From dick at twohams.com  Sun Oct  2 01:30:24 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sun Oct  2 01:40:25 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] ARES E-Letter for October 01, 2005
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20051001222745.044d4d60@mail.greatbasin.net>

=================					
The ARES E-Letter
October 1, 2005
=================					

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

=================================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>
=================================================

As this is being written, the League's Chief Operating Officer Harold
Kramer, WJ1B, is testifying in Washington, D. C. on behalf of the
ARRL before The United States House of Representatives, Committee on
Energy and Commerce, The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the
Internet. The name of the hearing is "Public Safety Communications
 From 9/11 to Katrina: Critical Public Policy Lessons." See
<http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/09292005hearing1648/hea
ring.htm> Mr. Kramer is testifying on the successful efforts of
Amateur Radio operators who provided communications during the
Katrina event, "when all else failed."

Kramer said "I am honored to be chosen to provide this testimony and
I am proud of Amateur Radio's and our (ARRL) role in the Katrina
relief effort."

Good luck to our "ARES Man in Washington" today.
___________________

It seems that the Gulf Coast has drawn the majority of the ire of
Mother Nature this hurricane season, as did the Florida peninsula
last season. We here on the east central Florida coast breathe a
collective sigh of relief when westward-heading storms pass to the
south or north of us, then watch in horror and with sympathy as the
devastation is visited on our neighbors up the eastern seaboard or
Gulf.  It is a tough time of year for us here in the southeast and
south central parts of the country. The following Hurricane Rita
summary was culled from e-mail reports and especially the proceedings
of daily teleconferences sponsored by ARRL and conducted by HQ
staffer Steve Ewald, WV1X, with affected section ARES officials -
K1CE

==========================
IN THIS ISSUE:

+ Hurricane Rita
+ VoIP Hurricane Net Activates For Hurricane Rita
+ ARES Counting Cars
+ Letters From Katrina: From DEC Tom Hammack, W4WLF
+ Katrina Relief Operators Still Needed In Mississippi
+ Thanks To Katrina Outsiders Coming In; Points To Ponder
+ FEMA Courses On Amateur Radio Resources; ICS/NIMS Training
+ IARU Region 2 Working Group On Emergency Communications Established
+ ARRL An NGO?
+ Feedback On Interoperability And MARS
+ Final Note: The Best Radio Service
=========================

+ HURRICANE RITA

Texas

South Texas SEC Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, reported that hurricane Rita
decreased in intensity and moved eastward prior to landfall near
Cameron, Louisiana. This greatly diminished storm effects in
southeast Texas, with the exception of Orange County. Approximately
2.7 million people evacuated the area prior to the storm's arrival;
included in the mandatory evacuation areas were five ARES Emergency
Coordinators, one District Emergency Coordinator, and nearly all ARES
registrants, which left some county EOCs without operators. In
defiance of mandatory orders, some operators remained behind, and
were heard on HF following passage of the storm.

The storm effects in the greater Houston area resulted from 40-70 mph
winds. Reimer said communication infrastructure was left largely
intact. The Red Cross reported 86 shelters open, holding 15,000
people.  Many ARES operators had been pre-positioned at critical
facilities in the area, including police sub-stations and hospitals.
ARES operators remained on duty at the state EOC in Austin, Harris
County EOC, Houston Emergency Center, and state DEM regional
headquarters Disaster District Committee (DDC). The West Gulf ARES HF
emergency net continued in 24-hour operation.

An Austin ARES operator who pulled his 30-foot travel trailer 150
miles, arriving around midnight Friday, September 23, met a last
minute request for an additional HF station at the state's DDC.  Not
permitted inside the building, he operated his HF station with the
screwdriver antenna on his pickup truck.

On September 24, Harris County emergency management requested ARES
provide reports of traffic volume on the major highways leading back
into the county. The procedure to accomplish this was developed by
District EC Ken Mitchell, KD2KW [see his story later in this issue],
and sent via Winlink to the North and South Texas Section Managers
for mass distribution to ARRL members via E-mail. Winlink proved
highly useful at the Harris County EOC.

NTX SEC Bill Swan, K5MWC, said that two North Texas ARES members went
to Jasper, Texas, to assist the Salvation Army. Swan expected more
radio amateurs would be needed when cities were opened for returning
evacuees.

STX SM Ray Taylor, N5NAV, emphasized that late September heat in
Texas make things difficult and uncomfortable for everyone working in
the relief operations. Operators willing to help should keep those
hot conditions in mind before volunteering, Taylor said. Operators
were also reminded that they should be self-sufficient with food,
water, and camping gear for their travel to, and operation in, the
affected areas.

Nets handled much of the relief effort information and service: 3873
kHz (eves); 3935 kHz (eves); 7285 kHz (days); and 7290 kHz (days).


Louisiana

Louisiana SEC Gary Stratton, K5GLS, reported that following the
passage of Hurricane Rita, DEC Alan Levine, WA5LQZ, in Lake Charles,
assessed communication needs and regional assets before ARES members
were sent from other areas of the state. Stratton had lost power and
Internet service early Saturday morning, September 24, but he was
aware that local ARES members were handling initial communication
requests and needs. First responders entered Cameron Parish, and ARES
was asked to accompany the sheriffs and Louisiana State Police to
support them with communications.

Later in the week, floodwaters were beginning to recede and most of
the shelters were equipped with working telephone service,
electricity, and running water, reported Al Oubre, K5DPG. Louisiana's
800 MHz trunking system managed to stay up through the hurricane
also, Oubre said.

As areas that were strongly hit by Rita opened up, chances for a call
for outside mutual assistance increased. Radio amateurs who lived
north of Interstate 10 were returning to their homes and getting on
the air again to assist with the relief effort.


+ VOIP HURRICANE NET ACTIVATES FOR HURRICANE RITA

[The following report comes from Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Net Manager for
VoIP Hurricane Net Activations, the Eastern Massachusetts SEC, and
SKYWARN Coordinator for the large National Weather Service (NWS)
facility at Taunton, Massachusetts.]

The VoIP Hurricane Net activated for Hurricane Rita on September 23
to coincide with the activation of WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station
at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. The net's
goal is to connect amateurs in the affected areas with EOCs, National
Weather Service offices and the National Hurricane Center for passage
of emergency traffic, weather reports and damage assessments.

Net control stations came from a variety of ARRL sections including
Eastern Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida sections, and
Minnesota. International stations also participated, including
operators from Australia's Wireless Institute Civil Emergency
Network, ARES' counterpart there. The use of international stations
facilitated 24-hour operation of the net.

Using radio systems and repeaters linked to the Internet, amateurs
from eastern Texas and western Louisiana were able to pass important
traffic.  For example, amateurs in north Texas RACES had a request
for amateurs to assist with shelter operations there as evacuees from
the eastern Texas coastline were displaced as far north as the
Dallas-Fort Worth area. An amateur from Cleobourne, Texas, responded
to the call, and worked with the requesting amateur to supply more
amateurs for those shelter operations.	

Emergency operation centers and National Weather Service Forecast
Offices were active on the net, including the Nacogdoches (TX) EOC,
through the efforts of Kevin Anderson, KD5WX. The National Weather
Service station WX5FWD in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, was active, as
was NWS station WR5GC in Houston, and station K5SHV in Shreveport,
Louisiana.

Southwest Louisiana was the first area to receive the worst
conditions from Hurricane Rita on Friday evening, September 23. An
amateur there, Heath Roberts, KE5FRF, of Denham Springs, provided
information on significant tree and power line damage Friday night
directly from the Lake Charles Police Department.

Other damage reports and observed weather data came in steadily. Flo
Garneau, WM6V, reported that the glass emergency room doors of the
Livingston Memorial Hospital in Livingston, Texas, were blown out.
She also reported that the Timber Creek School in Livingston lost
part of its roof; the school was sheltering 280 people. Many similar
ARES weather and damage reports were passed over the net for the
benefit of public safety.

The ability to connect EchoLink PC users, EchoLink and IRLP repeaters
and links via the same system offers great flexibility in obtaining
reports from amateurs in the affected areas. EchoLink and IRLP
provide more "tools in the toolbox" for the ARES emergency
communicator.
________________________

[Julio Ripoll, WD4R, a long-time veteran operator and manager of the
Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center added the
following.]

"Without the EchoLink and IRLP modes used on the VoIP Hurricane Net
we would not have received some of these vital reports. Especially
the reports sent in by Flo, WM6V, who was very resourceful in using a
dual-band mobile radio on emergency power from the hospital. Flo not
only gave us information of the status of her hospital, but also was
able to monitor the local EOC traffic in her town of Livingston,
Texas, on UHF and then relay information outside of her local area
using IRLP. This information was posted at the NHC for the Hurricane
Forecasters as well as the FEMA Office that is located inside the NHC
bunker next to our radio room and monitors many of our reports."


+ ARES COUNTING CARS

The Harris County (TX) EOC requested a traffic count from counties
along the major routes leading back into the greater Houston area.
The traffic routes of interest were U.S. Highway 59, Interstate
Highway 45, U.S. Highway 290, and Interstate Highway 10. Radio clubs
and ARES groups in each of these areas were asked to form teams of
local operators to report Houston-bound traffic volumes by counting
the number of cars on these routes for a six-minute period, once per
hour.  The count was to be reported by one individual in the
identified area who had Internet access. The individual collected the
information using local club repeaters and operators assigned to
perform the count. -- District Emergency Coordinator Ken Mitchell,
KD2KW, District 14 (Harris County), ARRL South Texas Section


+ LETTERS FROM KATRINA

[I received this message from DEC Tom Hammack, W4WLF, of Gulfport,
Mississippi. It speaks volumes, and stands by itself. We are proud of
you and your service, Tom.  - K1CE]

"We are shutting down at night from about 10 PM to about 5 or 6 AM.
Otherwise, club station W5SGL and operators are still going at it
almost non-stop. Hopefully after Rita gets by us we can consider
shutting down so I can go home and try to salvage what I can. I am
lucky: only about three to four feet of salt water in the main part
of the house and five to six feet in the lower room. My son's (Don
Hammack, KA5OJQ) house was destroyed. Some things will be salvaged.
Much gear lost. Right now I am living in the EOC bunk room."  - ARES
DEC Tom Hammack, W4WLF


+ KATRINA RELIEF OPERATORS STILL NEEDED IN MISSISSIPPI

Alabama SM Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, situated at the Red Cross staging
area in Montgomery, reported an increasing need for Amateur Radio
operators to fill the communication requirements of Red Cross
shelters and EOCs in southern Mississippi's Harrison, Hancock, and
Jackson counties. SMs and SECs with volunteer radio amateurs should
contact Sarratt at  <DR871-06RTT-RCO3@usa.redcross.org>

Contact information, and the amount of time available for possible
deployment, should be included for each volunteer. The radio amateurs
will be asked to check in at the Red Cross volunteer staging center
in Montgomery to get their assignments and receive orientation.
Sarratt said that the Red Cross center monitors 7280 kHz (days) and
3965 kHz (evenings) to assist HF-equipped mobile operators on Red
Cross/ARES assignment.


+ THANKS TO KATRINA OUTSIDERS COMING IN; POINTS TO PONDER

[Northern Florida's SEC Joe Bushel, W2DWR, has been a key player in
Katrina mutual assistance administration, performing an outstanding
job. Here, he offers thanks and some good after-action points to
ponder, in his own words. --K1CE]

"Many of you in Florida and out of the state who came in to help
showed the true spirit of Amateur Radio, once more. This was not a
disaster at your front door, but that didn't matter. You were there
when you were needed.  Thank you. Your actions make me so proud to be
involved with this "hobby" to which I have given much of my life for
almost fifty years.

"There were mistakes made during this deployment. Some were mine and
I hope I learned from them. Many of you didn't get to go because you
were not self-contained; I was told this was mandatory. However, as
conditions improved, the self-sufficiency requirement was dropped.
Word was not passed to us. We continued to follow the initial
instruction, and volunteers that could have gone in were left out. In
the future, I will get requirements and updates firsthand, through
direct channels, more expeditiously.

"To future volunteers: Follow the instructions of those who are
responsible for your deployment. If you just go on your own, even
though your intentions are good, you may turn out to be part of the
problem. Secondly, before the next emergency, contact your EC and set
up a jump team. This gives you the future benefit of working with
people you already know. It is also easier on the person sending you
if, when you are contacted, you can tell him/her the names and calls
of others who will go with you. Finally, plan ahead.  Set up your
jump kits in advance of the need. A radio may be lost for one bad
coax connector. That radio could have been a critical communications
link. Don't forget tools such as a soldering pencil. It is almost a
guarantee that if you wait until the last minute, you will forget
something that will turn out to be especially needed.

"I am establishing a database of potential future responders. If you
are interested, please send me an email at <w2dwr@arrl.net> and I
will be back in contact."


+ FEMA COURSES ON AMATEUR RADIO RESOURCES; ICS/NIMS TRAINING

Here is a solution to help public officials learn to interface with
Amateur Radio assets: government-approved Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) training course "G250.6 - Workshop: Amateur
Radio Resources." This three- to four-hour workshop is designed to
provide state and local elected officials, emergency managers, and
other public officials with an understanding of how Amateur Radio
volunteer communication groups can help in supplementing
telecommunication and warning systems. Please direct them to the FEMA
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) at
<http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/> to register for this course.
- Carl Zelich, AA4MI, ARRL Southeastern Division Assistant Director,
<aa4mi@arrl.net>

____________

Neal Sacon, N7RX, adds: "The unavailability of local FEMA Incident
Command System /National Incident Management System (ICS/NIMS)
seminars should not deter anyone from undertaking these important
training topics (IS-100, IS-200 and IS-700, as well as other
emergency management courses), as they are available on-line.  See
<http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp > A completion
certificate is issued by FEMA for the on-line courses."


+ IARU REGION 2 WORKING GROUP ON EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED

IARU News: One of the action items to come out of the recent
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Executive Committee
meeting (held in Mexico City) is the establishment of a Working Group
on Emergency Communications (WGEC). The committee has an open agenda,
but one of the goals is a survey of emergency communication assets
across Region 2 and consequent recommendations for the Executive
Committee to assist Region 2 Member-Societies in improving their
emergency communication response capabilities.

Veteran international emergency communications planner Noel Donawa,
9Y4NED, of Trinidad and Tobago, will chair the committee. The Region
2 EMCOR and the Emergency Coordination Advisory Group members will
make up the rest of the committee. Region 2 President Rod Stafford,
W6ROD, serves as an ex officio member of the WGEC.


+ ARRL AN NGO?

[The following is a response to John Wallack's, W6TLK, idea of
promoting ARES as an "official" non-government organization (NGO)
with the status of the American Red Cross, for example.]

John, W6TLK, is right. ARES should become an NGO, with the emphasis
on organization. In some parts of the country, ARES is a well-planned
and well-trained machine. With dedicated volunteers equipped and
prepared to respond at any time they are needed, they have introduced
themselves to, and trained with, served agencies. They have become a
useful part of agency emergency response plans.

But in other parts of the country, ARES is only a concept. That is
not enough. To be viable, a group must have a strong program of
training, commitment requirements, and a real plan of action in order
to function in reality.

ARES needs national program enhancements as well. ARRL should issue
official credentials for ARES members recognized by the Department of
Homeland Security and Emergency Management in all states, after
passing FEMA's national incident management system training, ARRL's
Level 1 ARECC (EC-001) course, and an FBI background check. Annual
training on mustering and responding to an emergency should be
required for credential renewal. ARES members should be issued a
universally recognized uniform.

Once we get it together along the lines suggested above, it will be
easier for us to become a real NGO. -- Mark Conklin, N7XYO

_____________

[More on ARRL as an NGO follows.]

I have been involved in emergency situations here in New Mexico for
most of my adult life. I got my ham ticket because it allowed me to
communicate over a wide area while directing search operations. The
best way to let agencies know about our capabilities is to work with
them in quiet times. Then, when the emergency evolves, we are
integrated into the official response. During the Cerro Grande fire
in 2001, the only complete linkage among the agencies was via Amateur
Radio. We mustered 117 people for ten days.

The idea of casting ARES as an NGO should have been thought of a long
time ago. Since so many agencies think of us as on the fringe, we
need to promote our professionalism. - Bob Skaggs, KB5RX


+ FEEDBACK ON INTEROPERABILITY AND MARS

[In the last issue, we published an item on interoperability and
programming amateur hand-helds for use in other services. The
following is a response from a Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
operator. We will publish a definitive answer in the next issue. -
K1CE]

MARS operators use standard Amateur Radio equipment that is modified
to the manufacturer's specifications to open them up for all
frequency operation. We, MARS operators, are professional enough to
carefully stay within our frequency allocations and we do not wander
around on adjacent frequencies. It's a shame that a service as old
and as revered as MARS has to be degraded in peoples' eyes with
implications such as this.

We are perfectly capable of being radio amateurs and we are fully
trained to be MARS operators. It is being considered to include MARS
within the Homeland Security department to ensure that if/when
another hurricane like Katrina comes to pass, there will be people
capable of filling any communications need. Sure, hams are perfectly
capable of doing this; they have proved themselves multiple times.
But they have to use common frequencies that are subject to
monitoring and interference, where the military frequencies assigned
to MARS are not as well known. Also, we do not have 2-day hams
operating on them.

ARES is great. A large number of us, MARS operators, belong to and
support ARES.  A number of locations also have MOUs between the two
organizations--the best of both worlds. Look into facts before
printing information. - Les Warriner, WA7HAM/NNN0KTM


+ FINAL NOTE: THE BEST RADIO SERVICE

One of the criticisms I hear occasionally is that Amateur Radio
involves old technology and doesn't have much to contribute to the
public safety telecommunication arena anymore. It seems to me that
such criticism is wholly unjustified. Just look at Rob Macedo's
report above in this issue on the Amateur Radio digital and Internet
linking protocols employed during Hurricane Rita action. They worked
fantastically and represent the state of the art. Coupled with our
tried and true "old technology," I think that Amateur Radio is hard
to beat as the premier radio service to be involved in any emergency
response. We should start thinking more of ourselves in this regard,
and not selling our service short to served agencies. We are the best
radio service for disaster/public safety telecommunication need,
period. End of story. - K1CE

======================================================================
The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
President.

The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES).

Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit
must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay
League.

Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce@arrl.net
Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy@arrl.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
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registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter,
W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The
ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at:
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Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page.
Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you like
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Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at
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publication.
======================================================================


From dick at twohams.com  Thu Oct  6 21:47:13 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Oct  6 21:58:48 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] Mass Care: An Overview
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20051006184554.02b54f98@mail.greatbasin.net>


---- Begin forwarded message ----
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 13:02:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: GARY F GRANT <gfg@scsr.nevada.edu>
Subject: Mass Care: An Overview

I'll be instructing this class Wednesday, October 12 from 7 - 10 PM at
Northern Nevada Chapter Red Cross, 1190 Corporate Blvd. in Reno.
Telephone 775-856-1000 or register on line at www.nevada.redcross.org

73, Gary K7VY

---- End forwarded message ---- 


From pcavnar at g-m-i.net  Fri Oct 14 13:04:43 2005
From: pcavnar at g-m-i.net (Paul Cavnar)
Date: Fri Oct 14 13:05:48 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] WeatherNV - Washoe County
Message-ID: <1f517c23f9fcbfc95a5062f9cf204720434fe622@g-m-i.net>

.STRONG SO. WINDS EXPECTED THIS EVENING & OVERNIGHT.

.A PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO N. CA THIS EVENING & ACROSS WESTERN NV
OVERNIGHT. SO. TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT THIS
AFTERNOON. LOCAL GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL OCCUR ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE
SIERRA & IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR AS THE COLD
FRONT PASSES THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE LATE EVENING & OVERNIGHT.

SURPRISE VALLEY CA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS- EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER
LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO- CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-NORTHERN WASHOE
COUNTY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.CEDARVILLE.EAGLEVILLE.
FORT BIDWELL.PORTOLA.SUSANVILLE.WESTWOOD.SIERRAVILLE.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE.TAHOE CITY.TRUCKEE.MARKLEEVILLE.
GLENBROOK.INCLINE VILLAGE.SPARKS.VERDI.GARDNERVILLE.
EMPIRE.GERLACH
944 AM PDT FRI OCT 14 2005

.HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PDT SATURDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN RENO HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING.WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PDT SATURDAY. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT. 

SOUTHWEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS WILL DEVELOP EARLY
THIS EVENING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT PASSES THROUGH
THE REGION.LOCAL GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL OCCUR. EVEN STRONGER GUSTS ARE
POSSIBLE IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 395. GUSTS OVER 100 MPH CAN
BE EXPECTED ALONG THE SIERRA CREST THIS EVENING.

PATIO FURNITURE & OTHER LOOSE OBJECTS SHOULD BE SECURED FROM THE STRONG
WINDS. BOATERS ON AREA LAKES SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ROUGH WATERS AS WINDS
INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON & EVENING.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR
OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR
MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE & VERY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

$$

CAZ073-150045-

MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.BRIDGEPORT.COLEVILLE.LEE VINING.
MAMMOTH LAKES
944 AM PDT FRI OCT 14 2005

.HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PDT SATURDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN RENO HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING.WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PDT SATURDAY. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT. 

SOUTHWEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS WILL DEVELOP EARLY
THIS EVENING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT PASSES THROUGH
THE REGION.LOCAL GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL OCCUR. EVEN STRONGER GUSTS ARE
POSSIBLE IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 395. RIDGE WINDS OVER 100
MPH ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE SIERRA CREST OVERNIGHT.

PATIO FURNITURE & OTHER LOOSE OBJECTS SHOULD BE SECURED FROM THE STRONG
WINDS. BOATERS ON AREA LAKES SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ROUGH WATERS AS WINDS
INCREASE THIS EVENING.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR
OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR
MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE & VERY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

$$

NVZ004-150045-
WESTERN NV BASIN & RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES
OF.FERNLEY.FALLON.LOVELOCK.
SILVER SPRINGS.NIXON.IMLAY
944 AM PDT FRI OCT 14 2005

.BLOWING DUST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM PDT
SATURDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN RENO HAS ISSUED A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY.WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY. 

STRONG SW WINDS AROUND 20 TO 40 MPH WITH CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST & SAND
TO DEVELOP IN EXPOSED VALLEY AREAS EARLY THIS EVENING & OVERNIGHT.

A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY MEANS THAT BLOWING DUST WILL RESTRICT VISIBILITIES
TO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE. TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION
ESPECIALLY ALONG I80 & HIGHWAYS 50 & 95 IN THE FALLON & LOVELOCK AREAS.

$$

NVZ001-150045-
MINERAL & S. LYON COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.HAWTHORNE.YERINGTON.SMITH VALLEY.
MINA.SCHURZ
944 AM PDT FRI OCT 14 2005

.WIND ADVISORY EXTENDED FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY.

THE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
8 AM PDT SATURDAY. 

SOUTHWEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 35 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS WILL DEVELOP EARLY
THIS EVENING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT PASSES THROUGH
THE REGION.LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL OCCUR. 

PATIO FURNITURE & OTHER LOOSE OBJECTS SHOULD BE SECURED FROM THE STRONG
WINDS. LOCAL AREAS OF BLOWING DUSTS MAY OCCUR IN EXPOSED VALLEY LOCATIONS.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS OF 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED.
WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT.ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

$$


From kb7reo at yahoo.com  Fri Oct 14 15:30:19 2005
From: kb7reo at yahoo.com (Glenn KB7REO)
Date: Fri Oct 14 15:30:59 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] Fwd: IRLP 9250 or 9258 for JOTA is OK
Message-ID: <20051014193019.54268.qmail@web34313.mail.mud.yahoo.com>



--- W7AOR <w7aor@narri.org> wrote:

> From: "W7AOR" <w7aor@narri.org>
> To: <EchoIRLP@yahoogroups.com>,
> 	<irlp@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: IRLP 9250 or 9258 for JOTA is OK
> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:53:38 -0700
> 
> Ok to call "CQ Jamboree" on IRLP 9250, the main
> channel of the Western
> Reflector or channel 8 (9258) which is cross linked
> to Echo link Conf Server
> NV-GATE (152566) 24/7. Just connect to either side
> to hear and talk to both
> sides. Two systems for the price of one. Could be
> very good for JOTA if
> linked to a chain of Echo link servers (which I can
> do).
>  
> 9252 is where we play NASA feed when there is a STS
> or ISS event and by the
> way AO-51 will be operating two cross-band repeaters
> for the scouts see
> http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php
> . I would like to pick
> up world wide feeds from AO-51 and play into one of
> my reflector channels.
> Since there is more bandwidth than time in space,
> full time feeds into a
> VoIP conf bridge has not happened from space, but it
> will. It is such a easy
> natural. That means that a HT QSO with space is
> possible via your local VoIP
> bridge and AO-51 or ISS repeaters. One could get a
> call from Space via VoIP.
> Anyone in NASA or AMSAT out there who is willing to
> work on this with me? 
> 
> Kent W7AOR
> www.narri.org 
> 
> 


Southern NV ARES DEC
LVRS President
Spotter HN-3
http://www.cvrc.net/ares
http://www.qsl.net/lvr-skywarn
From dick at twohams.com  Fri Oct 21 11:59:26 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Fri Oct 21 12:02:02 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] Monthly Nevada Section News Summary
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20051021085811.03593988@mail.greatbasin.net>

Hi all!

This is a summary of the Nevada Section news currently found on the
Nevada Section Website at http://nv.arrl.org. Please see the website
for the complete stories.

October 11, 2005 - ARES Monthly Report

SEC SUMMARY: Following Hurricanes Katrina and the Rita, amateur
volunteers provided some much-needed communications in Louisiana,
Mississippi and then Texas. The Section ARES HF Net continues with
light participation though propagation has been good throughout Nevada.
I would like to express deep thanks and gratitude for all of our Nevada
resources who stepped up and volunteered to help those in need. - de
KQ6FM

SOUTHERN ARES DISTRICT REPORT: ARES members had been expecting to be
activated to provide comms. support for NV Red Cross shelters for
hurricane evacuees. However no activations. Progress on 2m/440 radio
installed at DECs new residence in Tonopah. SET Planning continues for
October. This will coincide with the exercise comms. test planned witih
Clark County OEM on October 6. Charlie, AA5QJ and Jerry, KC6ILH aid in
the planning. On Sept. 23-25, South Nye County members assisted with
the Endurance riders event. Long hours, but worth the effort. Clark
County provided some Hurricane relief support. Dan AA7I and Dudley,
KK7IF deployed with the NV Task Force I Urban Search and Rescue Team to
New Orleans. Ken, W7BES deployed with FEMA to Meridian, MS and Andy,
N7SGV with Red Cross. Members participated in the Cirque du Soll 5K run
benefiting the Center for Independent Living and the Silver State
Classic Challenge, open road race from Lund to Hiko. Charlie, AA5QJ
also attended several seminars at Southwestern Division Convention in
Riverside, CA. Sadly, two members became silent keys. Chet Brothers,
WA7VHP and Al HessA, KD6DYZ. Our deepest condolences to their families
and friends.

NORTHEAST ARES DISTRICT REPORT: The Elko Amateur Radio Club reports
that they have rerouted the link path to the 147.270 repeater in
Jackpot through Wells. ARES communication support for the Elko Velo
Lamoille Canyon Hill Climb Bicycel race was provided on Saturday,
September 17. USFS personnel were impressed with the Amateur
communication capabilities in the canyon, compared with cellular and
the their own Federal system. They stated that the presence of
professional communication personnel added credibility to the race, and
made it a much safer event.

NORTHWEST ARES DISTRICT REPORT: As with Southern District, Washoe
County was to have received several hundred evacuees from Hurricane
Katrina. The very morning they were supposed to arrive, Operation Open
Arms in this area was cancelled. 2 shelters were to have been set up
along with Red Cross chapter HQ, with amateur support. Thanks to
Northwest DEC Doug Abramson, KA7FOO, Washoe County EC Fred Hunt,
WA6GOG, AEC to Washoe County EOC - Max Cornell, K0MC and Gary Grant,
K7VY with the Red Cross Reno for their efforts in planning and staging.
Washoe members also participated in Tahoe/Sierra Century Bike Ride. It
was put together by Kevin, KE7BQX and Roy AK7CQ as a Washoe ARES
project. Douglas County EC/ASEC Dick Creley, KJ7UK reports preparations
underway for an October 8 SET. Lyon County EC Harry Bryant, KC7HVM
reports that LCARES was called out to assist with an evacuation in
Fernley due to a fuel tanker fire at a truck stop just off Highway 80.
Harry along with Bob, KE7ATZ responded. About 50 evacuees for several
hours. Lyon County staff and Red Cross on scene, and food provided by
Meals on Wheels. Great job by all involved. - de KA7FOO

October 5, 2005 - The 7th Call Area QSO Party has officially been
launched and will have its first running on May 6-7, 2006. We have a
full compliment of enthusiastic state coordinators who expect it to
become a premier operating event. Please see the 7QP website for
details.

October 3, 2005 - WADG Club Newsletter WADG has rehosted their website.
WADG is experimenting with the idea of offering a bi-weekly edition of
the club newsletter, the Printed Circuit , via email for club members.
WADG did their yearly concession stand at a UNR football game and
apparently a good time was had by all.

October 3, 2005 - At the Reno QRP Club lunch, Van, W7IEX, displayed and
discussed his recently constructed keyer... A salute to Donn, our
webmaster, for attaining his 50th year as a licensed Ham. Donn, W7DAF,
is interested in a Half-Century Wireless Association... There was also
some discussion on Glen Zook's, K9STH, "Static Brush" for use on
antenna/tower structures to reduce the probability of a lightning
hit... Glenn, WB6W, Nevada Section Webmaster and ARRL Club Corodinator
was our guest at the September lunch. He is a QRP type dude !! BIG
thank you to Glenn for dropping by...

October 3, 2005 - Senator Reid responded to the letter of August 16
asking for his position on S.1236, the Amateur Radio Spectrum
Protection Act of 2005. The senator did not take a stand for or against
S.1236. In his words: "I understand the importance of amateur radio
communication services, particularly in times of emergencies or
disasters when other means of communications may not be available.
Please be assured that I will remain mindful of this should I have the
opportunity to review these measures."

October 1, 2005 -  Today we introduce the new Nevada Section ARES web
page. The page was previously hosted by the Carson Valley Radio Club
and we are very greatful to them. The new page is properly part of the
Nevada section web site and is accessed by clicking on the "Nevada
ARES" button in the bingo board.

September 29, 2005 - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency
Act (HR 3876) Introduced - This bill, if passed, could make it easier
for radio amateurs living in communities with CC&Rs to erect suitable
antennas. The bill itself is short and sweet: "For purposes of the
Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station
antenna structures in the amateur radio services (47 CFR 97.15), any
private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated
as a State or local regulation and shall be subject to the same
requirements and limitations as a State or local regulation." If you
haven't already done so, now would be a great time to write your
representatives in the House and Senate and let them know what you
think about this and other pending legislation.

September 23, 2005 - New Affiliated Clubs! As of July 25, 2005,
Southern Nye County ARES and Virgin Valley ARC of Mesquite NV are
formally affiliated with the ARRL!

September 17, 2005 - SNARS Picnic SNARS is sponsoring a picnic event,
check their calender for details. Note that this same day is the
15-hour Emergency Power Operating Event for stations operating "off the
grid."

September 15, 2005 - The monthly SIERA meeting heard from Otto Tune
KV7J of Nevada DEM. Half of his talk was a description of the
management structure called for by the ICS. The other half was
questions and answers about goings on along the Gulf coast the last
couple of weeks.

-30-

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Nevada Section
Section Manager: Dick Flanagan, K7VC
k7vc@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

From dick at twohams.com  Sat Oct 22 02:40:16 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sat Oct 22 02:42:26 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] ARES E-Letter for October 19, 2005
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20051021233912.03593988@mail.greatbasin.net>

=================					
The ARES E-Letter
October 19, 2005
=================					

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

=================================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>
=================================================

+ The View from Flagler County

Hurricane Wilma is a whopping Category Five storm with record low
barometric pressure, and apparently its travel plans include the
Florida peninsula. The ARRL-affiliated Flagler Emergency
Communications Association (FECA) met last night at the county EOC to
discuss plans for activation of ARES. (FECA assets and expertise
serve as a platform for ARES planning and operations here in the
county).

Last hurricane season, my YL Joanne, W1GUN, and I grappled with the
decision to evacuate the area, or "shelter in place" at home. This
time, there will be no decision-making: as an RN, I'll take Joanne
with me to the hospital in Daytona Beach where I work. We'll stay
there until it's all over, while I care for critically-ill patients
on the ICU. Last year, one storm separated a patient's room from the
exterior of the building, creating a gaping, breezy hole through
which you could look down five floors to the parking lot below.

I received an e-mail message from my old friend Arnie Coro, CO2KK,
from Havana, Cuba: amateurs there are charging their batteries and
getting ready for another deployment.

Is it November 30 yet? - K1CE


========================
In this Issue:

+ Rain Event in the Northeast Brings Out ARES
+ Katrina Efforts Winding Down
+ Colorado Team Returns from Hurricane Zones
+ Rhode Island's Finest Cited for Katrina Effort
+ Gwinnett County ARES "Geek Squad" Assists Agency Center
+ Reflections on Hurricane Jeanne
+ Towards A National Data Base of Amateurs with Skills
+ "Old Technology"
+ PowerPole Connectors
+ More on ARES as NGO
+ ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator Checklist
+ More on FEMA Training Opportunities
+ Happy Birthday: The Big Bend Emergency Net turns 28
+ Clarification: Modification of Amateur Radio Equipment for Use by
MARS, CAP
+ K1CE for a Final
========================


+ Rain Event in the Northeast Brings Out ARES

The last couple of weeks saw many straight days of rain in the region
causing major flooding, evacuations, injuries and deaths. New
Hampshire SEC Dave Colter, WA1ZCN, reported that ARES worked the
southwestern part of the state, especially around Alstead and Keene,
supporting Red Cross, the state Bureau of Emergency Management, and
the City of Keene during the flooding emergency there. Northern New
Jersey SEC Steve Ostrove, K2SO, said that the Passaic County
ARES/RACES supported the Office of Emergency Management there.
Western Massachusetts SM Bill Voedisch, W1UD, reported that the
Franklin County EOC was activated after flooding in Greenfield.

In Rhode Island, the Pawtuxet River started to overflow its banks in
Cranston and West Warwick. People in Cranston's flood zone were to be
evacuated, with a shelter opened. The state's EMA opened its Command
Center and called for an ARES net to be started. Within one hour, ten
ARES members were on hand, ready for assignment.

In West Warwick, ARES opened the Wakefield School shelter, equipped
with Amateur Radio gear. The Warwick EMA used ARES and its repeater
for communication with West Warwick for coordination of shelter
volunteers. Red Cross HQ had ARES member Ludgerio Fernandes, K1LAF,
on the repeater for communication with the Smithfield EMA, Warwick
EMA, West Warwick Shelter, West Greenwich Shelter and the Rhode
Island SEC Se?n Brennan, KE1AB.

This was the first time in a long time that Amateur Radio was used in
Rhode Island during a shelter and EMA event. Perhaps it is due to the
fact that 99% of those operating for the Red Cross and local EMAs are
members of the recently revitalized Rhode Island ARES. [Thanks Se?n
Brennan, KE1AB, Rhode Island Section Emergency Coordinator
<ke1ab@arrl.net>]

At press time, in Eastern Massachusetts, ARES has been activated in
the city of Taunton for the potential collapse of the Whittenton Pond
Dam on the Mill River. This story made CNN yesterday. The Taunton EOC
is activated along with one shelter to support evacuees being asked
to leave an area that would be susceptible to flooding in the event
of collapse of the dam. Eastern Massachusetts ARES SEC Rob Macedo,
KD1CY, and Region II RACES Radio Officer, Bob Mims, WA1OEZ are
monitoring the 147.135 MHz Taunton repeater.

Local officials have stated that potentially, the dam could fail at
anytime. See the NWS Taunton Flash Flood Warning Statement at this
link: <http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus51.KBOX.html> See also
<http://ares.ema.arrl.org> for Eastern Massachusetts ARES information
and sitreps.  [Thanks to SEC Rob Macedo, KD1CY, for this report].


+ Katrina Efforts Winding Down

[The following was written by Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Alabama
Section Manager. His words express so eloquently the experience of
ARES leaders and volunteers over the course of the last couple of
months.]

Today, on the 37th day of Amateur Radio operations at the Montgomery,
Alabama, American Red Cross center, the radios were powered down for
a final time. It was a strange feeling packing, saying goodbye and
then walking out of the old Super K-Mart building knowing I would not
return tomorrow.

It was a pleasure working with the American Red Cross personnel.  My
job was made easier with their support. The radio amateurs that
worked on the Montgomery HQ team were all fine, quality men and
women.	My staff included dedicated amateurs from all over the United
States and Canada as well as many local operators.  We developed many
processes, practices and procedures that will make the next time
easier.

The volunteers traveled on their own dollar to come do the right
thing. Using their Amateur Radio skills, they helped people in great
need.  Many amateurs helped people and served agencies in other ways
as well. We also supplied amateurs for other agencies including the
Salvation Army, the Southern Baptists, and many emergency management
agencies and operating centers.

I'm looking forward to visiting ARRL HQ to review this successful
operation.  We will plan and improve. I appreciate the League's help,
support and patience. Over the next few days I plan to review my
notes, ideas, double check the deployed roster and work on an after
action report.

This effort was a success and a huge help to the people and workers
in the devastated region.  Many non-amateurs now know what works when
all else fails.  -- Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Alabama Section Manager
___________________

ARRL HQ staffer Steve Ewald, WV1X, conducted the final scheduled Gulf
Coast teleconference of SMs and SECs, thanking them for their
Herculean efforts. As busy as these dedicated ARRL Field Organization
leaders were, they found time to communicate reports of ARES activity
for the benefit of the rest of us.

Outside support for Jasper County, Texas, operations [Jasper is 75
miles north of Beaumont, and has 7500 citizens] was no longer needed
as the Salvation Army was planning on suspending operations, and
repeater service has been restored to the area. Local ARES personnel
can now provide any support needed. Power is becoming available even
in the smaller communities. Infrastructure has been largely
rehabilitated. Bill Swan, K5MWC, North Texas SEC thanked all ARES
operators, including those who had volunteered but were not called.

The situation had been that without power, repeaters in the area were
only usable with an on-site generator, constantly refueled,
presenting a daunting task. Communications were negatively impacted,
but 40-meters (SSB) was used by amateurs as the sole viable means of
supporting the Salvation Army (and other organizations) who were
distributing food. The communications promoted expediency in food
delivery operations. [From reports by SEC Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, South
Texas]
_______________

The situation in South Texas is still being evaluated. As residents
(and radio amateurs) return, the extent of local ARES capability is
being re-evaluated. The North Texas section remains on standby to
assist, if required.


+ Colorado Team Returns from Hurricane Zones

The Colorado ARES/RACES Disaster Response Team (DRT) recently
returned from the Gulf coast after supplying communications support
there. The Winlink mode proved to be beneficial during their
operations.

The ARES/RACES DRT is the field deployment amateur support
communications group of the Colorado Division of Emergency Management
(CDEM). They provide emergency communication for state agencies, as
well as county and local emergency management agencies, and disaster
relief organizations.

The DRT primarily supports wildland fire operations, but also gets
called for tornadoes, floods and blizzards -- often in remote areas
of the Colorado high country. "As a joint ARES/RACES unit, we are one
of the few Amateur Radio response teams available to provide
communication support around the country, as we did during Hurricane
Katrina,"  said Wes Wilson, K0HBZ, the ARES Emergency
Coordinator/RACES Officer for the team. "We can get called out on a
moment's notice at any time."  See <www.codrt.org>


+ Rhode Island's Finest Cited for Katrina Effort

Rhode Island ARES/MARS volunteer Matt Hackman, KB1FUP, who deployed
to the Gulf disaster region from September 9-25, has returned safely
home. The city of Warwick, Rhode Island, presented Hackman with a
city citation for his service. SEC Sean Brennan, KE1AB, along with
Section Manager Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, presented Hackman with two
commendation certificates from ARRL. At the presentation held in
conjunction with a regular Warwick CERT volunteers meeting, Matt
spoke informally to the CERT members describing some of his
experiences. The stories brought a full measure of reality to the
volunteers' training. His real-life anecdotal comments cannot be
found in any training guide and were very useful. Pictures of the
presentation appear on <http://www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=RI>


+ Gwinnett County ARES "Geek Squad" Assists Agency Center

The Gwinnett County (Georgia) Emergency Management Agency (EMA) had a
different kind of request for Gwinnett ARES in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. With the Atlanta metro area receiving thousands of
evacuees, three Joint Resource Recovery Centers were opened. The
American Red Cross was the cornerstone with additional resources from
numerous federal, state and local agencies. Gwinnett ARES was called
to investigate alternatives for Internet connectivity in the event
that ordered services were not in place when the center opened. The
EMA Director knew Gwinnett ARES was exploring a county-wide WiFi
network for emergency support.

ARES members assisted the agencies with installing their local
networks in anticipation of DSL Internet service.  This would allow
the agencies to connect to their home-base computer systems. The
evening before the center opened, the connections were completed and
as a result of ARES support, all systems were ready to go live,
immediately.

For the next three weeks, Gwinnett ARES provided a "geek squad" that
supported the center's operation, including a telephone/radio channel
directory, telephone repair, daily distributing and checking-in 50
GMRS radios, configuring laptop computers for WiFi access to the
Internet, using their radio voices to make announcements on the
paging system, and moving telephone terminations as the situation
changed.  In addition, ARES members helped staff the command center,
directing visitors and responding to questions posed by the public.

This one-stop shop proved very successful.  More than 11,000 clients
(or households) were served.  Young evacuees were enrolled in the
Gwinnett County school system.	The local EMA was appreciative of the
support provided by Gwinnett ARES.  More than 700 person-hours were
contributed by Gwinnett ARES members. -- Stan Edwards, WA4DYD,
Gwinnett County EC, <http://www.gwinnettares.org>


+ Reflections on Hurricane Jeanne

After working an ARES post during Hurricane Jeanne in Florida, I was
forced to reflect on why I was volunteering my time, effort and
equipment.  Our team had supported City Hall, the primary Fire
Station, and the EOC. It hadn't occurred to me to question why we
were there; I just knew as a radio amateur, my job was to provide
communications in a time of emergency.	I happened to be assigned to
City Hall.

Citizens could call City Hall to speak to a live person about the
storm and their situation.    My job was to relay ARES weather
reports from the field to the City Manager and personnel conducting
the telephone operation. These reports enabled their safety and the
public safety.

After the event, I returned home and found that we had just lost
power. I was putting my three-year-old son to bed when he asked me
about the storm and where I had been all day and why.  I told him
that I was helping people with the storm. After a series of "whys"
and my patient explanations, he gave me a big hug.  I not only knew
that I had gotten my message through but I knew he was proud of me.
Between searching for the accurate but simple answers for why I do
what I do along with receiving the approval for being away from my
young son, I knew that I had made the right choice and would do it
again in a heartbeat. -- Jim Billings, KB8LXC, Flagler County
(Florida) ARES <kb8lxc@yahoo.com>


+ Towards A National Data Base of Amateurs with Skills

I believe I have now seen reference to three different databases of
volunteers for future deployments. The ARES community should take a
lesson from the Red Cross: the Red Cross volunteers that I worked
with on the Gulf coast were notified in a timely manner and requested
to deploy because the Red Cross had a database of their skills. ARRL
should have one, too. While this is certainly not a trivial project,
it's not rocket science either.

If the ARRL is really serious about improving Amateur Radio
assistance in times of disaster, addressing this issue should be at
the top of the organization's list. Katrina demonstrated that trying
to gather the information after the fact just isn't effective.
Here's a project that is tangible and demonstrates ARRL's commitment
to making Amateur Radio more relevant in the public safety
communication arena. -- Steve Bonine, KB9X [The author provided
disaster relief work at Hattiesburg and Stennis, Mississippi].


+ "Old Technology"

[The following are responses to the last issue's "Final Note"
concerning Amateur Radio as old and new technology].

We may be "old technology" but we get the job done and, as
illustrated during the hurricane response, our folks saved the day
when new technology proved to be fragile.

I heard the term "old technology" in reference to HF first at a Y2K
conference, from a FEMA guy in 1999. The definition may be accurate
but fails to denote that "old" technology's reliability and
capability serves well when coupled with the commitment and can-do
ethic of the amateur operator. I am proud of all those who served in
the unprecedented Katrina response and further commend all those in
the ARRL who for years have served to train, represent and support
this good work. Thanks for your good comments and your support of
those who serve. - 73, Pat McPherson, WW9E, SATERN Net Manager. [The
SATERN net was one of the preeminent on-the-air services for the
Katrina effort. All of us are proud of your organization's work, Pat.
- K1CE]

Some feedback regarding your FINAL NOTE in the latest ARES
newsletter: My response when I am addressed with this issue of
Amateur Radio's viability is, "IT'S SIMPLE AND IT WORKS."  When I was
operating at the command center following Hurricane Charlie, a note
on the white board at the command console had a quote (with date and
time) from one of the Incident Commanders.  It read: "Amateur Radio
is the only reliable communications into the affected area."  The old
KISS principle surely seems to apply here. -- Fred Kleber, K9VV


+ PowerPole Connectors

Many ARES E-Letter readers were confused by the offer of Anderson
PowerPoles being available from the San Francisco ARES. They are
available now and we expect them to be available into the indefinite
future.  Over 2000 pairs sold.	Proceeds go to ARES.  See
<http://www.wcf.com/sfares/fun> -- Dave Gomberg, NE5EE
<gomberg1@wcf.com>


+ More on ARES as NGO

The American economy is commoditized: each chunk of the "value chain"
from finding raw material to waste product removal is undertaken by
purpose-designed organizations whose business it is to be the best in
their slice of the economy. With service organizations, those who
would serve must demonstrate more than good intentions -- they must
demonstrate competency in skill and organization. The old ways,
collegial, often improvised, and "more heart than head" are
insufficient -- and ruled out by served agencies (customers).

ARES represents a fine outline of a proven structure.  But it depends
too much on ad hoc, local circumstances and cannot be easily
replicated nationally, depending exclusively on the available
resources of the local amateur community.  There are varying
standards of performance, skill level, and commitment. Wouldn't it be
better to treat ARES more like a franchise, locally owned and
operated, but with national brand identity, purchasing power, quality
control and organizational control?

Consider the multifaceted attacks on Amateur Radio from BPL, wireless
communication interests, the Internet, and we see that a unified
response to emergency amateur communications becomes almost a
necessary prerequisite to our survival as a service, to speak nothing
of what we can offer the American citizenry if properly organized.

In short, I too recommend the ARRL move ARES towards an
institutionalized NGO, an equal player at the table with the Red
Cross, the Salvation Army, and others who have made the effort in
time, organization and money to institutionalize their "value
proposition" such that it need not be recreated with each local
change in the political wind. Fact is, this is no longer our
decision: it has been made for us by the powers that be.  --  Joseph
Ames Jr., W3JY, Delware County (Pennsylvania) AEC ARES/RACES
<www.delcoares.org>


+ ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator Checklist

The following EC checklist comes from the West Central Florida
Section to promote ARES and RACES unification and better local
emergency management agency cooperation. If your ARES organization
has a close working relationship with your local emergency management
agency, you should be able to answer "yes" to a majority of the
questions.

1. What is the name of your county's Director of Emergency
Management? Do you have a working relationship with him or her? If
the two of you passed each other on the street, would he recognize
you? Would you recognize him?

2. What is the physical street address of your county's EOC? Do you
have 24/7 access to your county's EOC? When was the last time you
were there?

3. Does ARES/RACES have a seat assigned at the EOC? Are your team
members credentialed by the EOC?

4. If a letter was sent to your county's EOC addressed to ARES/RACES
or Amateur Radio, would you receive it?

5. If a new radio amateur moved into your county and called the
county EOC asking for information on joining ARES/RACES, would the
EOC staff know what they were inquiring about? Would they refer the
caller to you?

6. As the Emergency Coordinator, are you paged or called to report to
the EOC each time the EOC is activated? Does the EOC and 911 dispatch
center have your contact information contained in its list of
essential EOC personnel?

7. Is your ARES/RACES organization written into your county's
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)?

8. Are you using the county EOC to hold ARES/RACES meetings and
training activities for your members?

9. How many of your county's paid EOC staff are Amateur Radio
operators? Have you approached them about becoming hams and offered
them training?

10. Does the EOC have county owned Amateur Radio equipment
permanently
installed in the EOC or do you bring your own equipment when
reporting to the EOC?

If you answered negatively to several of these questions, it may be
time to reevaluate and strengthen the relationship between your
ARES/RACES organization and your local county emergency management
agency. - Gary Sessums, KC5QCN, RACES Officer/ARES Emergency
Coordinator, Hillsborough County, Florida


+ More on FEMA Training Opportunities

For information about the FEMA course on Amateur Radio Resources,
please see:
<http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/STCourses/crsdesc/G250_6.html>
This course is designed to train government employees about the
mission of Amateur Radio operations. - Carl Zellich, AA4MI, ARRL
Assistant Director, Southeastern Division, <aa4mi@arrl.net>


+ Happy Birthday: The Big Bend Emergency Net turns 28

In the mid '70s, shortly after the Big Bend (Texas) Amateur Radio
Club was formed, radio amateurs were called to search for a missing
girl. Communication was provided for the Texas Rangers. The event led
to the founding of the Big Bend Emergency Net. The net meets every
Sunday at 8:30 A.M. Central Time, and has been on the air since
September 18, 1977. By 1978, the net had 20 members. The net now has
111 members, with an average of 35 check-ins each session.

The net has been activated many times over the years. The biggest
event covered was the Saragosa, Texas, tornado of May 1987. The net
was on the air within an hour after the tornado struck. Communication
with the state EOC was established, the sole link until the next day
when a single phone line was connected to the Big Bend ARC emergency
van on site in Saragosa.

The Big Bend Emergency Net could not have continued without the
faithful participation of its many members over the years. I would
like to thank all of those that have checked in. - Bob Ward, WA5ROE,
Net Manager


+ Clarification: Modification of Amateur Radio Equipment for Use by
MARS, CAP

MARS and CAP operators may (and frequently do) legally modify Amateur
Radio equipment for their use in the MARS and CAP frequency bands,
which are deliberately near amateur allocations for exactly this
purpose. Indeed, neither MARS or CAP require certificated equipment,
precisely so that modified ham equipment can be used. We regret any
confusion stemming from a related item published in a previous issue.
- K1CE


+ K1CE for a Final

I received the following e-mail from Tennessee radio amateur Richard
Skelton, KI4EMJ, that, frankly, made my day: "Thanks for this
newsletter--it makes me even more proud to be a ham than I already
was!" You're welcome, Richard. (Hey, good first name, too!)

======================================================================
The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
President.

The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES).

Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit
must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay
League.

Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce@arrl.net
Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy@arrl.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter,
W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The
ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at:
http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1

Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page.
Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you like
to receive automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for
"ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications
news)" and you're all set.

Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page after
publication.
======================================================================

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org

From dick at twohams.com  Tue Oct 25 15:37:22 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan K7VC)
Date: Tue Oct 25 15:40:12 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] ARLB024 Deadline is October 31 to file comments in FCC
 "Morse code" proceeding
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20051025123646.022d6ab8@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB024
ARLB024 Deadline is October 31 to file comments in FCC "Morse code"
proceeding

ZCZC AG24
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 24  ARLB024
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  October 25, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB024
ARLB024 Deadline is October 31 to file comments in FCC "Morse code"
proceeding

With just a few days to go before the filing deadline, more than
2600 comments have been filed in response to the FCC "Morse code"
Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O) in WT Docket
05-235. The NPRM&O has proposed to do away with the 5 WPM Morse code
requirement for all license classes. It also denied several
proposals to create a new entry-level license class.

The closing date for comments is Monday, October 31. Reply comments
are due Monday, November 14.

To file on-line comments on the FCC NPRM&O in WT Docket 05-235 or to
view others' comments in the proceeding, visit the FCC Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS), http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. In the
"Proceeding" field, enter "05-235" (without the quotation marks but
including the hyphen).

Alternative filing formats are available for people with
disabilities. Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations
(accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc)
by e-mail, FCC504@fcc.gov, or telephone 202-418-0530 or TTY
202-418-0432.

For additional information, contact William T. Cross, Public Safety
and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, William.Cross@fcc.gov; 202-418-0680; TTY 202-418-7233.

An FCC Report and Order in this proceeding is not likely until
sometime in 2006.
NNNN
/EX

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org

From kb7reo at yahoo.com  Thu Oct 27 15:48:00 2005
From: kb7reo at yahoo.com (Glenn KB7REO)
Date: Thu Oct 27 15:51:01 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] SKYWARN Recognition Day
Message-ID: <20051027194800.91915.qmail@web34307.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

The Las Vegas Regional SKYWARN Web site "News and
Updates," has been updated by Vern K0EGA.

http://www.qsl.net/lvr-skywarn

Las Vegas amateur radio SKYWARN will once again be
participating in SKYWARN Recognition Day. SRD 2005
will be held on December 3rd, Saturday. We will be
operating from the Las Vegas NWSFO from the LVRAC
communications trailer from 1500 to 2400 Zulu. Bands
of operation include: 40, 20, 15, 10, 2 meters and
440. The modes of operation will be primarily SSB
phone and VoIP. Station callsign WX7LAS

If you're interested in participating, please let me
know. 

There will also be a SKYWARN net control operators
meeting scheduled for 9 am at the LVRAC trailer. All
Las Vegas SKYWARN net control operators should attend
this meeting. 

The weekly, SKYWARN net is held on VoIP repeaters
147.000 (123pl) and 447.000 (100pl)in Las Vegas, WADG
repeater system in Reno/Carson City, and on simplex
146.46 in Pahrump and 146.415 in Tonopah (K7LAF). The
net can be found on Echolink NV-GATE conference node
and Western Reflector Ch. 8 node 9258 at 7 pm, 
Wednesdays.

Thanks
Glenn KB7REO

Southern NV ARES DEC
LVRS President
Spotter HN-3
http://www.cvrc.net/ares
http://www.qsl.net/lvr-skywarn
From cavnar at gbis.com  Mon Oct 31 23:02:10 2005
From: cavnar at gbis.com (Paul Cavnar)
Date: Mon Oct 31 23:06:11 2005
Subject: [NevadaARES] Need Manual for GE MVP UHF
Message-ID: <GKEGKONMDAHFPOAEKDPJOEHBCCAA.cavnar@gbis.com>

I am in need of a manual, preferable in .PDF format for the
G.E. UHF MVP radio.

Please forward to me via e-mail attachment or send a link
where it may be downloaded.

Thanks!

Paul Cavnar - NN7B
