[nrv-hams] Fwd: The Simulated Emergency Test "Lights Out" is Canceled but Prepare for the Real Thing

[Danny Wylam]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Glen Sage <glensage at centurylink.net>
Date: Thu, Oct 1, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Subject: The Simulated Emergency Test "Lights Out" is Canceled but Prepare
for the Real Thing
To: Glen Sage <w4ghs at arrl.net>, "carter128 at verizon.net" <
carter128 at verizon.net>, Bill Wells <sontag at hughes.net>, Betty Whitaker <
betty.whittaker at redcross.org>, Ron Higgins <ronhiggins at centurylink.net>,
Randy Lilly <randy52 at centurylink.net>, Beverly Tipton <btipton at va.net>,
Lana Call <lana.call at gmail.com>, Taylor Seigler <forestman at vt.edu>, Josh
Greer <josh.greer at gmail.com>, Rick Beaver <kq4az at outlook.com>, Julian
Bailey <julian.j.bailey at odom.com>, Steve Presti <w4svp73 at gmail.com>, Tom
Wilcox W4TKW' <optom1 at cox.net>, Frank Howard <wb1usn at hotmail.com>, David
Clements <clem661 at gmail.com>, George Starke <wb4vwr at comcast.net>, Jerry
Moats <wd4itn at yahoo.com>, Ron Davis <rondavis7878 at gmail.com>, Gary Webber <
harpo-g at cox.net>, "W4ye at aol.com" <W4ye at aol.com>, Ron Shiflett <
wawokiya at b2xonline.com>, Mike Hendrix <cojonme at hotmail.com>, George Golding
<w3ppy at arrl.net>, "steve_lugar at hotmail.com" <steve_lugar at hotmail.com>,
Donnie Dotson <ddotson3 at yahoo.com>, Danny Wylam <dannywylam at gmail.com>,
Colby York <KI4MPY at shentel.net>, Al Keen <n4zzq at yahoo.co>, Eddie Hill <
ke4onn at yahoo.com>, Ron Ramsey <shagramsey at msn.com>, Deanna Amsler <
kj4vvl at embarqmail.com>, David Fletcher <k4dcf at cox.net>, Len Sutphin <
kc5ejr at yahoo.com>, Steven Thrasher <stephen.thrasher at dbhds.virginia.gov>,
"John T. Clark" <jtclark at vaems.org>, "Harbour, Anthony" <
aharbour at harbour.net>, Bucky Hunsicker <dbhunsicker at gmail.com>, Matthew
Stansberry <matthewstansberry at gmail.com>, Justin Wylie <
sta3truckie at yahoo.com>, Ron Stowell <rstowell at cellect.com>
Cc: Phil Hysell <phil.hysell at noaa.gov>, Dave Wert <David.Wert at noaa.gov>,
Mike Mock <mmock at carrollcountyva.org>, Sheriff Gardner <
Sheriff at carrollcountyva.org>, Mike Fariss <mike.fariss at gmail.com>


To All:

In light of the Governors declaration of a State of Emergency for the
Commonwealth,  We are cancelling the Simulated Emergency Test scheduled for
Saturday October 3rd.  Many of those that have signed up for the exercise
belong to groups listed in the declaration, including RACES and the
Virginia Defense Force, CERTS etc.  It also would be risky to send people
to the Mt Rogers Wilderness Area with the weather forecast for Saturday.
It appears that the Commonwealth is going to experience widespread flooding
but exact locations are uncertain at this time.

As we are geared up for the SET, I would suggest that you monitor 3.947 or
7.240 MHz after 0700 hours Friday for possible activation of the Old
Dominion Emergency Net.  If you are in the western part of Virginia and
have a need to contact VDEM on VHF, the best path is 147.33 repeater on
Rock Mountain.  It has an up off-set and no tone is required.  We will be
connecting the K4EZ linked repeater system to the Raleigh NC IRLP reflector
9214 on Friday until the threat ends.  So if you have access to a VHF/UHF
IRLP equipped repeater you can reach the SW part of Virginia by dialing up
9214.

This coming weather event is why we train and serve.  Be sure and monitor
your local SKYWARN repeater.  If you don't have a rain gauge, set out a
straight walled glass (with no taper) and use a ruler to measure your
rainfall.  A rainfall report of "it is really raining hard here" has little
value.  The National Weather Service needs measured reports.  If someone
from your county is reporting, your report will still have value.
Conditions vary widely within a few miles.

If you lose Internet service and have Winlink, you can contact the Virginia
Department of Emergency Management  (VDEM) by sending your Winlink message
to N4VEM at Winlink.org.  This will go to the VDEM RACES station.  To find
other Winlink addresses use the listing at
http://www.w4ghs.org/Lights_Out_Hams.html. If you are registered as a
leader at the EmComm site, you can get additional Winlink address
information at http://www.w4ghs.org/VAEmComm.html then click on "Login".

Let local agencies that you serve be aware that you can help with
communications if needed.  Red Cross is already sending our inquiries
concerning availability.  They often need communications between shelters
and their chapter house.  If feeding or water distributions is needed, to
have ham radio as part of this effort can have a huge benefit.

I will be sending our an announcement to the EmComm database for them to be
prepared for service.  I will also be sending out an announcement to those
that recently completed the Virginia AUXCOMM training.  So you may receive
duplicated messages.  I would rather contact you twice than not at all.

It appears that conditions will begin to go down hill starting late tonight
and will continue for the next several days.

Glen Sage, W4GHS
276-398-3548
276-266-4456 cell