[W1SMH] Fwd: ***MEMA ACS/RACES Status Update for approaching winter storm***

[RayCord]

Ray Cord

On Monday, March 13, 2017, MEMA Region 2 RACES/ACS <wc1mab at gmail.com> wrote:


                                                                                       

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Hello to all,

      As many if not all of you are aware, much of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is expecting to receive impacts from a large storm system beginning in the early hours of tomorrow and continuing through the evening. 

    The current forecasts from NWS Taunton place snowfall totals ranging from 3 inches on the Cape to close to 12 inches toward Norfolk County with the potential for very strong winds and very heavy snow that could have significant negative impacts to local and regional infrastructure. For more information on the current forecast I recommend reviewing the info sheets published on the National Weather Service Taunton web page and/or the NWS Taunton Skywarn page at http://wx1box.org/node/3901 .

    MEMA Region #2 Headquarters is planning on beginning operations in support of this event at 0600 EDT.  The radio room may be staffed a little later than that time frame (closer to 0800 ED) but definitely prior to the predicted onset of the heaviest weather conditions for the day. RACES/Emergency Communication Nets will be active in stand-by mode for this event. None of the Region #2 nets will be active in an official RACES capacity unless otherwise dictated by MEMA. Repeaters will be monitored and traffic handled with call-ups handled in a manner similar to an ARES activation. The reason for not activating full RACES mode on the repeaters is to allow ARES, Skywarn, and Local EMA stations to work together during this event and due to the lack of a formal request by MEMA for such restrictions to be placed on our operations. 

    Local RACES officers are asked to maintain contact with their Local Emergency Management Director and assist in facilitating communications per your Community Emergency Action Plans. Any RACES officers or operators who are not required to directly support their local EMA operations are asked to support SKYWARN operations for NWS Taunton and/or to provide storm related intelligence to Region #2 HQ. The type of storm related intelligence that is being sought include:

 Power outages resulting from heavy snow / branches down on lines
Evacuations due to hazardous conditions
Reports of structural compromise due to weight of snow or wind
Any large scale incidents that may cause a significant drain on local emergency response resources
Confirmed working or multi-alarm fire
Confirmed Mass Casualty Incident
    The information listed above is by no means an exhaustive list and reports of anything out of the ordinary are welcomed on the Emergency Communications Nets. If there are any questions, please contact me at WC1MAB at gmail.com, via my cell phone listed below or via any of the 4 sector nets that will be in operation throughout the day. 
   
Sincerely,

Michael Leger (N1YLQ)
MEMA Region 2
Emergency Communications Officer
C: 386-566-7666