[HCRA] TOP OFF Drill III Volunteers Needed ASAP!

Mon Mar 7 19:29:35 EST 2005

Some information:

TOPOFF is the Top Officials Congressionally mandated exercise. The first was 
held several years ago in Denver and New Hampshire. 2 years ago the second 
was held in Seattle and Chicago. This year there are participants in CT, NJ, 
Canada and the UK.

As always Washington, DC has its share of Federal Officials taking part.

Please take the exercise very seriously. It will receive coverage from all 
levels of government and the emergency response community. Do not sit there 
and gawk at the comms toys unless asked to. Do your jobs as well as you 
always do and be PROFESSIONAL at all times.

You will not be privy to all aspects of the exercise, accept that now.

You may never learn how well it went, accept that.

There are many components that people have worked months on developng and 
keep in mind that while this is a full scale exercise, it is to be treated 
as real as the call up on 9-11 itself.

My only real wish I could take part. That is the crappy part of my job,I 
have to watch. So please tell me what happens.

Also, work together and keep solid notes on what you do so that you can use 
that to improve in the future.

Good luck and remember....We're only amateurs beause we are not paid!

Dan Sullivan
KO1D
Falls Church, VA

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Jim Mullen" <jmullen at rockys.com>
To: "HCRA Mailing List (HCRA Mailing List)" <hcra at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [HCRA] TOP OFF Drill III Volunteers Needed ASAP!
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:12:38 -0500

______________________________________________
-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
-----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
______________________________________________
This message which was originated by the ARRL Connecticut Section is being
sent to all HCRA members subscribing to this reflector. It is being sent on
behalf of Stephanie KD6CCB  who requested that all HCRA members be made
aware of this upcoming emergency response drill. Volunteers Are Needed ASAP!
Marty W1MJB
It seems that we have a few challenges facing us all at once: the SB-92
bill, the BPL testing and the upcoming Top Off 3 drill which will occur
first week in April. As TOP OFF III approaches we need to start gathering
information on who is available when and what types of positions each of you
can cover. Volunteers are urgently needed!

SEC Chuck, AB1CR will be building our roster of available participants. Hank
Wolcott, KA1WTS - DEC for Area 4, will assign people to positions. ASM
Brian, K1BRF is working closely with our served agencies to handle the many
logistical details. They would like to get this information as soon as
possible so that they can start working on assignments. It may be a few
weeks before assignments can be made as they continue to gather information
about the drill. At that point you will be asked to commit to an assignment
or to indicate you need some other type of assignment or timing. As all of
you know, this is a huge chance to show Amateur Radio at our best. As
always, flexibility will be key. This is a disaster drill and it is likely
we will need to make some assignment changes on the fly to meet the needs of
our served agencies.

We appreciate all the help and support we can get!

Please provide the following information to ab1cr at comcast.net :

Full legal name:
Call Sign:
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Cell Phone:
Address:
What types of positions you can cover (based on the list below): When
available: April 4 - April 5 - April 6 - April 7 - April 8 - (Note: If you
say are available from 6:00 am to midnight, rest assured we will not give
you an 18 hour shift. It would be helpful if you can tell us the maximum
shift duration you are comfortable with - if that is longer than your
availability.) Other information: The four types of positions are:
1 - Permanent Fixed locations where the radios and antennas are already
setup and we just need operators
2 - Temporary Fixed Locations where the communicator will need to bring at
least a 25 watt radio, power supply, backup battery and portable antenna
with mast 3 - Shadow stations who will stay with key people and will need a
Handheld radio and plenty of battery (either AA battery backup or small Jell
Cell battery backup)
4 - Mobile in Red Cross or other vehicles will need at least a 25 watt
radio, mag mount, and the ability to take power from a cigarette lighter
jack or straight from the vehicle battery. These vehicles will likely be
fiberglass. Most people use duct tape to tape a pie pan or some other
reasonably sized metal surface to the roof - then put their mag mount on
that.
Have some fun and participate in the Racon Rally March 5 in Eastern CT to
help get ready for Top Off. Here's the details from DEC Hank, KA1WTS. He and
DEC Dave K1DAV have been working on this exciting effort in preparation for
Top Off: Everyone by now should know what Topoff3 is. If you don't, it is a
major drill to be held on the first full week of April this year. It is to
be a simulated terrorist event centered on the Groton/New London area. We
have here a cargo pier, the sub base, Electric Boat (where they build subs),
Pfizer plants and world headquarters, a major rt 95 bridge, and nearby a
nuclear generating plant. Not to mention two casinos but I doubt that even
the feds would dare interfere with gamblers in a hurry to lose money.

I don't know how hams will fit in except to support the Red Cross but we do
need to be ready to fill needs as they arise. To this end Rapid Response
Teams from around the state will be needed but since it is being held during
the work week the turnout will probably be smaller than if it were a real
disaster.

It is well known of course that east of the Connecticut River is a black
hole that swallows the unwary traveler so in order that we not lose any hams
wishing to respond a recon rally is planned for Saturday, March 5. It will
start here at 0900 and end approximately at 1200. It is suggested that you
meet somewhere in your area and check in then come as a group, perhaps at
staggered intervals to ease congestion at the marshalling area at this end.
Details will be forthcoming at a future date but this should enable your
planning.--KA1WTS

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------Hampden County Radio Association-------
An ARRL Special Services Club for over 50 years
------------http://www.hcra.org------------
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Address any comments to:
-Jim, KK1W  -  jmullen at rockys.com
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