Hello to all….
….Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistance Requested by the Massachusetts Bay Red Cross for the Operation Atlas Boston Logan Airport Drill….
….Drill Rescheduled for Saturday June 4th, 2005 with the same timeline to be utilized. A backup date of Sunday June 5th, 2005 has already been defined as well….
The Operation Atlas, Boston Logan Airport Drill, has been rescheduled for Saturday June 4th with the same timeline to be utilized by Massachusets By Red Cross. A backup date of Sunday June 5th has also been designed in case of weather issues on Saturday June 4th. The Red Cross has defined their timeline and we had 10-20 Amateurs assigned for this exercise for the orignial date, however, given the new rescheduled date of June 4th, we may need different Amateurs to step forward in case the ones previously assigned cannot make the new data. In particular, we are looking for Hams in the Metro Boston area to provide additional support for the drill.
The Massachusetts Bay Red Cross Chapter has requested Eastern Massachusetts ARES to assist in the Operation Atlas-Boston Logan Airport Drill. This drill is being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Red Cross has a role in the drill to provide a Disaster Mental Health Services Team, Mass. Care Team, and will have their Boston and Waltham offices active for this exercise. The Red Cross has requested communications assistance from Eastern Massachusetts ARES for this drill.
Currently, we are anticipating a need for approximately 15-20 Amateurs. The town of Bridgewater EOC will be setup as a Net Control center similar to what was done for the Democratic National Convention. Amateurs will be needed at the Waltham and Boston Red Cross chapters and several Amateurs will be needed on “Go” teams that will be going into the city or to the airport itself. Home stations will also be needed for this exercise.
This is the first major drill that we have participated in with Red Cross since the Democratic National Convention. While not as large as the TOPOFF exercise just completed in Connecticut, the Department of Homeland Security is running the Operation Atlas-Logan Airport Drill and all eyes will be on the performance of Amateur Radio during this drill. It is widely known through several federal government agencies of the tremendous effort that the ARES/RACES/SKYWARN and MARS operators played during the Democratic National Convention and this is an opportunity to prove that the high level of organization that existed last year has been sustained since the DNC by a strong performance in this exercise.
Please contact your DEC or myself if you’re interested in participating in this exercise. Please note that deployments to the Red Cross and as go teams for the Red Cross will have requirements set forth by our ARES staff. For Net Control duties in Bridgewater, please contact Carl Aveni-N1FY at caave@peoplepc.com or myself.
This is a worthwhile event to practice deployment skills not utilized since the Democratic National Convention. Also, remember that in this drill, much like a real emergency communications situation, unexpected things may happen so remember one of the most important aspects to supporting a drill or real emergency communications situation, Blessed are the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape.
This announcement will be updated again as further information becomes available.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
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