[SFDXA] 2019 Statewide Hurricane Drills

[Bill]

 From DARC List: - Bill W2CQ


The 2019 Statewide Hurricane Drills are taking place this week across 
Florida.  Broward County will be participating in their drill THIS 
THURSDAY, May 9, 2019 and hams are being asked to help out! Hams are 
being asked to be on their radios between 9:00 am and 11:00 am and check 
in to the Broward County Emergency Operations Center during that time.

When the Broward EOC is at a Level 1 Activation, amateur radio operators 
who are a part of the RACES staff report to the EOC to man the radios.  
We take reports from the ham operators at the shelters, hospitals, the 
various EOCs and the National Weather Service.  We also take situational 
awareness reports from ham operators who are riding out the incident at 
their home.  The information provided is very valuable to the County as 
they work to keep our residents safe during an incident, such as a 
hurricane.

Just one example of an emergency communication that came in . . . . 
During Hurricane Irma, one of our ham radio operators had a visual on a 
tornado.  He called in his location, the approximate location of the 
tornado and the direction the tornado was traveling to the RACES radio 
operators at the EOC.  As we were in constant contact with the National 
Weather Service during this storm, we were able to give them valuable 
information which resulted in the emergency scrolling message at the 
bottom of the TV sets and life-saving announcements for those without 
television within 30 seconds of the report coming in to our staff.

This Thursday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 am, we are asking 
hams to check in to the Broward County EOC  multiple times, using 
multiple frequencies and multiple radios.  We are testing the radio 
coverage in the County to see which repeaters work best from which 
locations.  In addition, we are testing YOUR capabilities so that you 
know before a storm (or other incident) hits which repeater is best for 
you to use.

Please check in multiple times - using each of your different radios and 
at different power levels.  We will be testing 5 repeater frequencies as 
well as simplex operations.

_*When you check in, please give us the following information:*_

  * Your call sign
  * The city from which you are transmitting
  * Type of radio (hand held, mobile etc.)
  * Power you are using on that radio

The _*schedule for check-ins is as follows*_:

*9:00 am to 9:30 am*

  * 146.910 MHz  -600  PL 110.9
  * 146.610 MHz  -600  PL 110.9


*9:30 am to 10:00 am*

  * 147.210 MHz  +600  PL 131.8
  * 147.330 MHz  +600 PL 103.5


*10:00 am, to 10:30 am*

  * 146.790 MHz  -600  PL 88.5


*10:30 am to 11:00 am*

  * 146.550 MHz  Simplex Operations


Please announce this on the nets and help us spread the word!

Thank you in advance for checking in!


  Thank you for all you do for the amateur radio community!


Jeff Stahl, K4BH
ARES Emergency Coordinator, Broward County
K4BH at arrl.net
954-224-6390

Robin Terrill, N4HHP
RACES Officer, Broward County
N4HHP at comcast.net
954-249-5343

Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB
Assistant ARES Emergency Coordinator, Broward County
Assistant RACES Officer, Broward County
CSjursen at bellsouth.net
954-803-6338