[HIham] Fwd: Simulated Emergency Test 2010 - 10/2/2010 0900 to 1200 HST Guidelines and Forms

[Ron Hashiro]

  Forwarding additional information provided by Kevin Bogan, AH6QO for 
Simulated Emergency Test 2010.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Simulated Emergency Test 2010 - 10/2/2010 0900 to 1200 HST 
Guidelines and Forms
Date: 	Fri, 1 Oct 2010 02:02:47 -1000
From: 	Kevin Bogan <kevin.bogan at gmail.com>
To: 	PacSecares <pacsecares at yahoogroups.com>, Melvin Fukunaga 
<kh6h at arrl.net>, Ron Hashiro <rhashiro at hawaiiantel.net>, Robin Liu 
<ah6cp at arrl.net>, Tom Thornton <thornton_tr at yahoo.com>, Ralph Miranda 
<dragonhawk007 at hotmail.com>, DragonHawk <dragonhawk7 at gmail.com>, Jordan 
Nagasako <jordan_nagasako at yahoo.com>, Daryl Scott 
<darylscott.thedangerousone at gmail.com>, nancy1lea <nancy1lea at yahoo.com>, 
Jon Marr <Jon_Marr2 at hawaiiantel.net>, Jace McQuivey 
<jace.mcquivey at gmail.com>



*Folks,
Some operators have had difficulty in finding the guidelines and forms 
on the new ARRL website.  I have copied and pasted it into this email 
and provided the link.  On the same page of links, you will find the EC 
reports.  Please note that the NCSs should be asking net participants if 
they have been licensed since 2006 and if they are on emergency power. * 
For ease of use, I am attaching forms many of you have used or 
requested. NCSLOG form is for NCS use.  FSELOG is used by non-NCS 
stations (e.g., Field Stations at Served Agencies or other locations).  
Tactical messages do not require an ICS213 form since it is from one op 
to another; however, it still should be written down, especially at the 
receiving station (if possible) - log tactical messages and other 
significant events (on station, off station, change freq, etc.).  Log 
all important actions and events.  Thank Eric, KH6CQ for the NCSLOG and 
FSELOG.

For those of you haven't seen the other details of SET for Hawaii, 
please view the pages of Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, 
http://www.qsl.net/a/ah6rh//am-radio/emcomm/set-10.html

Kevin, AH6QO

ARRL ARES
Simulated EmergencyTest Guidelines 
<http://www.arrl.org/public-service-field-services-forms#>
http://www.arrl.org/public-service-field-services-forms#


*2010 Simulated Emergency Test*

*October 2-3*

The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test is a nationwide exercise in emergency 
communications, administered by ARRL Field Organization Leaders 
including Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators, 
Section Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers. Many other Section 
Leaders like the Section Manager and the Section Traffic Manager may 
have a hand in planning the exercises and/or reviewing the results. 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service ® (ARES®), National Traffic System 
(NTS), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and other 
public-service oriented groups can be involved. The SET weekend gives 
communicators the opportunity to focus on the emergency-communications 
capability within your community while interacting with NTS nets. 
Although the main SET weekend this year is October 2-3, local and 
section-wide exercises may be held throughout the fall season.

During September, the ARRL will be among dozens of organizations and 
agencies taking part in National Preparedness Month. "The Ready 
Campaign," produced by the Ad Council in partnership with the US 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is aimed at making citizen 
preparedness "a priority for every city, every neighborhood and every 
home" in the US. The ARRL encourages you to consider this year's 
Simulated Emergency Test and preparations for it as a demonstration of 
Amateur Radio's readiness and as an active participant in National 
Preparedness Month. *http://www.ready.gov/*,

*http://www.ready.gov/america/npm10/index.html*

*How to Join the SET*

To participate in this year’s emergency test, contact your local ARRL 
emergency coordinator or net manager to find out the details. ARRL 
Sections, ARES teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime during 
September through December. If you don’t know who to call, please touch 
base with your ARRL Section Manager for assistance. See page 16 of /QST/ 
for contact information or check the ARRL Web page. The URL to start 
with is *http://www.arrl.org/sections/*. >From there, you’ll find links 
to ARRL section home pages with names and contact information for your 
Section Leaders including the Section Emergency Coordinator and Section 
Traffic Manager. Whether you’re a new licensee or an experienced radio 
amateur, the SET is a golden opportunity to learn or practice useful 
skills in traffic handling, net operation and emergency communications 
protocols and management.

*Purpose of SET*

1.      To find out the strengths and weaknesses of ARES, NTS, RACES and 
other groups in providing emergency communications.

2.      To provide a public demonstration--to served agencies such as 
the American Red Cross, the emergency management agency and through the 
news media--of the value to the public that Amateur Radio provides, 
particularly in time of need.

3.      To help radio amateurs gain experience in communications using 
standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated-emergency 
conditions.

*Format*

The scoring format reflects broad objectives and encourages use of 
digital modes for handling high-volume traffic and point-to-point 
Welfare reports out of the affected simulated- disaster area. 
Participants will find SET an opportunity to strengthen the VHF-HF link 
at the local level, thereby ensuring that ARES and NTS are working in 
concert. The SET will give all levels of NTS the chance to handle 
exercise-related traffic. The guidelines also recognize tactical traffic 
on behalf of served agencies.

Test messages should carry the word "TEST" before the precedence; that 
is, "Test Priority" on phone and "TEST P" on cw. The text of such 
messages should also begin with the words "This is an exercise message." 
[Ed. Use this instead of the TEST MESSAGE in the original guidelines.]

ARES units and other groups are free to conduct their emergency 
exercises anytime between September and December if an alternative date 
is preferred. The activity period should not exceed 48 hours.

*Links to SET reporting forms and the EC Annual Report may be found at 
**http://www.arrl.org/public-service-field-services-forms. After logging 
on the page, scroll down and look in the middle of the page for links 
titled “Form A: EC Simulated Emergency Test Report”,  “Form B: NM 
Simulated Emergency Test Report”, and Form C: EC Annual Report.”*

You may e-mail your SET summaries to ARRL Headquarters via 
*sewald at arrl.org* <mailto:sewald at arrl.org>. If you mail them to ARRL via 
the postal service, the address is: ARRL Headquarters, 225 Main Street, 
Newington, CT06111-1494.  February 1, 2011, is the receipt deadline.

*Preparation is Important*

*Steps for the Emergency Coordinator*

1.      Sign up all available amateurs in the area under your 
jurisdiction and work them into your SET plans.

2.      Call a meeting of all ARES members and prospective members to 
briefly outline (no details!) SET activities, and give general 
instructions. Do not divulge the exact time or nature of the test to 
them at this time. This should come as a surprise. Take this opportunity 
to register new ARES members and get up-to-date information on others. 
Hold an on-the-air meeting if it's not possible to meet in person.

3.      Contact served agencies and explain the intent and overall 
purpose of the SET. Offer to send test messages to other branches of 
their agencies, and invite officials to your ARES meetings and SET 
operating sites.

4.      Contact officials of any adjacent communities having no active 
amateurs and offer to provide representation in amateur networks for 
them as well.

5.      Arrange publicity in consultation with an ARRL Public 
Information Officer in local newspapers and radio/TV stations by 
preparing an announcement and/or inviting the press to observe your 
group's SET operation.

6.      Set up liaison with one or more NTS local/section nets (if you 
don't already have liaison) so you will have an outlet for all messages 
out of the local area.

7.      Formulate your plans around a simulated disaster. Possible 
"plots" include: a flood, a serious fire, an ice storm, a missing 
person, a serious accident (automobile, bus, aircraft, for examples), a 
broken gas line, and so forth. Elaborate on the situation by developing 
a scenario, but please be realistic.

*During the SET*

1.      Announce the emergency situation. Activate the emergency net. 
Dispatch mobiles to served agencies.

2.      Have designated stations originate messages on behalf of served 
agencies. Test messages may be sent simulating requests for supplies. 
Simulated emergency messages (just like real emergency messages) should 
be signed by an authorized official.

3.      Emphasize tactical communications for served agencies.

4.      As warranted by traffic loads, have liaison stations on hand to 
receive traffic on the local net and relay to your section net. You 
should also be sure that there is a representative on each session of 
the section net to receive traffic going to the local area.

5.      Operate at least one session (or substantial segment of a 
session) of the local net on emergency-only basis. Or, if a repeater is 
on emergency power, allow only emergency-powered stations to operate 
through the repeater for a certain time period.

*After the SET*

An important post-SET activity is a critique session to discuss the test 
results. All ARES (and RACES) members should be invited to the meeting 
to review good points and weaknesses apparent in the drill. Emphasize 
ways to improve procedures, techniques, and coordination with all groups 
involved. Report your group's effort using the appropriate forms and 
include any photos, clippings and other items of interest.

*The Role of NTS*

The main function of the National Traffic System in an emergency 
situation is to tie together all of the various local activities and to 
provide a means by which all traffic destined outside of a local area, 
section or region can be systematically relayed to the addressee.

Normal NTS routing should be followed. A valid exception is the handling 
of emergency traffic that should be routed as rapidly and efficiently as 
possible, bypassing various levels of nets when delivery can be 
expedited. Another exception is when one station is loaded down with 
traffic for one region or section. At the discretion of the Net Control 
Station (NCS), the station may be directed to bypass a normal channel 
and go directly to a lower (or higher) echelon net.

The interface between NTS and ARES lies in the liaison function between 
local nets and other NTS nets, particularly at the section level. 
Responsibility for representation of the local network on the section 
net lies with the local net manager who may or may not be the EC. 
Although we usually think of ARES members being the representatives in 
section nets, it is equally valid to expect NTS personnel to act as 
liaison to local nets.

At least one net session or substantial segment of a session should be 
conducted on emergency power. Plan a surprise session or two. Advise the 
NCS just before net time. If NCS is unable to operate on emergency 
power, then someone else must be net control. Only stations operating on 
emergency power may report in during this time.

*Summary*

One of the first steps on the way to a successful SET is to try to get 
as many people involved as possible, and especially new hams. In a real 
emergency, we find amateurs with all sorts of varied interests coming 
out of the woodwork. Let's get them involved in SET so they will know 
more about how emergency communications should be handled. Promote SET 
on nets and repeaters, and sign up new, enthusiastic radio amateurs. 
Many of those offering to help will be inexperienced in public-service 
activities. It's up to you to explain what's going on to them, and 
provide them with useful roles. They may like it so much that they 
become a permanent fixture in your ARES or NTS group. For a review of 
last year's nationwide Simulated Emergency Test, read the article in 
July, 2010, /QST/.

Thanks to your efforts, the public service tradition in Amateur Radio 
continues!