[KYHAM] SSPM Drill 2002: Am. Radio After Action Report

[Ron Dodson]

This report details the participation of Ky's amateur radio
operators and those from neighboring states in the 2002
Severe Storms Preparedness Drill.

The 2002 SSPM state-wide drill got underway March 26, 2002
at
10:07 AM EST with the activation of the network of NOAA
Weather Radio Transmitters and the broadcast media.

Upon receipt of the alert via NOAA Wx Radio, Ky Emergency
Net was called into active session on 7.231 MHz.  KEN began
operations at 10:07 AM EST and terminated operations at
11:07 AM EST, for one hour of operation.  21 HF Amateur
Radio stations involving 24 amateurs were active. 

Three county EOC's and one county EM Office had amateur
operators
on site. One Area Ky EM Office, one county EM office and the
Louisville NWS Office had liaisons for relay. During this
operation, reports were received from across Ky of local
activity on the VHF and UHF amateur bands.  If this had been
an actual emergency, the net could have served as a
state-wide back up communications frequency.

Stations participating in the Ky Emergency Net on 7.231 MHz.
by area...

Participating EOC's and Local/Area EM or NWS Offices:

District 1
Ballard County EOC, W4KU with 3 operators on station
Marshall County EOC, N4STW with 1 operator on station

District 5
Meade County EM Office, KA4MAP with 1 operator on station
Nelson County EOC, KE4NNA with 1 operator on station

District 6
National Weather Service Office in Louisville, thru
K4ULW/WB4VRP HF Liaison

District 7
KyEM Area 7 Office, thru NB4K, HF Liaison 

District 9
Lawrence County EM Office, thru WA4SWF, HF Liaison

Other Participating HF Amateur Radio Stations, by District:

District 1: KF4UBX
District 2: KD4ULE
District 5: KF4HAY, KG4AFK, KA4FLN
District 6: WD4ARR
District 9: K4LID, KF4KPL
District 13: WA4WWH, AD4RU, K4FSQ, KF4WMT, KF4DXJ

Out of State Station: AB4KK, Alabama

==================================================
VHF/UHF Net Reports received by 8 PM EST 3/27/02 
indicate the following activity:

* District 1:
Calloway County ARES Net, activated at 8:30 AM CST upon
request of County EM.  7 active stations.  
Net closed at 8:45 AM CST.

* District 2: 
Christian County ARES Net activated at 9:20 AM. 4 active
stations. Net closed at 9:25 AM CST. 

* District 5:
Wide Area Repeaters Net (WARN) a system of linked repeaters
activated upon alert from NOAA Wx Radio at 10:07 AM EST.  11
Ky and 2 So. Indiana stations active.  Net closed at 10:20
AM
EST.

* District 6:
Lou. NWS SkyWarn Net activated upon alert via NOAA Wx Radio
at 10:07 AM EST. 22 Active Ky Stations.  Net closed at 10:22
AM EST. 

* District 7:
Area 7 ARES Net activated at 10:08 AM EST upon alert 
via NOAA Wx Radio.  8 Ky and 1 Ohio station active.
Net closed at 10:30 AM EST.  

* District 13:
Bourbon County ARES Net activated at 10:07 AM EST.  
4 active stations.  Net closed at 10:12 AM EST.

Estill County ARES Net activated at 10:07AM EST 
upon alert by NOAA Wx Radio. 15 stations active.
Net closed at 10:30 AM EST.

Fayette County activated their net at 10 AM EST. 
Were finally advised at 10:20 that the test had 
taken place.  Net had 7 active stations. 
Net closed at 10:15 AM EST.

Madison County ARES Net activated from county EOC upon 
alert received from local TV media at 10:10 AM EST. 
4 active stations.  Net closed at 10:15 AM EST.

* District 14:
Boyle/Mercer County ARES Net activated at 10:10 AM EST
upon alert by NOAA Wx Radio at 10:07.  6 active stations.  
Net closed at 10:31 AM EST.  

========================================================
COMMENTS:  

40 Meter (7 Megahertz) amateur band conditions were such
today that it was quickly discovered KEN would interfere
with a net in the New England, Atlantic states region of the
US operating on 7.228 Mhz. (the designated day time KEN
frequency).  Thus, it became necessary to shift our SSPM
Drill operations up 3 kilohertz to 7.231 MHz.  This again
reminds us all that in HF operations, nets must sometimes
shift to eliminate interference and all HF operators should
know to tune a few kHz above and below the established
frequency of any net before deciding the net is not in
session.  All stations found the net without diffuculty.

Some extra benefits were reaped during the drill.

In Calloway County, local EM had amateurs evaluate warning
siren sound levels in several different areas of Murray, Ky.

Louisville NWS's station KF4EKR used the drill as a training 
opportunity to break in a new Net Control Operator.

-------------------------------------------------------
Our numbers are down from last year as we had a total of 212 
Ky amateurs and 15 from neighbor states in 2001 
and 112 Ky. / 4 out of state for 2002. I suspect
that in the wake of all of the recent flooding and 
other matters, many hams were otherwise occupied.

To these amateurs of Kentucky and our neighbors; Thank You
for the hard work and dedication to public service that you
have
shown by taking time out in the middle of a busy work day to
be a
part of this important emergency preparedness function

Ron Dodson, KA4MAP
Section Emergency Coord.
Ky Amateur Radio Emergency Service (Ky ARES)