[KYHAM] TOPOFF 3 Exercise

[W2LTB at aol.com]

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/08/4/?nc=1

High Praise for  Amateur Radio Follows ARES' TOPOFF 3 Performance

NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 8,  2005--The role of Amateur Radio Emergency 
Service (ARES) volunteers in  Connecticut in this week's massive 
TOPOFF 3 exercise has drawn high praise  from the American Red Cross, 
for which ARES provided virtually all radio  communication. Sponsored 
by the US Department of Homeland Security and  intended as a 
realistic test of the nation's homeland security system,  TOPOFF 3's 
goal was to push the system of first responders beyond its limits  to 
find the weak spots. American Red Cross emergency services director  
Mario J. Bruno extolled ARES' performance. 

"Operators were there  when we needed them, and messages got to
where they were needed," he said in  a note to ARRL Connecticut 
Section leadership. "We have learned a lot about  what ARES can 
really do when things get messy, and TOPOFF 3 has been a clear  
example of how complicated a disaster can get." 

Bruno said the Red  Cross doesn't have to worry if today's fancy 
telecommunications devices  fail, because ARES will always be there 
to provide the needed support.  

"Thank you ARES for helping us respond to the largest disaster  
exercise in the history of the United States," Bruno concluded.
"We will  not forget." 

The Connecticut TOPOFF 3 began April 4 with an explosion in  New 
London meant to simulate a terrorist attack. Realism, including  
simulated injuries, blood and fatalities, was very much a part of 
the  $16 million exercise--the largest federal drill ever held. 
Prospective ARES  volunteers were cautioned in advance, so they'd 
know what to expect.  

Brian Fernandez, K1BRF, a Connecticut Assistant SM and ARES liaison  
to the Red Cross said Amateur Radio's performance in TOPOFF 3 did 
not go  unnoticed at the highest levels. "Amateur Radio made a
major contribution to  the nation," he said, "and those who
contribute to making it safer and  stronger, and folks in the right 
places know it." 

After ARES stood  down from the drill late on April 6, ARRL 
Connecticut Section Manager Betsey  Doane, K1EIC, and SEC Chuck 
Rexroad, AB1CR--said they felt Amateur Radio  acquitted itself very 
well during the drill. 

"The energy, enthusiasm  and absolute dedication of all the 
volunteers for this event are a testament  to the real dedication and 
teamwork in the Connecticut Section," Doane said  in a statement 
thanking all who took part. 

Rexroad agreed. "It's  just been amazing," he said. 
"People came 
into this drill prepared and  ready to stay. It was a very positive 
experience." Several, he pointed out,  took time away from their
jobs and families to volunteer for the drill.  Numbered among the 
ARES volunteers were several members of the ARRL  Headquarters staff. 

Under the National Disaster Plan, the Red Cross had  primary 
responsibility for mass care. Rexroad said ARES provided the only  
communication among all of the Red Cross emergency response vehicles  
(ERVs), mobile canteens, kitchen, headquarters and other sites the  
organization had to stay in touch with during the drill. 

As many as  40 of the 150 ARES volunteers from Connecticut and other 
states in the  Northeast were deployed to the field at any given 
time, and each one got to  take part at some point, Rexroad 
said. "Everyone had at least one shift when  they were able to get
on the radio and provide communications support." Doane  credited
the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses and other  
training with raising the overall level of operating skill--even 
among  newcomers. 

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, who monitored ARES net activity  during 
the event, commended the high level of proficiency. "The level of  
professionalism and discipline was very impressive," he said.
"The  benefits of the emphasis the ARRL has placed on training
over the past  several years were clearly evident." Sumner this
week
also visited the  ARES marshaling headquarters in Chesterfield, 
Connecticut, to congratulate  some of the volunteers in person. 

TOPOFF 3 called on participants to be  ready for unexpected events, 
and the ARES operation was no exception. "The  only big curveball
we got thrown was when one of the judges decided they were  going to 
take one of our repeaters down," Rexroad explained.  Connecticut
ARES was able to promptly switch to a backup. During a  staged
"power failure" at unified command, only the ARES radio,
equipped  
with battery backup, remained working. ARES promptly worked around a  
genuine repeater breakdown that occurred just before the exercise 
got  under way. 

Rexroad and Doane agreed that TOPOFF 3 not only was a success  but a 
helpful learning experience for ARES. Doane allowed that there was a  
need to streamline things organizationally and to provide a 
mechanism to  debrief volunteers returning from the field.
"Feedback immediately after an  event is important," she said. 

Rexroad says Connecticut ARES also  prepared to assist the 
Connecticut Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and  actually 
activated several of its stations to show state officials that it  
had the back-up coverage in case they needed it. In anticipation of 
that  possibility, he said, the OEM added a 2-meter antenna at its 
headquarters in  Hartford so ARES would have VHF and UHF capabilities 
from there as well as  from a communications center at an OEM 
location several miles away in Rocky  Hill. 

"I want to let everyone know how proud I am and how privileged I  
feel to work with such an outstanding group of people," Rexroad
said in a  post-drill message to Connecticut ARES members "Everyone
dealt with difficult  situations professionally and positively, and 
we overcame hurdles wherever,  whenever and whatever they were." 

Doane expressed her gratitude not only  to Rexroad and Fernandez, but 
to Assistant SEC Rod Lane, N1FNE, TOPOFF 3  ARES Operations Manager 
and District Emergency Coordinator Hank Wolcott,  KA1WTS, her Section 
Cabinet, ARES leadership, ARRL headquarters staff and  all who 
volunteered. She also thanked Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager  
Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, "and his dedicated, professional team"
for their  participation in TOPOFF 3. "This was a great example of 
how two ARRL  sections wan work together," Doane said. "It was
a real pleasure having them  on board." 

A bioterrorism incident was the scenario in New Jersey--the  only 
other TOPOFF 3 site. Emergency officials there not only were key to  
the exercise, they had genuine problems dealing with flooding in the  
northern part of the state.