[MDC-EC] SET 2009 Plans

[n3sb at qis.net]

Gentlemen;

There are plans being made to conduct a Simulated Emergency Test on  
Saturday October 3 at the Atlantic Division level. We're working on an  
exercise scenario that involves as many ARES members as possible, as  
well as being an event that non-ARES members can monitor easily to see  
what we're all about. There's a lot of excitement in the Division  
about this idea - which is a good thing because we've got a lot of  
work to do!

We've already conducted one webinar for the Division ECs and SECs to  
kick this idea around, and we're going to have another one later this  
week. There was a lot of very good discussion about how we'd handle an  
incident that affected large portions of the mid-Atlantic region; how  
we'd handle the resource issues, and set up effective communications  
channels. We also had some discussion about how we'd handle our  
response in a NIMS compliant manner.

We even had some hopes that served agencies could also listen in, but  
we're not all that certain that this first Division-Level SET will go  
smoothly, so we're considering a second exercise sometime later to  
invite served agencies to.

Most of the sections are on-board and excited about doing this; the  
few that aren't are upset that they already have commitments to  
exercise with one or more of their customers on that date, and wish  
that we could reschedule! However, they'll plan on getting involved  
when we conduct our second exercise.

Accordingly, those of you who have already made prior arrangements  
should continue with your original plans, and we'll get you involved  
for the second exercise.

To get started with the planning here in MDC - I will be putting  
together an ICS-205 Incident Radio Communications Plan for the  
Section, which will list all the Primary ARES frequencies being used.  
I will also be putting together an updated contact listing, and  
getting both of these documents out to you. These will also be shared  
with the other Sections in our Division.

For now - be sure your teams have current detailed ICS-205 frequency  
lists for your area. Be sure you have and distribute the above ICS-205  
and contact listing, and that you know how to reach all via email,  
phone, NTS, radio, etc. Also be sure your team members have a current  
copy of their FCC license in their wallet.

73; Steve, N3SB
SEC-MDC