[MDC-EC] Maryland-DC Section FSD-96 SEC Report

[Steve Beckman]

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
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ARRL Section: Maryland-DC               Month:   June           Year: 2012
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 634
Change since last month: 0

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 6
Number of ARES nets active: 26
Number with NTS liaison: 8

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: K3UEZ, WR3F, KB3LJB, WB3KAS, N3QHC, and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 17
Person hours: 159

Number of public service events this month: 2
Person hours: 132

Number of emergency operations this month: 1
Person hours: 20

Total number of ARES operations this month: 20
Total Person hours: 311

Comments:

Anne Arundel County: ARES members supporting the Volunteer Mobilization 
Exercise were N3WOF, KB3KWT, WA5VHU, KB3UDJ, & K3TED.

Prince Georges County: Nets: Held four regularly scheduled training VHF 
nets on 146.61MHz on Tuesdays at 1930L. The monthly HF Hospital Net is held 
the Wednesday following the third Monday of the month on 3820KHz at 1930L. 
Meetings: Monthly meeting held the 3 Monday of the month at the Fire 
Services Building, 6820 Webster St, Landover Hills, MD at 1930. Eyeball 
QSOs at 1900. June 9-10: On June 9-10, 2012, Prince George's County, MD 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service provided bike run communications services 
for the National Capital Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Bike 
MS "Ride the Riverside" from National Harbor, MD. Sixteen Amateur Radio 
operators answering the call from four surrounding counties, Prince 
George's, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's braved ninety degree weather to 
provide a communications link from rest stops along the bike trail back to 
the event Command Center located at National Harbor Security Office. 
Saturday had eight rest stops covering 30, 60 and a 100 mile bike runs 
across two county lines provided the challenge for the operators while 
Sunday had three stops for the 44 mile run. Cost avoidance to the MS 
Society by providing backup emergency communications via the Amateur Radio 
volunteer community versus the commercial sector is on the order of 
$19,650. The equipment used, operator hours spent and travel to and from 
the facilities is provided gratis to the Society by the Prince George's 
County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. A special note of thanks to the 
Southern Maryland Amateur Radio Club for allowing us the use of their 
outstanding repeater coverage on 147.150 (pl 114.8) located in Brandywine, 
MD. Participating radio operators from four counties: AA3WS, AB3NA, KA3AHI, 
KA3GRW, KB3IIE, KB3KOW, KB3NJK, KB3QNT, KB3UYZ, KD3JA, N2OMC, N3IDX, N3QHC, 
N3XL, W1BJC, WB3KAS. June 22-24: 2012 Field Day was held at the American 
Legion Post 66 in Bowie, MD working 4A MDC. The money band for us was a 40m 
wire beam working West. Our PIO PR work resulted in 37 signatures in the FD 
visitors/guest book. Our SM, WI3N, and wife Laurel stopped by at 2202 
Saturday night to review and approve our operations. Great wx, no bugs and 
lots of fun. Participating radio operators proving support in some fashion 
such as loaning equipment, on-the-air operations, or working behind the 
scene: AA3WS, KA3AHI, KA8YPY, KB3IIE, KB3NIK, KB3NJK, KB3QOZ, KB3VWG, 
KD3JA, N3JBX, N3XKJ, NX3SS, W3CB, W3WFM, WA3YTK, WB3KAS. Couldn't have been 
successful without you.

Calvert County: We held only one ARES Net this month and that was on 10M. 
The Sunderland Repeater remains substandard with limited range. Calvert 
County Emergency Manager, Bobby Fenwick, spoke at June's CARA meeting to 
say the County has purchased coax for the tower. He expects installation of 
the new coax within next 90-days. Steve/N3IDX and Dennis/N3QHC provided 
mutual aid to PGRE MS Cycle Event by operating one Rest Stop and assisting 
at another. Wayne/N1WR gave a PP on RMS packet within the county using 
digital communications for accurate and quick messaging. And how MS Outlook 
Emails to served agencies such as the EOC can be sent & received to the 
World Wide Web in case the Internet is down. Our June ARES Meeting guess 
were Jim/WB3KAs & Wanda/KA3AHU Montgomery, EC PRGE and Section SEC. Wanda 
discussed the hospital coalition from what PRGE has accomplished, 6 
hospitals & health department utilizing ARES in that county. She discussed 
the need to practice hospital nets in Region V (STMA, CALV, CHAS, PRGE & 
MONT). There are some planned hospital nets that CALV can accompany 
operators from other counties to gather information if & when CMH & CCHD 
come online. Wanda finished by mentioning some things happening at the 
State level with Hygiene & Mental Health including to-go kits which were to 
be distributed to all health departments statewide for ARES. Our Field Day 
was quite successful with a number of hams and visitors watching and 
participating in the event.

Howard County: On Saturday, June 9th, the Howard County Office of Emergency 
Management alerted an Assistant RACES Officer that the County's 911 service 
had failed and that we should alert as many operators as we could in 
preparation for manning the County's fire stations.  Using email, a 
telephone tree, and announcement on the 147.135 repeater we were able to 
contact 19 operators, with more than sufficient number of them able to man 
all fire stations expeditiously.  The alert came in at 1210 and we were 
allowed to stand down at 1350 when the County was satisfied that its first 
backup system was functioning satisfactorily.

Cecil County: On Saturday, July 7, the Cecil ARES group will be providing 
bicycle course monitors and communications in support of the Diamond In The 
Rough Triathlon held every year in, and through, Perryville and Port 
Deposit, MD.  Coming up Sunday, August 12, is the North East Maryland 
Triathlon.  Our group has been asked to provide bicycle course monitors and 
communications for that event as well.  We can always use help for these 
events.  The Cecil County ARES group holds a weekly net every Sunday 
evening at 2000 local on the WA3SFJ repeater (146.850- PL 107.2).  All 
within earshot of the repeater are invited to join in regardless of ARES 
membership.  Following the net we have a Swap Shop "net" where hams are 
invited to list their ham-radio-related items for sale or trade.

Signature: Steve Beckman
Call sign: N3SB
Email: n3sb at qis.net

Please send to ARRL HQ, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by 10th of the month
FSD-96 (1-04)