornado had struck the high
school in Alabama, I immediately observed the offending storm cell on
weather radar just northeast of Enterprise, and began tracking its
progress. It appeared to be coming our way, here in central Georgia.
I called my supervisor at the Sheriff's Department in Peach County
and warned him about the approaching cell. I then called our board of
education and relayed the same advisory. This very same cell is the
one responsible for most of the damage in Georgia. It struck
Americus, killing two and severely damaging the hospital there,
killed several in an adjacent county, continued northeast and killed
another in Taylor County (just west of us), and then caused
significant damage in the Lake Tobosofkee area of west Macon/Bibb
County. While there were a number of confirmed tornado sightings
across the southern and central part of Georgia, it is interesting
that this one storm cell continued to develop and redevelop as it
crossed two states. - Tim Hardy, AF1G, Kathleen, Georgia

+ Letters: RVs as ARES Assets

A potential ARES asset is the Recreational Vehicle owners. Most of
them belong to radio clubs that meet on the air, giving them the
experience of participating in networks. Numerous RV networks exist
that can be readily available to operate as ARES nets.
 
Amateur stations permanently installed in these vehicles are not
uncommon. Satellite television capability and cell phone
communications are also installed. With their onboard supplies of
propane, gasoline and foodstuffs, they are self-sufficient for long
periods of time. Motor generators are typically operated on gasoline
or propane and provide long-term electrical power.
 
Non-ham members of the family can provide logistical support in the
form of cooking, housekeeping, message delivery (sneaker net) and
other related tasks.  

Operation on Citizens Band is very common, providing ARES with
another group of mobile radio stations that can collect disaster
information from the field. CB operators represent a large pool of
potential ham radio operators.
 
The individual RVs are already dispersed geographically. They can be
radio-dispatched to different areas to collect specific information.
 
All RVs are fitted with cooking and food storage areas as well as
sleeping accommodations. Some of the larger vehicles are quickly
adaptable to serve as mobile communications centers. -- Frank Wyatt,
N6FW, Scotts Valley, CA  <n6fw at baymoon.com>
 
+ Letters: Wikipedia Referencing

I noticed a reference to Wikipedia in the last issue. As an assistant
professor of communication at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska I
prohibit the use of any Wikipedia references. Everyone should be
aware that Wikipedia is a forum that allows anyone to post anything.
The idea is that eventually someone will come along and eventually
correct erroneous information. This is not an acceptable way to
provide a source of reliable information. Anytime Wikipedia comes up
as a source there should be a red flag that pops up with a warning. I
suggest avoiding Wikepedia as a journalist source. While I have not
personally conducted the experiment there are college professors who
post bogus information and wait for it to come back into the
classroom as a demonstration of how inaccurate information can be
placed on a site such as Wikipedia. -- Vern Wirka, W0VMP (former
Nebraska Section Manager)

+ Opinion: TSA Wants Staffers as Amateurs

I think we are seeing an increase in the speed with which our federal
government is formally adopting Amateur Radio as their supplemental
and backup communications service, and their intent to use government
employees as the primary operators. The camel has more than just his
nose under the tent.

>From an ARES EC who attended a Houston, Texas, Amateur Radio club
meeting Monday night April 9: "We had an unusual guest at the ECHO
[Society] meeting tonight.  The 'Assistant Federal Security Director'
for the TSA, as in Homeland Security, was there gathering assistance
and information on establishing training, licensing and mentoring TSA
employees to get their ham tickets. It would appear that they are
setting up HF/VHF stations at all 27 key Gulf Coast airports."

On March 28, Army MARS conducted a regional communications exercise,
with stations operating at the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth airport
TSA offices, FEMA Region 6 HQ in Denton, Texas, Texas state
operations center in Austin, and 5th Army HQ in San Antonio. This
EC's report hints at TSA's Amateur Radio infrastructure and resource
expansion beyond the Army MARS-TSA agreement.  Perhaps TSA recognizes
the limited Army MARS resources and facility access obstacles. --
Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, SEC South Texas 

+ Letters: Red Cross/ARRL Relations in Major Disasters

The discussion re ARES and Red Cross is a good step. It should be
emphasized that in the field in a major disaster, the Red Cross must
coordinate with the local ECs upon arrival. No incoming volunteers
for Red Cross or any other organization should attempt to usurp the
authority of the EC in the affected area. This is still a very sore
spot among the Gulf Coast hams who were so abused after Katrina. We
are there to assist but are not subservient to these agencies. And
lastly, when Red Cross arrives with their own amateur equipment, they
still are required to coordinate with the local EC or DEC as
appropriate before setting up, and they have no authority to
commandeer repeaters nor other private equipment for their own use.
-- Darryl J. Goldman, KD5CQT, EC, Jackson County, Mississippi

+ ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration

Registration remains open through Sunday, April 22, for ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CEC) program Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/>
online course beginning on Friday, May 4.

+ Quick Links 

Connecticut Rolls Out New ARES Newsletter:
<http://TinyURL.com/22ma5f> -- Brian K1BRF SEC, CT

Daytona Beach, Florida, tornadoes, resources, opinions:
<http://www.dbara.org/emcomm.htm> -- Bob Ledford <wa4idi at cfl.rr.com> 

Small radio carriers: <http://www.tac-comm.com/> -- Matt Cassarino,
WV1K <http://www.wv1k.com>

Nice SKYWARN page: <http://www.ccraa.net> click on Skywarn. - George
Thurner, W8FWG

+ K1CE For a Final

Hurricane season is around the corner. It's time to trot out those
hurricane exercises NOW. If Dr. Gray's forecast is even partially
correct, we are in for a wild ride over the next six months.

See you next month! 73, Rick K1CE

======================================================================
The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN,
President.

The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES). 

Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit
must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay
League.