*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0600 THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***
*** BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN ESSEX, SUFFOLK, EASTERN NORFOLK, PLYMOUTH AND SOUTHERN BRISTOL COUNTIES OF MASSACHUSETTS FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM THURSDAY ***
*** WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY FOR CAPE COD AND MARTHAS VINEYARD ISLAND ***
*** HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 7 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY FOR CAPE COD AND ISLANDS FOR WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH WITH ISOLATED HIGHER WIND GUSTS ***
*** WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AREA EXCEPT FOR NANTUCKET ISLAND FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM FRIDAY ***
*** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING CAPE COD AND ISLANDS FROM 11 AM TO 4 PM THURSDAY FOR MODERATE TO ISOLATED POCKETS OF MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING ***
*** EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE HEAVY SNOW AND DAMGING WINDS AFFECTING TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AS WELL AS POST-STORM COLD TEMPERATURES ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0600 THURSDAY ***
*** MEMA STATE EOC MOVING TO LEVEL-2 PARTIAL ACTIVATION AT 0600 THURSDAY ***
A major storm will be impacting the region on Thursday. 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, any updates or relays from ARES/SKYWARN leadership, and any other pertinent information. ARES members are advised to continue to maintain readiness at home and check your emergency power 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
The latest SKYWARN coordination message for this storm is at: http://wx1box.org/node/4020
…with the next update expected Thursday morning. For the latest SKYWARN bulletins please visit http://wx1box.org/ For the latest ARES updates please visit http://ares.ema.arrl.org/
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 through the weekend. 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/EC, please send a copy of the message to blizzard@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 – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Plymouth County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com
a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
