[HCARC] Texas-wide ARES/RACES/MARS exercise 5 November

[Mack WB2PCV]

May I encourage everyone with even half an interest in Emergency 
Communications to look over this blog and participate? The following is 
a link that outlines the state-wide activities, which promise to be both 
fun and educational (starting with ME!)  I'll email when I have more 
local information lined out.

*HF Participants:*
This will be an implementation of the Texas HF Emergency net.  This net 
will operate on plan frequencies of 3873 and 7285.

*Stations checking in will be asked to provide:*

  * Operator callsign
  * Location
  * Local net frequency/tone if any
  * Winlink capabilities - e.g. VHF Packet, HF WINMOR, etc
  * Station power type : commercial, generator, battery etc.
  * Affiliation: ARES, MARS, RACES etc.  Multiple are ok.

As a club we are also requested to bring up a VHF simplex net.  Due to 
the geographical spread of our club members, I would recommend we 
implement an ARES net on the repeater for a period of time.  An input on 
this?

As noted in Tom's outline, I would like to encourage all of you that 
participate in MARS to join in the field day festivities.  Please do let 
me know you are participating so that we can get an accurate count for 
the after-action report.

"County ECs [that's me] are to organize two ICS-213 messages during the 
exercise.  The first ICS-213 requested is a SITREP that includes the 
information in section III A*.  This form should be sent to your DEC 
with a copy to their SEC.  The second ICS-213 requested is a resource 
request simulated to go to their DDC.  Send this traffic to your DEC 
(simulating DDC routing) with a copy to your SEC."

* = I presume that Tom means the following: "A large stalled hurricane 
has impacted the Texas Coast with attendant infrastructure damage from 
winds, tornadoes and widespread flooding.  Local areas are free to 
improvise effects for their areas."  From experience I would expect our 
area to be heavily effected by flooding, with some tornado damage as a 
possibility.  Do we have anyone involved in the NTS that would be 
willing to send these messages?

 From my perspective with 12 years as an active firefighter, fire 
officer, and EMT, I am personally prepared to respond to individual 
emergencies in the field.  Even as a Skywarn member/Storm chaser prior 
to this (I lived in Kentucky at the time, where tornadoes seemed to 
occur every time it clouded over!) I did not gain administrative or 
wide-area net experience, so I will be learning just as everyone else 
will be!  I am convinced that the more who respond the better our 
preparedness level -- even if we are not directly affected by such a 
situation, we are in a very good position to lend a hand to those who 
are.  (Preaching mode off!)

Please get back to me off-reflector so that I can have an idea of who is 
participating, and by all means put pertinent questions on the 
reflector!  Thank you all SO MUCH for taking the time to review this.

Here is the link to Tom Whiteside's (N5TW, our SEC) blog:

http://www.arrlstx.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=154&Itemid=165 
<http://www.arrlstx.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=154&Itemid=165>


73, Mack
-- 

*/WB2PCV/*

Mack McKinney
159 Albrecht Rd
Center Point, TX 78010-5400

(830) 634-7244 Home
(830) 370-8488 Cell