[NvHam] Nevada ARES SEC Monthly Report (FSD-96)

[Dick Flanagan K7VC]

ARES SEC Monthly Report (FSD-96)

1. Section: Nevada (NV)

2. Month: January

3. Year: 2007

4. Total ARES members: 306 reported

5. Changes since last month: +5

6. Number of active nets: 13

7. Total Sessions: 73

8A. Number of ECs/DECs reporting this month: 3 DEC's/8 EC's

9A. Number of nets, drills, tests & training sessions: 60

9B. Number of volunteer hours: 441

10A. Number of public service events this month: 0

10B. Number of volunteer hours: 0

11A. Number of emergency operations this month: 2

11B. Number of volunteer hours: 322

12A. Total number of ARES/RACES events this month: 58

12B. Total volunteer hours: 765

Northwest District I DEC: Reported

Carson City: Reported

Churchill County: No EC

Douglas County: Reported

Humboldt County: No EC

Lyon County: Reported

Mineral County: No EC

Pershing County: Not Reported

Storey County: Not Reported

Washoe County: Reported

Northeast District II DEC: Reported

Elko County: Not Reported

Eureka County: No EC

Lander County: No EC

White Pine County: No EC

Southern District III DEC: Reported

Clark County: Reported

Esmeralda County: Reported

Lincoln County: Reported

North Nye County: Reported

South Nye County: Reported

SEC's GENERAL REPORT (January 2007) Happy New Year to everyone! Since
I am not only SEC but acting Northwest DEC, I have submitted comments
from the reporting ECs from that district below. An announcement of a
new DEC for that district will be made during February, and will be
reported next month.

Work still continues with EMCOMMWEST 2007. Many changes and additions
to the website, including a preliminary forum schedule (which will be
added to and changes made from time to time), and registration is now
open online together with sign-ups for the Saturday night banquet.
More information as it becomes available.

Lots going on in Washoe County as you will see below, including the
adventure into ATV training and production. Very exciting to see what
can happen in this part of amateur radio! I plan a visit to Elko over
the first weekend in April, and Dick Flanagan, K7VC our SM and I will
travel to Las Vegas on April 28 for their quarterly meeting.

Work continues on the update of the Section Emergency Plan, which
should be completed by spring. Frequency input and information being
gathered from all parts of the state so that it can be included. Staff
and Net information also being updated.

A new Northwest DEC will be announced in February.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORT: Southern NV ARES DEC Report for January
2007: The first Northern Nye County ARES meeting was held in Tonopah
this past month. Northern Nye County EC Dave KE7LC, Esmeralda County
EC Ron WB5KLJ and AEC Bruce K7LAF attended the meeting at my house. We
discussed plans regarding the Mt. Oddie repeater 146.64 (123PL),
membership, ARES mutual aid support and coordination with Southern Nye
County ARES. Much thanks goes to Jerry KC6ILH for his group's efforts
in coordinating the communications support effort during the Pahrump
valley power/communications outage. We are still working on getting
signed ARESMAT agreements with neighboring counties.

South Nye County ARES(r) report by EC, Jerry KC6ILH. On 14 Jan 07 and
16 Jan 07, the Pahrump Valley experienced power outages. The first one
was valley wide due to a drop of a main feed line. The second was due
to a switch burning due to overload and ware. The first one we had to
rely on knocking on doors and intermittent phone service to notify
everyone. The second we had enough time prior to loss of phones to let
all know to respond. The first outage we served for over 20 hours, the
second call out lasted more than 4 hours. We set up communications
between shelters and the EOC for the first outage. On the second we
had personnel at the Sheriff, Valley Electric (Also the EOC site), as
well as the shelters.

Lessons learned: Make sure that you recharge and replenish as soon as
you return to your home site. You never know when you will be called
out again. UHF works well inside of buildings and also having
pre-assigned working frequencies assisted due to the loss of all
repeaters. Everyone came up on the assigned frequencies and
communications went smoothly. We also now have some more sites that
the town wants to have HAM antennas installed so that we can provide
better assistance in the future.

Clark County ARES(r)/RACES report by EC, Charlie AA5QJ ARES/RACES
Meeting held Sat Jan 27. Updates from leadership. Discussed Amateur
Radio Comm Team concepts, including resource typing.

NORTHEAST DISTRICT REPORT: Comments From Joe Giraudo, N7JEH, Northeast
District Emergency Coordinator. All pretty quiet in Northeast Nevada.
American Red Cross responded to a large multiple-family fire in
Wendover, Utah. No communication-related requests or problems were
encountered.

The Elko Volunteer Examiner team performed their final scheduled Morse
code test session in January. The Section 75 meter net is averaging 15
members through January. Suggestions for a 40 meter net have been
presented and will be explored before the summer months arrive.

NORTHWEST DISTRICT REPORT: Washoe County: This was a busy month so I
will be brief. On January 11th, 2007 I attended the Nevada Statewide
Evacuation Conference in Las Vegas. From the lessons learned after
Hurricane Katrina, each state is required to develop a mass evacuation
plan and Aaron Kenneston, manager of our Regional EOC took on the task
of coordinating the evacuation plan. (Details on
http://washoeares.hopto.org soon)

IHCC: On January 12th I was invited by Stefanie McCarty from the
District Health Department to attend the Inter-Hospital Coordinating
Council meeting to introduce myself. After the meeting I met with
Steve Matles KC7FEN who is the Safety Officer for Renown Medical
Center as well as the Liaison to the Medical Community. I will be
meeting with Steve later to bring ARES back into the picture with the
hospital emergency backup communications plan. (more to follow).

VOAD: Also on January 12th, Frank Walsh KE7AJO Washoe County AEC
attended the VOAD meeting at the REOC. The topic of discussion was
Earthquake safety and preparedness including the plans by the Red
Cross for regional Mass Sheltering. (more to follow).

ARES/CERT EXERCISE: We had a good exercise with a CERT team on January
13, 2007 The exercise took place at the Grand Sierra Resort
(Previously known as the Hilton). The exercise scenario was a small
plane crash on the East Wing on the 22nd floor where renovation is
taking place by construction workers. The CERT teams were provided
radios by the hotel Security Director and ARES was there to support
their communications. Thanks to Andy KD7ZEV, Steve KE7HLS, Joe WA6RKN,
Frank KE7AJO. Dee, KA7LOZ (Details on http://washoeares.hopto.org
soon)

LEPC: On January 25th, Frank and I attended the Local Emergency
Planning Committee meeting at the REOC as representatives of ARES.

DOAg: On January 26th, I met with Dr. Keith Forbs of the Department of
Agriculture, who is the Task Force Leader responsible for the rescue
of family pets and service animals. I explained what Amateur Radio and
discussed what ARES can do to provide emergency communications between
the animal shelters and hospitals within the state. (more to follow).

ATV: On 1/28/07, KE7FPR-Mark, KE7BQX-Kevin performed our first
on-the-air Amateur Television (ATV) broadcast from the Washoe County
Regional EOC. Also present at the test were, WA6MTY-Bob and
KE7FYF-Sean. (Details on http://washoeares.hopto.org soon)

RENOWN: On January 30th I had my first meeting with Steve Matles
KC7FPS to plan for backup communications for Renown Medical Center.
That evening Frank KE7AJO, Andy KD7ZEV Technical AEC and I took
inventory in the radio room.

SNCAT: On Wednesday the 31st, Andy KD7ZEV and I met with the director
of Sierra Nevada Community Access Television (SNCAT) to discuss the
final plans for the three day crash course for the WC ARES ATV Team in
the use of the SNCAT cameras, control room, studio and editing
capabilities that will start Saturday February 3rd. (more to follow).
(Details on http://washoeares.hopto.org soon)

WCSEOC: A couple days during January I worked with Chris Smith KC7PZS
the Emergency Manager of Washoe County School District to program the
VHF/UHF radio in his mobile command vehicle and the school District
EOC. Andy and I will be working with Chris to setup the computer in
his mobile command vehicle for Packet (Outpost and Paclink). Then
later we will setup the packet station in the WCSEOC. (more to
follow).

REOC: Kevin KE7BQX, AEC for the REOC reported that the two commercial
VHF antennas and VHF Bandpass filters ordered for the REOC have
arrived and we are waiting on a quote from Tower Services to install
them. The new antennas and filters should reduce the interference
problems from Red Peak installations.

NWS: Dee KA7LOZ AEC for the NWS reported that the commercial VHF
antenna arrived and is making arrangements for getting the antenna and
new coax installed.

Dick Young, KD7JMR EC, Douglas County had no comments due to it being
a slow month with no activity other than the continuing ICS training
with DCART.

14. Signature: Don Carlson, KQ6FM - SEC

15. E-mail: kq6fm at charter.net

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc at arrl.org