[W1SMH] Fwd: The ARES E-Letter for February 17, 2016

Wed Feb 17 13:26:33 EST 2016

Ray 
Deputy Director 
Norton EMA-CERT
70 East Main St 
Norton, Ma. 02766
508-726-1054 cell

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: raycord <raycord at aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 5:33 am
Subject: The ARES E-Letter for February 17, 2016

If you are having troublereading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2016-02-17

February 17,2016
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE

ARES E-Letter Archive
ARES Home
ARRL HomePage

In This Issue:

New ARRL/Red Cross MoU Signed
ARES Report Forms Training Webinar
Colorado Exercise DEEP FREEZE
Ohio ARES® Helps in Water Problem 
Tips: Public Safety Tools -- Excellent Resourcesfor ARES
Essay: I Don't Get No Respect
Letters: More Tips for Net Controllers
Model Emergency Communication Plan for a RetirementCommunity
Wind Storm Damages San Diego/Baja Amateur HighSpeed Data Facilities

ARES® Briefs, Links 
IARU President Touts Amateur Radio'sRelevance in Emergency Communication (2/8/2016); Ohio SEC Hoping to Expand "NVIS Antenna Day" Activity thisYear (1/29/2016); FEMA Issues Call for YouthCouncil Members (1/29/2016); ARES® Volunteers Help to Distribute Water in OhioCommunity with Lead-Tainted Water (1/28/2016); ARES® Volunteers Support Major Flood Responses (1/27/2016); Hams Turn Out to Help as MassiveSnowfall Stuns Several States (1/25/2016)

Noah Goldstein,KB1VWZ, operates the WX1BOX station at the NWS office, Taunton,Massachusetts for the Blizzard of 2016. (photo courtesy Rob Macedo, KD1CY)

ARES/Media Hits
ARES® in Emergency Management Magazine
Ken Reid, KG4USN, wrote an excellent article, published in EmergencyManagement magazine online on the subject of how emergency managementagencies can work with ARES® groups. Read the article here.
ARES®and High Def TV News
Colorado Section Manager JackCiaccia, WM0G, reported an article in TV Technology News on radioamateurs involvement in High Definition TV experimentation used in ARES. Readthe article here.
New ARRL/Red Cross MoUSigned
The ARRL and the American Red Cross have signeda new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Thedocument, signed in January, succeeds one agreed to in 2010; it will remain inplace for the next 5 years. The MoU spells out how League Amateur RadioEmergency Service (ARES) volunteers will interface with the Red Cross in theevent that ARES teams are asked by the Red Cross to assist in a disaster oremergency response.
"Whenever there is a disasterrequiring the use of Amateur Radio communications resources and/or facilities, thelocal Red Cross region or chapter may request the assistance of the localARES organization responsible for the jurisdiction of the scene of thedisaster," the MoU provides. Such assistance would include mobilization of ARESpersonnel in accordance with a prearranged plan, and the establishment ofcommunication as necessary during a disaster or emergency. "Both ARRL volunteersand American Red Cross workers will work cooperatively at the scene of adisaster and in the disaster recovery, within the scope of their respectiveroles and duties" within the scope of the MoU, the agreement says.
Generally, the MoU sets the parameters of the partnership between the ARRLand the Red Cross to provide assistance to communities affected bydisasters. It calls upon both organizations to encourage and maintain open lines ofcommunication at the state and local levels, sharing current data regardingdisasters, situational and operational reports, changes in policy orpersonnel, and any information pertaining to disaster preparedness, response,and recovery.
For its part, the League will encourageARES units to engage in discussions with local Red Cross entities to developplans for local response or disaster relief operations. The Red Cross willencourage its field units to engage in discussions with the ARRL FieldOrganization to develop plans for local response or disaster relief.
Facilitating this is a Statement of Cooperation to provide methods ofcooperation between the two organizations on the local level in providingservices to communities during or after a disaster event, "as well as otherservices for which cooperation may be mutually beneficial." The ARRLsignatory is either the appropriate ARRL Section Manager or Section EmergencyCoordinator.
The new MoU also clarifies that ARES volunteersassisting the Red Cross but not registered as Red Cross volunteers do not haveto undergo a prior background check. Radio amateurs who register as RedCross volunteers, though, must abide by the Red Cross's background checkrequirement.
Then-ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signedthe MoU on behalf of the League on January 7, while ARC Senior VicePresident-Disaster Cycle Services Richard Reed, signed for the American Red Cross onJanuary 22. -- ARRL

ARES Report Forms Training Webinar
ARRL Headquarters will be offering a training session for ARES EmergencyCoordinators, District Emergency Coordinators and Section EmergencyCoordinators on how ARES report forms are filled out, submitted and how theinformation is used. The training webinar will be Tuesday March 1, 2016 at 8pmEastern Time. You may register for the webinar here.The webinar will be recorded and made available online. All EC's, DEC's andSEC's are encouraged to participate. -- Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL EmergencyPreparedness Manager.

Colorado Exercise DEEP FREEZE
Coloradois no stranger to snow. In October 1997 a devastating blizzard hit the stateresulting in several deaths, many stranded motorists, and more people inneed of help. On Saturday, January 9, 2016, the El Paso County Office ofEmergency Management (OEM) held exercise DEEP FREEZE '16 in conjunction withthe Colorado National Guard, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and otheragencies to practice a response to an October '97 type of event.
At the invitation of the Red Cross, operators from Region 2,District 2 (Pikes Peak ARES®) of the Colorado Section Amateur RadioEmergency Service® set up alternate communications between the Red Crossshelter and the county Emergency Operation Center (EOC). Two Pikes PeakARES® members were dual hatted as county Special Communication Unitpersonnel and manned the radios in the EOC while another ARES® member workedat the shelter.
Using VHF/FM radios these operatorsestablished simplex voice and

John Bloodgood, KD0SFY, prepares tosend a digital message. (photo courtesy KD0SFY)

 data communication and demonstrated to the sheltermanager, Red Cross EOC liaison, and the OEM the ability to digitally passIncident Command System forms such as the ICS-213.
"Thedigital messaging capability is a tremendous tool and using it in theexercise helped me learn how best to work it in with our liaison training", saidJimmy Jenkins, the Red Cross EOC liaison for the exercise.
Participating in the exercise were Fred Kendall, KD0TKR; Bob Nuttleman,K0FYI; and John Bloodgood, KD0SFY. More photos can be found here. See alsoTwitter hashtag #deepfreeze16 -- John Bloodgood, KD0SFY, EC and PIO --Region 2 District 2, Colorado ARES® (Pikes Peak ARES®) www.facebook.com/PikesPeakARES Twitter: @PikesPeakARES
Ohio ARES® Helps in Water Problem 
Flint, Michigan, isn't the only area with water problems due to highlead content. Starting the week of January 18, approximately 8,100 customersof Sebring, Ohio, water were notified that they too had problems with highlead content in their drinking water. On January 22, both Ohio and MahoningCounty Emergency Management Agencies began passing out bottled water inSebring. Mahoning County ARES® Emergency Coordinator Wes Boyd, W8IZC,activated ARES® to assist. Response on the workday was low, but a handfulof ARES® volunteers was able to respond. According to Boyd, "EMA andRed Cross were overjoyed that radio operators came to work not needing aradio." ARES® volunteers joined others in moving and distributing watersupplies. Another call was out for the weekend, where more water was to bedistributed.
This is a perfect example of being readyto serve in whatever capacity we can, in order to help our communities.Sometimes it doesn't involve only operating a radio. - Stan Broadway, N8BHL,Section Emergency Coordinator, Ohio

Tips: Public Safety Tools -- Excellent Resources forARES
The US Department of Homeland Security'sOffice of Emergency Communications' Interoperable Communications TechnicalAssistance Program publishes a repository of numerous resourcesfor auxiliary emergency communicators. Most are of direct interest toARES/RACES and other amateur emergency communication groups, including the new Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide(AuxFOG). The pub is a reference for auxiliary communicators who directly supportbackup emergency communications for State/local public safety entities orfor an amateur radio organization supporting public safety. This referenceguide contains information about AuxComm best practices, frequently usedradio frequencies, Mutual Aid channels as well as tips and suggestions aboutauxiliary emergency communicators integrating into a NIMS ICS environment tosupport communications for planned events or incidents. It can serve as areference both for auxiliary emergency communicators and public safetycommunications professionals. -- K1CE
Essay: I Don't Get No Respect
"LastChristmas I got no respect. In my stocking, I got an odor-eater." -Rodney Dangerfield
Arriving at a certain public serviceevent for the first time and on time, I dismally found our team "organizer"absent. We had been instructed to arrive at 0630. He arrived at 0730,unprepared and scrambling, offering no apology, explanation, or guidance. Ithen realized our fate as volunteers was tied to an unfolding human disaster.Those of us who gave up a Saturday and arrived on time (everyone else), hadbeen standing around shivering, checking our calendar (maybe the event wasactually tomorrow), and checking our watches. What we should have beenchecking for was a plan.
What was our mission androle? Who do we report to? Not even cursory answers were provided by ourleader. "He's always like this," one frequent volunteer told me. He added thisadvice: "Just work around him and make lemonade from the lemon." Still, Icouldn't get the phrase "I get no respect" out of my head.
Cables lacking proper connectors and no mains power hampered his setupof "net control" (another term used loosely in this grim context). I'd havethrown a life ring, but he was totally unapproachable. Amidst all thefoundering he exhibited a strutting self-importance, guffawing with a smallminded group of enablers, and ignoring the rest of us.
Therest of us decided to stick it out to offer what we could to the eventofficials, staff and volunteers. I befriended volunteers at a water stop whodidn't expect me nor had any idea what my role was, but I enjoyed the daycheering everyone on, while resolved to dial 911 should we need help. (The"net control station" was useless).
Fast Forward to thepresent: Considerable experience as a volunteer and now as a leader havecemented in me the importance of approaching each and every volunteer with thegreatest of respect and appreciation. It means not just showing up ontime, but paving the way for success long before the event morning briefing. Itell my teams that a successful Amateur Radio effort on event day is areflection of many months of pre-event communications.
Ourmission and role should be no mystery to the organization we are serving.We need to abandon the often-seen and never loved "know-it-all" attitude,and approach event officials and other volunteers as our teachers. We arethere for them, not us.
When volunteers report forduty, they have a plan in hand. They know what to expect. They are trained,follow a communications standard, recognize and support an ICS structure,know the boundaries, and therefore feel confident and - most importantly -respected for the communications quasi-professionals they truly are."Anyone can push a button," I tell our teams. "We're communicators first, notoperators. It is this distinction in which you should take great pride."
Ultimate success is a safe event, where those we serve -participants, staff and officials - have benefited from our presence. As thishappens more and more, and as I encouragingly see it in the work of others,I lighten up and have some fun. As a team leader, express your respect andappreciation for volunteers through organization, planning, keeping yourcommitments, communication, delegation, trust, and by expanding your ownknowledge and technique. As a volunteer, work with your leaders to bring theseand other concepts into practice.
With every eventserved, up your game. If you're in a position of authority, remember that yourepresent not only yourself, but all of us. Don't blow it. Aim high and ourunique and valuable Amateur Radio service will greatly benefit, and sowill you. - Mark Richards, K1MGY, Littleton, Massachusetts [Richardsserves as a member of the Boston Athletic Association CommunicationsCommittee, which supports the Boston Marathon.]

Letters: More Tips for Net Controllers
I would like to add a few net control tips to those posted inlast month's issue: Remember the 10 minute ID rule. It is NOT enough to IDwith your call at the beginning and end of the net, especially when netsoften run over 20 minutes. Announce the name of the net several times duringthe net - an easy way is announce it when you are calling the next list ofcheck-ins. Remember, operators who are tuning around or who arrive afterthe beginning of the net will have no idea what net they are listening toand whether it is an "open" net if the name and type of check-in is notfrequently announced. - Sherri Brower, W4STB, ARRL Southern Florida PublicInformation Officer
ModelEmergency Communication Plan for a Retirement Community
Royal Harbor is a gated retirement community of 750 homes located inthe town of Tavares, Florida in Lake County, 40 miles north of Orlando.This area features 2000 lakes of which 1400 have names. It's also Florida'shill country, with gently rolling hills, uncharacteristic of the flat landareas of most of Florida.
Hurricanes and tornados are notunusual to Lake County. In 2007 a tornado killed several people and causedmuch damage. In 2004 the county was visited by four hurricanes.
Five years ago the Royal Harbor Amateur Radio Club adopted anemergency ham radio program called Neighborhood Ham Watch. The ideabehind the program was to provide emergency communications to the outsideworld through Amateur Radio operators who lived in Royal Harbor. The operatorsdecided to prepare an emergency disaster communications plan for theretirement community.
The first Royal Harbor CommunicationsDisaster Plan was presented to the Royal Harbor Home Owners Associationboard of directors in October 2012. After board approval, it became part ofRoyal Harbor's overall disaster plan. The plan was recently updated.
The plan makes clear from the very beginning that the membersare to first ensure that their own families are safe and secure, before therest of the plan is executed. In the event of a hurricane, tornado or severethunderstorm warnings, members will already be on the area ARES frequency147.255 MHz as part of a SKYWARN net, with the operation being easilyconverted to the activation of the disaster plan. An equipped operator will bedispatched to HOA office to provide a link to the net and/or the Lake CountyEmergency Operating Center (EOC) in Tavares, Florida.
Under a plan A, an operator will be assigned as the net control stationfrom his/her home, and will maintain contact with the EOC on 147.255 MHz. Theoperator may be using generator or battery backup power. The NCS operatorwill conduct the net of other Royal Harbor amateurs using the simplexfrequency of 146.580 MHz or other simplex frequency designated.
The operator at the Royal Harbor office will remain in contact with thenet via the simplex link. One operator will be on a D-STAR link, whileanother is on HF, lending mode and frequency range diversity.
All Royal Harbor emergency operators will have VHF/UHF (V/U)capabilities in their personal vehicles if needed for mobile assignments. When it issafe to do so, the net control station may be moved to the lighthouse forbetter height above average terrain (HAAT). The repeater located in thelighthouse can be powered by a club generator.
Staffingcritical locations will be conducted on a rotating basis; recruitment ofadditional operators from outside Royal Harbor may be necessary if the incidentcontinues for more than 72 hours. There is an agreement for mutual aid withthe Lake County Amateur Radio Association.
A plan Bcalls for NCS to be located in the Royal Harbor HOA office, among otherchanges. Operators should be available for deployment within Royal Harbor withmobile or portable radios for damage assessments. A plan C allows for moremodifications to the plan/operation as conditions dictate. ARES will alsomaintain the ability to contact contiguous county EOCs under other plans.
These plans work well for this Florida retirement communityand may be used as a model for other communities, expanded or contractedbased on size and the ARES population of operators. Develop your owncommunications plan before it's too late. -- Ted Luebbers, K1AYZ, Lake County(Florida) ARES® Public Information Officer
Wind Storm Damages San Diego/Baja Amateur High SpeedData Facilities
A serious wind storm with gustsof 100 mph in the San Diego/Baja Mexico area at the end of January causedmajor damage to the facilities of the Radio Club of Baja California (CREBC,Tijuana, Mexico) just south of the US-Mexico border. Many San Diego ARESmembers use the facilities for repeater and packet communications as domariners heading down the coast of Baja. The microwave communications backboneemergency group High Data Rate Emergency Network of San Diego (HDRENS)connects over a 50 to 100 Mbit/sec 12 mile path to the CREBC Cardenas tower,which was felled by the storm. Mike Burton, XE2/N6KZB, and CREBC officer JuanTellez, XE2SI, started repairs as soon as the storm passed, getting systemsback up over the course of three to four days.
TheCardenas 80-foot tower was exposed on a high ridge line above Playas deTijuana, and was a Canadian-made free standing type with broad base, installed 27years ago. It supported antennas for two Ubiquiti 5 GHz links, CREBC UHFrepeater, an area police repeater, 3 area commercial customer systems, UHFand VHF links, 145.09 MHz repeater, and area Fire Department repeaters.
Sometime in the early morning when the gusts were strongest,two of the tower's three legs gave way and the tower collapsed. Corrosionwas a contributing factor. On its way down, it missed a neighbor's house bya foot, tore the top security fence railing, damaging many other antennas.Electrical shorts caused site computer damage and damage to AC power linesinside.
Club members, Fire and Police personnel teamedup to get all systems back in service, place antennas on lower structureand remove the tower. Despite the lower elevation all systems functionedwell and a new tower may not be needed.
Other sitessuffered damage and were also repaired. Damages could have been greater and thefast response just shows that amateurs and public safety professionals canwork together when needed in the public interest. -- Mike Burton,XE2/N6KZB (CREBC); and Ed Sack, W3NRG, San Diego ARES
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