[MDC-EC] Inauguration Update

[n3sb at qis.net]

Folks;

The note below is from David A. Lane, KG4GIY, EC/RO Prince William County
ARES®/RACES. It outlines the five basic missions that he needs to be supported
by ARES, for the Presidential Inauguration. Details for each mission include
location, mission duration, operator, and equipment requirements. There are
still a number of details that need to be worked out, but this is a whole lot
more than what we had before.

Besides the five missions David listed in his bote below, there may also be a
need for additional operators to support Hospital Communications in Prince
Georges County. Dan Blasberg KA8YPY, who is the EC in PG County,  will advise
as soon as he has determined if he needs additional help.

This event will give ARES members a great opportunity to work with other ARES
volunteers in both Maryland and Virginia. ARES is making a significant and
valuable contribution to this inauguration, which in itself is an event of a
lifetime. I believe that everyone who participates will remember this event for
a long time, and those we help will remember what Amateur Radio did for them.

Please disseminate this to your ARES members, and try to obtain firm commitments
from those willing to help. Information needed will be:

a) Name
b) Call Sign
c) Referring EC
d) Mission Preference (if any)
e) Time available

I will collect together whatever you get to me, and whatever comes in directly
to me, and pass the information along to David. Right now we're going to need a
lot more operators to staff this event properly.

73; Steve, N3SB

--------- Begin note from David Lane KG4GIY---------

Good morning,

As most of you are aware, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 is Inauguration Day
and Washington, DC will be playing host to the world.  And on this
historic occasion, it would seem, depending on which report you read,
like the world will be coming to visit.

Over the past few weeks, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, both in
and outside Prince William County have been assessing plans, support
requests and studying implementation efforts.  Many of the details are
sketchy at best so far, despite a year's worth of meetings at the
Federal level, and much is still a mystery and will remain that way
right up until the actual end of the event.  In many cases, we are
dealing with a lot of "it depends" right now.

I wanted to make you aware of some of the missions that ARES is involved
in for this event for two reasons.  First, if you would like to join
ARES, now is a great time to do so.  There are a lot of exciting new
things happening in Prince William and regionally, the Inauguration
being just the first.  Secondly, because January 20 is a work day for
many, I am finding the PWCARES cadre stretched to the point that if
something bad were to happen, We would find myself short of manpower and
need to call on folks to help.  In the event of a real emergency, I have
always been impressed by the number of amateurs that step up to the
plate and participate, and in this case, advance notice is sometimes
half the battle.

So, with that in mind, here are some of the details and some of the
missions we find ourselves faced with.  If you would like to help out
with any of them, please contact me directly.

1) Support for RFK stadium.  This is a general request for ANY amateur
radio operator.  The MDC section needs 20-30 operators for shifts at the
RFK parking lot on January 20 to be the eyes and ears in the crowd
looking for medical emergencies as 10,000 (yes, 10,000) buses are
expected to be parked there and their passengers transfered to shuttles
to the Mall and other locations.  The first shift starts at 0400.
Dual-band HTs and spare batteries are the only radio requirements. You
will be outside, so dress appropriately.

2) Support for Potomac Hospital.  This is a general request for amateur
radio support.  ARES training would be beneficial but not strictly
required.  There will be at least two operators on each shift beginning
at 0700.  Radios will be provided.  Ideally I would like to have four
shifts of two operators but I am currently planning for two shifts of
two.  If you are able or would like to help, I would encourage you to
attend the ARES training on Saturday, January 10, beginning at 0900 at
the EOC where we will have a review of the radios and functionality
before doing a field test.

3) Regional Net Control.  This is a general request for experienced NCS
operators. Prince William County will be responsible for several 2 hour
shifts at the regional level on either the 146.910 or 147.105 machines.
Being able to hit those machines is a requirement.  A second radio
capable of hitting either the Manassas or Woodbridge repeater would also
be helpful.   If you are able to help, I would encourage you to attend
the ARES training on Saturday, January 10, and stay for the regional
exercise to be conducted at 1300.  Operation from your home is
preferable on the 20th.

4) EOC-to-EOC communications.  Fairfax County will staff their EOC with
two operators for the duration of the event.  At this time there is no
requirement from Prince William to do so, but it might come up.  Only
ARES members who have been CLEARED are eligible (you have a red box
around your photo on your badge if you have been cleared).  Neither
Manassas or Manassas Park have indicated the need for operators at this
time.

5) Shelter communications.  This is the part where I say, I hope it does
not need to happen.  At this point, shelters are a very real possibility
around the region from every thing from a bus crash to people being "in
limbo" in their attempts to get out of the District.  If shelters are
required, we could get very little notice to provide operators.

In all cases, operators should be prepared for the weather, be
self-sufficient, and where possible own a dual band HT and be familiar
with its operation.  In the case of the hospitals and the EOCs at Prince
William and Manassas City, we have radios and antennas in place.  Other
locations will require a deployment kit consisting at least of a radio,
antenna and some form of power supply.

If you are available or have a specific mission you would like to
undertake, please let me know soonest so I can make my plans.