Hello to all!
*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0600 TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***
*** A BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WESTERN/CENTRAL MA INTO ESSEX AND CENTRAL/NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN EASTERN MA ALONG WITH MOST OF CT AND NORTHWEST RI. TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 12-18″+ WITH WINDS 25-35MPH AND GUSTS 40-50MPH ***
*** A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND SUFFOLK COUNTY INCLUDING THE CITY OF BOSTON, ALONG WITH NORFOLK, BRISLTOL, AND PLYMOUTH COUNTY. TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 10-15″. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES IN THE WARNING AREA ***
*** A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS ***
*** A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS FOR WINDS 40-50MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65MPH ***
*** A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN ESSEX, EASTERN PLYMOUTH, CAPE COD, MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET ISLAND FOR MINOR TO POCKETS OF MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING ***
*** A COSTAL FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SUFFOLK AND EASTERN NORFOLK COUNTIES ***
*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE POSSIBLY WET HEAVY SNOW AFFECTING TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0600 TUESDAY ***
A major storm will be impacting the region on Tuesday. All amateurs are asked to prepare for blizzard conditions and to notify ARES leadership of their availability to deploy for any post storm support. All amateurs during the storm are asked to shelter in place and monitor their local SKYWARN repeaters to help relay damage, snow fall amounts, and any other pertinent information. If able please monitor your local public safety frequencies for situational awareness and relay any criteria level information. ARES members are advised to continue to maintain readiness at home and check your emergency power, supplies, and antenna situation. Secure any loose objects that can blow around easily.
The list of SKYWARN repeaters can be found at: http://wx1box.org/node/37
A reminder of SKYWARN criteria can be found here: http://wx1box.org/node/35
SKYWARN nets will start up progressing from the south to the north on approximately the following schedule:
Cape Cod 6am & 8am
South Shore 8am
Metro-Boston 9am
North Shore 10am
The latest SKYWARN coordination message for this storm is at: http://wx1box.org/node/3901
Part of the mission of ARES and SKYWARN is to help provide situational awareness and the diverse geographical distribution of amateur radio operators across the region is very helpful in gaining on the ground intelligence during storms and other incidents.
An ARES HF net will be run on 3930+ kHz (up to 3955 kHz) starting in a stand by status at 0700 doing calls on the :00 and :30. If the net is active enough it will switch into a full active net.
Even if you are not a trained SKYWARN spotter your information can still be valuable and report items to your SKYWARN net control who will relay onto the National Weather Service.
In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC (SEC/DEC listed below) of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime over the following days. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Aid Team) deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.
When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. Also, please let us know if you can do an ARESMAT to another part of the Eastern Massachusetts section as this will be a large area impact storm for this anticipated blizzard. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.
What is ARES Stand-By mode?
ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.
Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,
Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)
ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator
SEC/ASEC:
SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net
DECs:
Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Metro-Boston – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net
Bristol County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Plymouth County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com