Month: March 2018

Emergency Communications

Monthly EMA ARES Net 3/5 8:30pm

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*** NOTICE ***
The standard RACES nets on the first business Monday of the month have been canceled due to on going operations supporting clean up after the severe coastal storm last weekend.

The monthly ARES net however will go on as scheduled. ARES remains in a stand-by operational state as clean up continues and another storm is predicted to impact the region on Wednesday. A separate stand-by update notice will be sent out later this evening.

*** Standard monthly notice continues below with RACES net information removed. ***

Hello to all…

We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in March. The monthly ARES Net for March is Monday the 5th, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety), interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
EMA Section Emergency Coordinator

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training

New Hampshire ARES Academy Registration Open

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NH ARES logoThe seventh annual  New Hampshire ARES Academy will be held in Concord, New Hampshire on March 24.

A few of the courses offered at the daylong event include: Net Control, ARES 101, Go Kit Basics, ARESMAT Mutual Aid, and Basic NBEMS, and Tactical Comms for Events and Disasters.

To register, contact Dave, WA1ZCN at wa1zcn@myfairpoint.net and indicate your course choices along with your home or mobile number.

03/21/18: The ARES Academy workshop is open to Eastern MA amateurs.  According to NH Section Manager K1PJS, there are still seats available.

 

 

Clubs

Boston ARC Special Meeting/ Tour at Massport Fire Hq., March 15, 2018

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Boston ARC logoThe Boston Amateur Radio Club will hold a special meeting at Massport Fire Rescue Headquarters, 261 Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A tour of MassPort Fire Department apparatus will commence at 6:45 PM, followed by a short trip to Santarpio’s pizza at 7:15 PM concluding with the general meeting at 8:00 PM. Attendance for this event is limited to 25 individuals.

Steve Staffier, K1SMS, Massport’s Communications and Interoperability Manager, will talk about communications interoperability followed by a presentation about Massport Fire Rescue by Deputy Chief Robert Barnes.

Parking is available at Massport Fire Headquarters, 261 Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts. The Fire Department is located past the Hyatt Hotel. Please park in designated spaces.

Since we’re literally in the neighborhood, we will have Santarpio’s Pizza for dinner. A suggested donation of $7.50 per person is requested.

Due to space limitations at the facility, we will only be able to accommodate 25 members. If you’re interested in attending this meeting, you must send an email to k1bth@arrl.net no later than March 7, 2018. Management reserves the right to cancel the evening if not enough people sign up by March 7.

Emergency Communications

EMA ARES on Stand-By for Major Costal Storm Starting 0900 Friday March 2nd

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*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 0900 FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND UNTIL CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED COASTAL STORM ***
*** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS FROM 9 AM FRIDAY TO 3 AM SUNDAY FOR THE POTENTIAL OF MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING OVER MULTIPLE HIGH TIDE CYCLES ***
*** HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 10 AM SATURDAY FOR NORFOLK, BRISTOL AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES FOR 20-40 MPH WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 70+ MPH ***
*** HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 10 AM SATURDAY FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS FOR 30-40 MPH WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 75+ ***
*** HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 7 AM SATURDAY FOR MIDDLESEX AND ESSEX COUNTIES FOR 25-35 MPH WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 65+ ***
*** THESE WINDS WILL CAUSE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS TREE AND WIRE DAMANGE WITH POSSIABLE POWER OUTAGES ***
*** A WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 4 AM SATURDAY FOR NORTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOR 4-7″ OF SNOW, WITH AMOUNTS TO 10″ POSSIBLE ***
*** ANY SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AND WET AND COUPLED WITH THE STRONG WINDS COULD DOWN SCATTERED TREES AND POWER LINES CAUSING SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ***
*** THE AMOUNT AND CHANGE OVER TO SNOW REMAINS LOW CONFIDENCE AND SNOWS AMOUNTS COULD BE SUBJECT TO REVISION ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 0800 FRIDAY ***

A major storm will be impacting the region Friday morning through Saturday. All amateurs are asked to prepare for a powerful and long duration coastal storm which will bring during multiple high tide cycles significant major coastal flooding to East Coastal Massachusetts along with the potential for strong to damaging winds including hurricane force wind gusts for Cape Cod and the Islands, heavy rainfall (up to 3-4″) that could lead to urban, poor drainage, and potentially river and stream flooding, and rain changing to snow with the potential for significant snow accumulations in portions of interior Southern New England. The potential for heavy snow remains the lowest confidence portion of the forecast.

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 0900 Friday. 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. 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/4045

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 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 – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Plymouth County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com

All

FEMARA Named to Maxim Society

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Mike_K1TWF_Handing_5K_Donation_Check_to_ARRL_Foundation
FEMARA president Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF presenting $5,000 donation to ARRL Foundation president K1KI (right). Fellow board member K0QB is shown (center).

The Federation of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Associations has been named to the Maxim Society based on its past scholarship donations to the ARRL Foundation.

A recent ARRL Board ruling now allows ARRL Foundation donations to be included in achieving Maxim Society status ($10,000 or more).

“FEMARA is now Maxim thanks to all the donations to the FEMARA Scholarship Fund over the years,” announced Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD, ARRL Development Manager to FEMARA president Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF.

FEMARA, Inc. is responsible for organizing the New England Division Convention held each year in Boxboro. The 501 (c) (3)  corporation is charged with “providing funding for educational scholarships for amateur radio operators.”

Emergency Communications

Eastern MA Hospital Net, March 3, 2018

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John O’Neill, K1JRO writes:

The March 3, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net is approaching. We are always looking for groups or organizations to take a turn at Net Control duties. If you are interested in trying your hand as Net Control please let us know. Our goal is to rotate Net Control practice and the experience among as many groups as possible.

Below are the repeaters we have available for our use. Let us know which 3 or 4 repeaters you would like to use and we will make all the notifications. We’ll also send you a copy of our net preamble if you desire which you may modify for your own use.

Attleboro 147.195 tone 127.3 (Sturdy Memorial Hospital)

Belmont 145.430 tone 146.2

Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
Bridgewater 147.180 tone 67.0
Danvers 145.47 tone 136.5
Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Fall River 146.805. tone 67.0
Falmouth 147.375 tone 110.9
Mansfield EMA  446.925 tone 100.0
Mansfield 147.015 tone 67.0
Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
Norwood 147.210 tone 100.00
Plymouth 146.685 tone 82.5
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
W. Bridgewater 146.775 dpl 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2