[MDC-EC] Maryland-DC Section FSD-96 SEC Report - October 2012

[Jim Montgomery]

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
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ARRL Section: Maryland-DC               Month:   October         Year: 2012
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 629
Change since last month: -13

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 6
Number of ARES nets active: 16
Number with NTS liaison: 6

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: N3SEO, AJ3X, N3SB, KB3FMJ, WB3KAS, W3JCT.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 22
Person hours: 222

Number of public service events this month: 8
Person hours: 298

Number of emergency operations this month: 6
Person hours: 618

Total number of ARES operations this month: 36
Total Person hours: 1138

Comments:

BACO

On October 26, BaCo ACS was placed on alert in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy and remained on alert until 0800 hours, October 29th. While on alert BaCo personnel monitored county frequencies, participated in situation update conferences and routinely provided situation updates on BaCo Tactical Channels. 

>From 0800 hours, October 29th through 0800 hours October 30, BaCo ACS personnel were deployed to the County EOC and county shelters to provide backup and supplemental communications support.

BaCo ACS informational and training nets are held weekly on Wednesdays at 1930 hours on the K3HT repeater, 145.330 and the W3DHS D-Star repeater, 145.140.


Carroll County:

Emergency Operation: Communications support for Hurricane Sandy. Operators supported the EOC, and two shelters in Carroll County.

Our weekly ARES net is held on Tuesdays at 8:30 PM on 145.410 MHz.


Garrett County

The Garrett County ARES monthly meeting was held on June 11th. This month the GC ARES group operated a special Morris code only event at the Oakland Train Station Operating out of a caboose car at the historic train station our members made several code only contacts. The demonstration also served as a public awareness event with Morris code training sessions set up for the public to try their hand at Morris code.

During hurricane Sandy the ARES group monitored the local ARES net frequencies and reported into the MEPN.

The Garrett County ARES (GCARES) monthly meetings will be held at the Garrett County Southern Rescue Squad located on route 135 east of Oakland Maryland. The next meeting will be Monday October 8th at 7:00 PM.

The GCARES net is held weekly on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM on the 146.805 repeater, dup PL 123 and is linked to the WAN and Target Link Repeater Systems. All traffic is FM voice.


Prince George's County:

PRGE ARES Web Page: http://www.pgares.org

PRGE ARES Internet Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PG-AresRaces/

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 3rd Monday of the month at the Fire Services Building, 6820 Webster St, Landover Hills, MD at 1930. Eyeball QSOs at 1900.

October 13: PRGE ARES supported the State’s Attorney’s Annual Crime Victim’s Fund Run in
College Park. We asked for ten operators to support the cause and 12 came out for the event. AB3NA, WB3KAS, KB3NJK, W3WFM, KA3YPY, KA3AHI (Net Control), N3XL, NX3SS, KB3BXT, N3JBX, WV3D, KB3WNE.

October 27: Held a Winlink 2000 refresher session focusing on Peer-to-Peer in preparation for the impending hurricane. AA3WS, WB3KAS, N3ADF, NX3SS.

October 29: Snowicane Sandy - While the county did not activate ARES®, the EC call up the net at 1332L with N3XKJ as NCS. The following supported the net throughout the evening: NX3SS, WB3KAS, KA3AHI, WB2IFS, KB3IIE, KB3CFC, N3ADF, KD3JA, KJ4ACS, KB3UYZ, W3WIM, N3WYG, WA3DVO, KB1WCD, AA3WS, KD5ENP, KB3VWG, K3HU, KB3BXT, KB1WCD.

Three county shelters were opened but no comms required of ARES.


Wicomico County

Wicomico RACES/ARES was activated Sunday Oct 28, 2012 for Hurricane SANDY. Deactivated on Tuesday 

October 30, 2012. ARES members staffed the Wicomico County EOC and Wicomico Shelter at the new Bennett High School as part of the Red Cross communications team.
Local Net: Delmarva Amateur Radio Enhancement Net every Monday night at 9:00 p.m.  The DAR Net is sponsored by the Delmarva Amateur Radio Club which is now an ARRL Affiliated group operating a repeater on 146.820 MHz PL 156.7 Hz.
  
Wicomico County RACES/ARES participated in the MEMA Communications Exercise drill on October 9. 

Wicomico County RACES/ARES participated in the post Hurricane SANDY Webinar debriefing November 1.

Signature: Jim Montgomery
Call sign: WB3KAS
Maryland-DC SEC
Email: wb3kas at aol.com
Please send to ARRL HQ, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by 10th of the month
FSD-96 (1-04)