[FLARES] Statewide SET

[Dave Armbrust]

Ron,

The QNCs did not call for a full scale activation of ARES.  Instead ARES was
asked to prepare to deeply on short notice.

The Big Stick repeater system was used for regional coordination for the
SET.  HF was used some as well but the majority of the regional
communications was on Big Stick.  There were specific nets scheduled on Big
Stick that the WCF EC were asked to check into.  They were scheduled roughly
every 12 hours.  Apparently there were none during the two hours that you
did monitor.

You said there were no nets in your area.  I know that the Sarasota
Emergency Radio Club has an net at 7:30 PM on Wednesday.  The QNC sent by
Rudy that day should have made it to that net.  You also stated that you
monitored an Orange County net and then added that you monitored an
Hillsborough net.  At least in theory you should have heard the QNCs read on
all three of these nets.

"After listening to the State wide check-in to various nets ARRL West
Central Florida Section Manager Dave Armbrust, AE4MR, states "I was very
impressed with the number of stations that did seem to have good emergency
power capabilities.  A large number had generators and large quantities of
fuel on hand."

In this statement I am referring to percentages more then physical numbers.
Of the stations that did check in to the nets that I did monitor the
majority did have emergency power.  Of those that did have emergency power a
large number of them had generators and large quantities of fuel on hand.
The physically number of stations I did hear check in would not have much
meaning as I was not able to monitor all ARES nets in the State.  Part of
the drill was for all counties to report to the SEC and then to the State
EOC the number of stations on hand with emergency power.  The real number
that you are looking for was reported directly to the State EOC.  Clearly by
reporting the real number directly to the State we are not providing the
misleading information you suggest.  Since this information went to the
State and not the Section Managers I do not have the State wide numbers you
are asking for, but the State of Florida does!  The same people you are
implying we are misleading!

Did the majority of Florida amateurs take part in this drill?  Certainly
not, not even close.  Did the majority of ARRL members take part in this
drill?  Again we fell way short of that number.  I question if even the
majority of ARES members took part, but that would be a closer estimate.  I
would much rather see the majority of Florida amateurs.

Of course any numbers would be misleading.  The number of amateurs that
would show up in a real State wide power outage would be different then the
numbers that show up for a mostly unannounced drill.  Regardless I do think
we did show the State of Florida that if hit with such an State wide power
failure that amateur radio would not be off the air.  Rudy did share with us
that the State was pleased with the drill.  Prior to this drill I question
if the State would even have considered activating ARES for a State wide
power outage.  I bet now they would at least consider it!

You also ask "why didn't a WCF official pass the QNC on local repeaters?"
You also stated "<deep sigh>   There   was   no   net   to   check   into."
How are the WCF officials able to pass this information when there are no
nets?  How are the WCF officials to know what two hours of the 72 hour SET
you will be listening?

I also think that you may be hitting at the heart of the problem with QNCs.
Perhaps many think that only ARRL officials or even "official stations" can
pass on the QNCs.  This certainly is not the case.  Every net stations
should copy the QNC and bring it to as many other nets as they can.

The primary purpose of the National Traffic System is to be a vehicle for us
to pass traffic during an emergency when other forms of communications fail.
That is why we have NTS.

Last, but not least, there is only so much that ARRL officials can do on
their own.  We must be able to rely on ARES/RACES, NTS and ALL FLORIDA
AMATEURS to do the rest.

I can not answer why more counties did not respond to your original Tuesday
query "Wasn't there a Statewide SET last Saturday?  I've yet to read a
report on what happened and who did what.  What's up?".  Perhaps they did
not like the tone of the inquiry.  Perhaps they are not subscribed to this
reflector.  Perhaps they did not think you were addressing them!  Perhaps
since the tone of the comments were negative, they did not want to take part
in your discussion.  I too would like to see more sharing, as you put it,
but I have seen very little on this reflector.  Clearly there were many more
counties then one involved in the SET.  The majority of the counties in WCF
were involved in the SET a some level.  Not a single one answered your
inquiry just like the other 66 counties.

I do know that your county, Sarasota county, ARES/RACES did not take a very
active role in the SET this time around.  Part of the reason for this is
that the Sarasota group manned the trailer at a local county event Saturday
morning.  It always is difficult when an unannounced drill conflicts with an
planned event.  I think it is pretty well known, State wide, even nation
wide, that the Sarasota group is pretty active, not just for drills but for
the real thing as well.  I do not think anyone will look to unkindly at the
Sarasota team if they for the most part choose to sit this one out.

But in all fairness the SET has lead to more traffic on the flares reflector
then we have seen otherwise this year! HI HI

73,
Dave Armbrust, AE4MR
ARRL WCF Section Manager
3024 Salem Ave
Sarasota, FL 34232-5120
Tel: 941-685-2081
Internet: ae4mr@arrl.org
Web: http://www.wcfarrl.org

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