[CTSARA] Today's Red Cross Shelter Simulation

[Jon Perelstein]

Well, we had a good day in our efforts to show the City and Red Cross that
ham radio can be useful to them.

The State of CT mandated a disaster preparedness exercise for all
municipalities in the state, based on the scenario of a Category 3
hurricane (the 1938 hurricane was a Category 3).  It was a two day
simulation, with CT DEMHS and FEMA observing.  As part of the exercise, the
City and Red Cross opened a shelter at Stamford High School today, with
full staffing (Red Cross, CERT, and Medical Reserve Corps) and full
logistics (except food).  SARA was asked to provide backup communications
between the Stamford shelter and Stamford EOC.  Since GBARC was providing
backup communications for the Red Cross chapter house in Bridgeport (the
one in Darien had been "destroyed" by the storm) as well as the shelters in
Bridgeport and Stratford, we were asked to work with GBARC and get Red
Cross message traffic to/from Stamford and Bridgeport Red Cross.

We decided to focus our attention on digital communications to send/receive
the kinds of actual messages that get sent to/from shelters.  Contrary to
popular belief, the messaging that ham radio would mostly handle during
emergencies is time sensitive but not time critical, and consists of
information (e.g., situation reports, supply requisitions, lists of roads
closed by trees) and not emergency commands (e.g., "Send fire trucks to 123
Main St").

It was pretty clear that the local Red Cross Disaster Services Lead really
didn't care if ham radio was involved, but was going along because the City
wanted us there -- and because Frank (KB1IFX) and some Red Cross hams in
Bridgeport have been pushing him.  He couldn't comprehend our being able to
do much useful for Red Cross and referred to us as the backup to the backup
to the backup.  In a similar vein, I think that neither Captain Lombardo
(the City's Emergency Management Director) nor Tad Jankowski (the City's
Public Safety Director) really understood what we meant when we described
our intent to them.

We set up Sander Pool (W1SOP) at the Stamford High School shelter and I set
up at the Government Center EOC.  Sander then sent me a bunch of standard
Red Cross messages that Frank produced as part of standard shelter
operations.  We included the CT Red Cross SITREP, the Safety & Welfare
Message (called the SWS), the On-Site Detailed Damage Assessment (called
the 5739, and not really a shelter operations form but still a Red Cross
form) as well as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with supply requisitions,
some messages to be sent to friends/relatives of shelter occupants, and ICS
forms such as ICS-213 messages and ICS-205 communications plans.  We also
sent some traffic back to the shelter.  As appropriate, we then forwarded
messages to the Bridgeport Red Cross chapter house.

It all worked!!  Using simplex VHF NBEMS (MT63-2000) between Stamford High
and the EOC, we had 100% accurate copy.  Going via the Bridgeport repeater,
we had 100% accurate copy on messages to/from Bridgeport Red Cross.  No
need for retries, just good clean messages sent in about 1/10th the time it
would have taken for voice and with a hell of a lot more accuracy.
 Throughput was about 20-25 characters per second.  Not fast, but good
enough for the kinds of messages we are usually called upon to transmit.

Timing is everything.  I printed off the messages and walked them over to
Captain Lombardo just as Director Jankowski was asking him to get a shelter
SITREP.  Here you go, an official Red Cross SITREP timestamped 15 minutes
ago, formatted and printed on a laser printer, and also in
computer-readable form on this memory stick (I didn't have Govt Center
network access -- although now I do).  What about logistics needs?  Here's
a 27 item Excel spreadsheet with quantities, descriptions, standard Red
Cross SKUs, and required delivery dates/times.  Where do we stand on
staffing at the shelter?  Here's the ICS staffing form for the shelter.
 The lightbulb went on.  There are actually things we can do, and a lot of
it is better than telephone (not better than internet, but definitely
better than phone).

Back at the shelter, the Disaster Services Lead started understanding and
had a similar reaction.  As did the FEMA observer.  I now have a couple of
lunch appointments with Red Cross and with FEMA over the next few weeks.
 And all it takes is a little focus on the things that our served agencies
actually need instead of demonstrating the things that we like to do even
if they aren't relevant/useful to the served agencies.

We were disappointed that we couldn't hit Bridgeport without the repeater.
 It would be better if we didn't have to tie up a repeater for volume
message traffic, so we'll have to figure out a way around it (probably HF).
 Digipeaters are not an answer because they're intended for short packet
transmissions.

We were also disappointed that we don't see a route from Bridgeport to
Farmington.  The 2010 SET proved that the linked repeater system (voice) is
inadequate to Red Cross communications needs.  So that makes two things to
work on.

So does this mean that Stamford is going to start buying us lots and lots
of equipment and give us the keys to Government Center?  No, not tomorrow.
 But it is another step on the long road back from where we were a few
years ago.  And they're showing ever more interest when we want to talk.
 And they're giving us more access.  And they're starting to say "hmmm,
maybe" when we ask if they'll help us go after grant money.  And now Red
Cross is starting to show an interest.  A step at a time.

And actually Captain Lombardo did give me a key to the EOC.  I had to
return it when I was done, but it was the first time that any of us was
trusted with a key.

73s
Jon
WB2RYV

P.S.  I'll do a little writeup on why NBEMS and why MT63-2000 and have John
(GRB) post it on the web site.  Short story is that it was a lot easier to
find people who can do NBEMS (soundcard digital) than those who do packet.