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

[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: 7
Number of ARES nets active: 16


Number with NTS liaison: 5
Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: K3UEZ, N3SEO, AJ3X, N3SB, KB3FMJ, WB3KAS, W3JCT.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 23
Person hours: 229

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

Number of emergency operations this month: 7
Person hours: 636

Total number of ARES operations this month: 38
Total Person hours: 1163

Comments:

ALLE

We here in Allegany were spared the major, industrial strength mess everyone in the cities 
had. At 1630 hours, Monday, we were contacted by the Allegany Chief of Emergency 
Management who requested the RACES station at EOC W3YMW be readied for service. 
AEC Randy KB3VJO put the station on the air at 1730. I stayed at my own QTH and put our 
ARES-RACES net in standby mode. We were working through our local repeaters, had real 
time contact with MEMA via KK3L's 146.746 and links, and were in contact with SEC Mike 
N7NMS via Echolink and the local 146.88 machine. At about 2000 hours, Ron AB3HG 
assumed the operator position at W3YMW and stayed until the EOC stood down and 
secured around 2330 hours. 
 
During the course of the evening we lost five area repeaters due to power outage, but we 
were still operable on those with batteries and a generator. AEC Terry WX3M and Pat KK3F 
also stood by during the event at their high elevation stations.
 
Meanwhile, AEC Dave AB3FE ran the Skywarn net from about 1900 to 2230 when we lost 
power to the 147.24 machine.
 
That's the long and short, and I'm delighted in the service rendered by those mentioned as 
well as others who checked in with us and offered their help.
 
Did any of us suffer personal damage? I've not heard of any injuries to our ARES members, 
but I know that Jack N3IFN lost his tower and Ed N3UNM lost his entire antenna farm. But at 
least we're safe and well.


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)