[W1SMH] Frequency Plan for 3/23 Exercise

[Martin Pyne]

      *****  FREQUENCY PLAN FOR 3/23 STATEWIDE EXERCISE  *****

Hello to all....

I am pleased to promulgate the frequency plan for the statewide
"Hurricane
Xavier" exercise, which will begin at 1000 tomorrow.  As a reminder, the
"players" fall into three general groups:

EMA and RACES statewide, including state and regional headquarters.

SKYWARN: All Taunton warning area SKYWARN observers in MA (all except
Berkshire), all RI, and applicable counties in CT and RI.  SKYWARN
players
from adjacent NWS warning areas are welcome to join, if they have
authorization from their respective ARES leadership and adhere to "This
is a
drill" transmission requirements.

ARES:  Only ARES players from EMA are authorized to participate.
Selected
players from NH, CT and RI that have already been authorized by their
respective SEC's will be participating.

The premise for ARES and SKYWARN participation was discussed in my
recent
memo concerning conduct of the exercise.  Please review your email from
mass_races_ares_skywarn_ general@yahoogroups.com, or go to the
yahoogroups
website, or visit the EMA ARES website at www.emaares.com.  Rob Macedo
has
just released a summary in his latest SKYWARN newsletter as well.
Please
contact any EMA ARES staff or me if you have trouble getting the memos
you
need.

Play hard and have fun, as it is vital that we prepare for events we
hope
will never happen.  However, never forget others are listening.  Also
bear
in mind, that many of our neighbors are still "skittish" about things
going
on in the world, so every care must be taken to avoid confusion and
concern
in the community.  Many people have "police scanners" and listen
haphazardly, and this includes the press.  Of course, don't forget our
brethren traveling through our operating areas.  They are probably
scanning
with their radios as well while driving.  As you know, the scanning
function
skips around so it is very easy for our words to be heard out of
context.
EVERY TRANSMISSION concerning an exercise or simulation item must
contain
the words "This is a drill".  Combine it with your call sign
announcement,
and it will be easier for you to remember.

You also retain responsibility for rumor control, just as in a real
incident.  If you become aware of a transiting ham becoming concerned,
momentarily excuse yourself from the drill and brief the ham that we are
having an exercise and that everything in "real world" is normal.
Please
politely discourage transients from joining in.

The exercise is designed to strain our radio net resources and test how
operators respond to changing and challenging circumstances.  As you
read in
the exercise plan, ARES and SKYWARN players will respond "on the fly",
as
they have nothing written to refer to and have to react to circumstance
as
they learn about them during the exercise.

Each player will face, "what do I do, where do I go", questions.  Do
what
you have been trained to do.  If your sector or net is not mobilized,
assume
net control until relieved.  Be prepared to use secondary circuits and
establish simplex (you just know we will spring it on you!).  Listen and
collect reports, then send them up your to sector or net coordinator.
Do
not send reports directly to regional headquarters, state headquarters,
or
NWS, unless specifically directed by them to do so.  Use the
regional/sector
nets as published in the RACES and SKYWARN plans, noting important
modifications below.

RACES and EMA players will use the RACES frequencies, delineated by MEMA
Region Sectors (Sectors).  This guidance applies to MEMA Region 1 (R1)
and
Region 2 (R2).  This means that you should send reports and NTS traffic
first to sector net controls defined in the RACES operating plan, and
summarized below:

MEMA Region Sectors 1A and 1B:  Waltham 164.64(-) (no PL).  The Region 1
Comm Officer is NOT the net control for these sectors.  Someone will
assume
those duties and collect your reports.  R1 will receive summaries from
the
sector net controller, even though he is also on the same frequency.

Sector 1C:  Westford PART, 146.955(-) (PL 74.4)

Sector 1D:  Stoneham (MMRA) 146.715(-).  If linked to MMRA network,
request
permission from MMRA net control to pass reports to sector net control.
Please see MMRA note below.

Sector 1E:  Haverhill, 146.625(-) (no PL).  This is also an important
SKYWARN regional net because of the distance of this part of Essex
county
from NWS Taunton.

Sector 1F (and North Shore):  Salem 147.39(+) and 146.88(-).

Per recent guidance by R1 Communications/RACES Officer, Terry, KA8SCP,
will
receive reports from all Region sectors on Waltham 164.64(-), (no PL),
and
by packet 145.63.  Terry stated that the 53.69 (Simplex) R1 Headquarters
net
may be used by stations for contact testing and calibration, but not for
traffic.  R1 Headquarters will use 53.31 State Headquarters net for
liaison.

Use a nearby SKYWARN net frequency as backup only if your RACES sector
net
is unavailable (damage etc.), an adjacent RACES sector net is
unavailable,
and R1 cannot receive your report.  Set up simplex nets to supplement
traffic flow, and inform net control.  Please refrain from using any
repeaters outside of the RACES/SKYWARN network.  It is good manners, and
will help contain the exercise information being sent to those
frequencies
the players are monitoring.

Use the MMRA network (www.mmra.org) if you have trouble contacting R1
net
control.  You must first check in with Eddie, N1NOM, who is already
designated as net control for the MMRA network.  The primary use of the
MMRA
network for "Exercise Xavier" is as the exercise command net for
exercise
controllers and the RACES/ARES/SKYWARN leadership.

Mt. Wauchusett 53.31 should be used judiciously by SKYWARN for selected
coordination with WMA.  This is the MEMA Framingham primary frequency
and
will be used for liaison with MEMA Regional Headquarters.  It is also
reserved for rapid real world coordination if needed.

Framingham 147.15 is reserved for rapid real world coordination if
needed,
and is not available for the exercise.

Per recent guidance from R2 Communications/RACES Officer, Bob, WA1OEZ,
the
following frequencies will be used.  Even though all R2 frequencies are
being guarded at R2 Hdqtrs, sector net controllers should be established
and
then traffic forwarded to R2.

Sector 2A:  Tauton 147.135(-)
Sector 2B:  Norwell 145.25(-)
Sector 2C:  Dennis 146.955(-) (PL 88.5)  Please see note below
Sector 2D:  Sharon(-) (PL 146.2)

R2 will also monitor the Bridgewater 147.18(+) (PL 67.0) SKYWARN
frequency.

R2 will liaise with MEMA Headquarters on 53.31, and monitor the 54.31
Statewide frequency.

Please see notes above concerning repeater contingencies plans and the
use
of nearby SKYWARN frequencies.

Sector 2C has a detailed communications protocol for the Cape and
Islands
Sector.  Please follow this plan for all contingency operations.

SKYWARN players use the established SKYWARN network as always.
Self-mobilize if the situation warrants and you have not received orders
to
mobilize.  Collect reports on regional networks first, and then use
coordination networks per SKYWARN plan.  In case of heavy Waltham
utilization, use the MMRA network.  Please see MMRA note above.

ARES personnel are to first use the RACES network described above for
reporting and coordination.  This is a modification from existing
doctrine
in that significant traffic is expected on SKYWARN frequencies with a
major
hurricane.  If significant delays are experienced using the RACES
network,
then use the SKYWARN network as backup.  Additionally, set up
supplemental
simplex networks to collect information and coordinate actions.  Use of
prosigns is encouraged.  For example, to contact an EC use the town,
city,
geographic region name.  When responding, use this approach with your
call
sign.  For DEC's, the prosign is the county name (e.g. "this is Bristol,
KD1CY").  EMA SEC will use the prosign "EASTMASS".

I look forward to a successful exercise.  Thank you in advance for all
your
efforts.  73,

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts Section
Pager: 1-800-759-8888 PIN 1155084
Admin: w1mpn@arrl.net
978-562-5662 Primary/Voice Mail
978-389-0558 FAX/ EFax Voice Mail



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