EMA ARES on Stand-By for Coastal Blizzard Starting 2300 Monday March 12th

*** BLIZZARD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2300 MONDAY EVENING THROUGH 2000 TUESDAY EVENING FOR EASTERN ESSEX, PLYMOUTH, BARNSTABLE, AND DUKES COUNTIES FOR 10-18 INCHES OF SNOW WITH ISOLATED 20+ INCH AMOUNTS WITH 30-40 MPH WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 65+ MPH ***

*** SNOW IN THE BLIZZARD WARNING AREA IS LIKELY TO BE HEAVY AND WET WITH THE STRONG WINDS COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED POCKETS OF TREE AND WIRE DAMAGE AND SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ***

*** WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS FROM 2300 MONDAY TO 2000 TUESDAY FOR 10-18+ INCHES OF SNOW WITH WINDS 20-30 GUSTING TO 50-55+ MPH ***

*** SNOW IN THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ARES OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING COULD BE WET AND HEAVY WITH THE STRONG WINDS COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED POCKETS OF TREE AND WIRE DAMAGE AND SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ***

*** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 0800 TUESDAY TO 1200 TUESDAY FOR EASTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY, CAPE COD,  NANTUCKET, EASTERN ESSEX, AND DUKES COUNTY FOR MINOR COASTAL FLOODING DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE ***

*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0400 TUESDAY ***

A major storm will be impacting the region Monday evening through Tuesday evening. All amateurs are asked to prepare for a powerful coastal storm which will bring blizzard conditions along the coastal parts of Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Across the region 12-18 inches of snow is forecast with isolated amounts reaching 20+ inches. The snow may be wet and heavy causing additional strain on already weakened trees and infrastructure from the previous two Nor’Easters especially in the eastern and southern areas of the warning area. Some coastal flooding is expected during the Noon Tuesday high tide cycle. A high wind warning is also in effect for Nantucket for sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 65 MPH.

Please notify ARES leadership of 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; infrastructure issues; coastal, river, and urban flooding; change over to snow; 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 Cape Cod MACC (Multi-Agency Coordination Center) will be operating starting around 0600 Tuesday. Nets will be run on 146.955- PL88.5 Dennis repeater. The ARES HF net will also be running on 3.930 +/- 5 kHz QRM with calls at the top (:00) and bottom (:30) of the hour starting at 0600 Tuesday. SKYWARN will be running various nets across our section on the assigned SKYWARN repeaters.

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/4054

For the latest bulletins please visit http://wx1box.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 over 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://ema.arrl.org/ares 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 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