Author: admin

On Sunday March the 20th a short exercise was conducted involving the newly established South Coast Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Network (South Coast H.E.A.R. Network).
The South Coast H.E.A.R. Network consists of three Hospitals, The Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and the Tobey Hospital in Wareham,. These three hospitals merged some years back to form the South Coast Hospital group.

   The purpose of this Drill was to test the newly installed and programmed radio gear, establish communications between all three hospitals including other hospitals out of our area along with other ARES/ RACES Stations. There were three modes of communications tested, two meter simplex voice among the three hospitals, two meter duplex voice and HF on seventy five and forty meters. After testing on simplex the three hospitals switched to the REGION 2a  RACES repeater, in addition to our three sites we were also joined by the Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro Ma. (K1SMH)  our REGION 2a RACES repeater 147.000 is owned and operated by the South Eastern Ma. Amatuer Radio Association (SEMARA) located in Dartmouth. We were also joined by individual ARES home stations the WA1AEC SEMARA Club and  Cape Cod ARES.

   Operating these positions were approximately six Amatuer Radio Operators representing various organizations i.e. The Town of Acushnet Emergency Management Agency, The Town of Somerset Emergency Management Agency,  the  K1ZZN Amatuer Radio Club in Fall River, SEMARA Club in Dartmouth and  SCMARG (South Coastal Ma. Amatuer Radio Group) from Acushnet. All operators are members of the South Coast ARES group.

   Although the drill was of short duration the South Coast HEAR Network was able to test their system and recognize some of our weak and strong points. Future plans are to recruit more operators, especially for St. Luke’s and the Tobey Hospitals, establish digital communications via packet and winlink and participate in other exercises involving othe hospitals in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Respectfully submitted,

Edward A. Caron(ka1rsy)
South Coastal Massachusetts
ARES/SKYWARN Emergency Coordinator
ka1rsy@arrl.net
ka1rsy@comcast.net
 
Asst. Operations Officer
Town of Acushnet
Office of Emergency Management
(508)998-0295 ext 232
ecaron@acushnetema.com
www.acushnetema.com

Hello!

This is KB1NCG, the Metro-Boston DEC for ARES.

As part of my continuing efforts to build a new core team for the Metro-Boston district I have started a new mailing list for Metro-Boston specific activities and discussions.

If you wish to join you can do so here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/metroboston-ares/

My hope is to grow a wide base of regular members with a large depth of knowledge that will be useful to any future deployments within the Metro-Boston district, and greater New England area.

Thanks
Marek Kozubal
kb1ncg@gmail.com
ARES Metro-Boston District Emergency Coordinator
KB1NCG / VA3NCG

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS BEGINNING AT 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY MORNING FEBRUARY 2ND 2011 THROUGH NOON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3RD 2011 DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE MAJOR WINTER SNOW/ICE STORM TO THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION.***
***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE AT 3 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING AND LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING**

A major winter storm/nor’easter will likely pound the Eastern Massachusetts Section with heavy snow and the potential for damaging accumulations between heavy snow and potential heavy ice accumulations. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for much of the Eastern Massachusetts section. For further specific information on warnings in effect for the section, see the latest Storm Coordination Message link listed below that has greater details on the storm scenario.

http://www.wx1box.org/node/586

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of measured snowfall, any changeover in precipitation over the region, snow/ice accumulation and damage reports and by providing damage and storm related pictures where possible. 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, monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies and reporting into the nets and monitor local media on this potentially significant storm.

If you have not already done so, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from now through Thursday February 3rd, 2011. This is to support parnter agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) etc.) that are also on some form of standby. Its also noted that Connecticut ARES has moved to stand-by mode for Wednesday Morning at 6 AM.

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.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator   
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all,

My apologies for the late posting due to the winter storm that hit the region at the end of this week. If you have time this weekend, please participate in the Cape and Islands ARES district exercise being held this Saturday from 10 AM through Noon. Feel free to contact Cape Cod ARES as listed on the timeline in the document at the link below and here is Frank O’Laughlin-WQ1O Cape Cod ARES DEC messasge on the exercise:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/CCARESdrill_42Doc01-16-11.pdf

Cape and Islands ARES district will be holding its winter exercise this Saturday from 10am-12pm. We will be setting up an outside field station and operating on 2 meter FM, 6M repeater, FM and SSB. We will also be on 75m at 3925khz and 40m at 7232khz using NVIS configuration. I have attached the exercise document and station operational timeline. Please feel free to contact us as listed on the timeline.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

73’ Frank WQ1O
Cape and Islands ARES DEC

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator    
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS BEGINNING AT 5 AM EST WEDNESDAY MORNING JANUARY 12TH 2011 THROUGH NOON THURSDAY JANUARY 13TH 2011 DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE MAJOR WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD TO THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION.***
***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE AT 3 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING AND LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING**

A major winter storm/nor’easter will likely pound the Eastern Massachusetts Section with heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and strong to damaging winds with the strong to damaging winds particularly affecting coastal areas. Blizzard/Winter Storm/High Wind Warnings are in effect for much of the Eastern Massachusetts section. For further specific information on warnings in effect for the section, see the latest Blizzard Coordination Message link listed below that has greater details on the storm scenario.

http://www.wx1box.org/node/498

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of measured snowfall, any changeover in precipitation in extreme Southeast Massachusetts, snow/wind damage reports and by providing damage and storm related pictures where possible. 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, monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies and reporting into the nets and monitor local media on this potentially significant storm.

If you have not already done so, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from now through Thursday January 13th, 2011. This is to support parnter agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) etc.) that are also on some form of standby. The Massachusetts State EOC and its regional offices are in a partial activation mode with RACES staffing at the State EOC and certain regional offices.

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.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator   
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS BEGINNING AT 5 PM EDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON DECEMBER 26TH 2010 THROUGH MONDAY EVENING DECEMBER 27TH 2010 DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE MAJOR WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD TO THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION.***
***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 3 PM SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND LAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND INTO MONDAY EVENING**

A major winter storm/nor’easter will likely pound the Eastern Massachusetts Section with heavy snow, blizzard conditions, damaging winds and the threat for a widespread moderate to isolated pockets of severe coastal flooding event over the area. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the entire section except for Cape Cod and the Islands from Noon Sunday to 6 PM Monday for 15-20” of snow with isolated 24” amounts and winds sustained at 30-40 MPH with higher gusts to 60 MPH likely and even higher wind gusts possible.. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard for Sunday Afternoon into Monday Afternoon for 6” or more of snow though rain could mix in at these locations. A Coastal Flood Watch is in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket Island late Sunday Night through Monday Afternoon. Below is the latest Blizzard Coordination Message with greater details on the storm scenario.

http://www.wx1box.org/node/467

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of measured snowfall, any changeover in precipitation in extreme Southeast Massachusetts, wind damage reports and coastal flood reports and by providing damage/flood pictures where possible. Some of the most severe impact will happen overnight so overnight reporting would also be very helpful. 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, monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies and reporting into the nets and monitor local media on this potentially significant storm.

If you have not already done so, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from now through Thursday December 30th, 2010. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army and hospitals as required.

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.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator   
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

Cape Cod ARES will be hosting a mini-ARES Exercise on Saturday November 13th from 130-300 PM. Other districts within Eastern Massachusetts ARES that are interested in participating can monitor 3935 KHz 75 Meter HF or 146.955 MHz. In addition, the New England reflector Echolink conference *NEW-ENG* node: 9123/IRLP 9123 system will be monitored as well. Amateurs from other districts that participate in the mini-exercise are asked to give their 72-hour availability for ARESMAT to Cape Cod if this was an actual incident requring ARES support to their district. Further details and the Cape Cod ARES document for this mini-exercise as written by Cape Cod ARES DEC, WQ1O-Frank O’Laughlin are listed below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/CCARESdrill_41Doc11-12-10.pdf

Mini ARES exercise “Operation Hybrid storm” Saturday Nov 13 at 1:30pm- 300 pm

CCARES will hold its Mini-exercise #41 this Saturday at 1:30-3pm. This will be primarily an EOC type exercise. We will also have home stations participating to back up our primary stations. This is a follow up to the Earl activation in September. We will be starting our normal net on the RACES repeater at 146.955Mhz PL 88.5 as we normally would for an activation. Check-ins will be called for after the start of the net. At some point the repeater will likely fail requiring a move to the output of the repeater as standard RACES policy (146.955 Mhz simplex, NO shift or tone). Net control station (NCS) ARES HQ Hyannis will direct a move to one of our simplex frequencies after that time. The ARES backup EOC station WA1KCC will also be operational. This station will also have HF capability on 75m SSB on 3935khz and will be guarding that frequency for contacts. Since HF is a wider area system, all station having the capability may contact other stations as the MACC does NOT have HF capability. Winlink messaging protocol is a different animal. It is important that the primary stations be aware of important messages passed on winlink to avoid redundant confusion and key stations being left in the dark. When winlink messages are sent, the other key stations (NCS, MACC, other EOC stations) should be CCd on the message. This insures that all the stations have the same info.

Example:

Harwich EOC needs to make a request to the MACC. Harwich would also CC the message to NCS and the other EOC stations.

Station contact protocol:

In an actual operation, protocol would be for shelters to contact the local EOC for requests. Since we are not having the shelter layer active for this exercise, we start at the EOC level. EOCs would contact the MACC station (K1DYO).  EOCs could also contact the ARES HQ station in Hyannis for any ARES related needs or info that has to go to NCS.

We will have the ARES southern sub-regional command station (WA1EMA Acushnet EOC) active for this operation as well. Normal protocol would be for the MACC station to communicate with the southern sub-regional command station. Other EOCs could contact southern command if the MACC was unavailable. 

Home stations:

Home stations are the extended resource to the operation. They can be relay points, net control stations, and backup stations. They will check in just as the EOC stations do during the operation. They are free to use any mode necessary to accomplish the path ( provided the ultimate receiving station can communicate there.)

Messaging:

Messaging will include NTS type messages and tactical messages. Due to time constraints, stations should only send one or two messages per half hour time block. Most messages should not require a reply as this will also increase the time issue. Each EOC should designate someone to create/send the messages and receive messages.

Unannounced problems:

All stations should be prepared for an unexpected event and act quickly react.

73’ Frank WQ1O

Cape Cod and Islands ARES DEC