a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®)
The Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC ARES team will conduct a drill on Sunday, September 30, 2018. They will meet after breakfast at Sturdy Memorial Hospital at 10:30 AM. The drill will last for approximately an hour and a half.
“We should be home in time for 1:00 PM kickoff of the Pat-Dolphins game.”
UPDATE:
The Danvers-47 repeater was activated at approximately 5:30pm to monitor the situation in the Merrimack Valley. At this time no requests for support have been received but have been in communication with Jonathan Goldfield-KB1ZRB from Red Cross and they are gathering general availability on their end for overnight operations. We are doing the same and gathering availability in the event our services are needed. Mark-K1MGY is requesting availability from his area as well. Otherwise we are passing along pertinent information over the repeater and on my Facebook page as well to get the word out.
Hello to all,
Cape Cod and Islands ARES will participate in the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee shelter exercise on Saturday.
August 25th. This will be a functional exercise using the volunteer agencies in our multi agency shelter at D-Y Regional High School. Our Red Cross partners, ARES, MRC, CERT, and the Disaster Animal Rescue Team will participate.
Cape and Islands ARES will be providing in shelter communication coverage by UHF radio between the agencies. External communications will be using a new kit featuring a 75 watt VHF 2m radio.
Our 2m VHF station will call a simplex net on 146.580 MHZ FM at about 0900 in the morning. The 2m VHF test will last about 30 minutes. All stations within range are welcome to check in. Please report our signal strength to the net control station along with your antenna type, height, and the equipment/power level you are using.
At 0930 a test will begin with the new PAC digital software created by our own Ron W2CTX. It will last 30 minutes. Only stations with PAC will be able to participate. The software is in its late developmental stages, but has not gone live yet. There will be training for our members before that occurs.
Frank O’Laughlin WQ1O
Cape Cod and Islands ARES DEC
Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, and the Cape Cod ARES team received high praise from the Barnstable County Commissioners for his hard work during the intense storms that impacted the Cape in March.
The ARRL Cape Cod and Islands ARES District Emergency Coordinator and the Cape Cod ARES team were awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Commissioners Ronald Beaty, Mary Pat Flynn, and Leo Cakounes at a Regional Emergency Planning Committee Meeting on August 1, 2018.
“I want to give thanks to all and especially to my crew who worked hard and long hours last winter during storm operations. Our group devoted several hundred person-hours to the operations,” writes WQ1O. “As Cape and Islands ARES insists on self sufficiency, our volunteers are self-equipped regardless if there is equipment on scene. This helps guarantee redundancy.”
The Public Service Enhancement Working Group (PSEWG) has contacted all ARRL Section Managers and Section Emergency Coordinators seeking comments and suggestions regarding the proposed ARES Strategic Plan via an online form. The deadline is October 31, in order to give the PSEWG sufficient time to review the comments and suggestions, formulate any necessary revisions, and submit the revised document to the Board for consideration at its January meeting. [Full story]
[Note: please forward comments and suggestions about the strategic plan to Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY.]
Just a reminder that the monthly ARES Net will be held on the Minute Man Repeater network (http://mmra.org/).
The net starts at 8:30pm Monday August 6th. Greg KC1CIC will be the NCS.
We will try out a new preamble that will shorten check-in time and allow more time for news and feedback.
We hope to have many of you check in!
Greg KC1CIC
Rob Macedo, KD1CY writes:For the next several months, MEMA’s Region II staff is working in conference and office space that has been provided by the Plymouth Police Department, and the REOC has been moved to MEMA headquarters in Framingham. Contact information for Region II staff and the REOC remain the same — the phone numbers for the former Bridgewater office and Regional EOC are being forwarded to Headquarters.
Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, has announced the appointment of Rob Macedo, KD1CY as Section Emergency Coordinator.
“Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, has found it necessary to step down as the SEC for EMA. Rob Macedo, KD1CY, has accepted the role of SEC going forward. Rob, because of his previous SEC experience will be able to step in immediately,” Walsh said.
KC1CIC will continue in a new role as an ARES District Emergency Coordinator for NTS liaison. “I extend my since thanks to both Greg and Rob for their ongoing significant contributions as volunteers in the Eastern Massachusetts section,” K1TW added.
We hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July week. This coming Saturday being the first Saturday of the month the Eastern MA Hospital Net will be conducted.
Net Control for the July 7, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.
Simplex 147.42
The Net will then return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and Net closing.
NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give yours or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.
We extend an invitation to any health care facility or EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.
Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.
We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control. If you are interested please contact us at the email address listed above. Our goal is to rotate Net Control throughout the year among as many groups as possible.
We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month. More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.
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 131.8 (Note: new tone effective 4-1-18)
Salem 146.88 tone 118.8
Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
Weymouth 147.345 tone 110.9 (South Shore Hospital)
Bridgewater 146.775 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2
We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.
Just a reminder that the monthly ARES Net will be held
on the Minute Man Repeater network (http://mmra.org/).
The net starts at 8:30pm Monday July 2nd. Greg KC1CIC will be the NCS.
We will try out a new preamble that will shorten check-in time
and allow more time for news and feedback.
I hope to have many of you check in!
Greg KC1CIC
Hello to all..
..The following is the second in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 15 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..After quiet weather on Friday, unsettled weather is likely during Amateur Radio Field Day weekend. It will not be a complete washout but there will be the threat of widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms with heavier rainfall and urban and the potential of urban and poor drainage flooding as well as an attendant lightning risk Saturday into Saturday Night. As we move into Sunday…
Hello to all..
..The following is the first in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 15 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2018 Field Day weekend has quiet weather for Friday but looks unsettled with the potential for rain and possibly heavier rain and can’t rule out an isolated thunderstorm along with cooler temperatures on Saturday and then the potential of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall on Sunday Afternoon/Evening potentially when Amateur Radio Field Day sites are breaking down stations and wrapping up for this year’s event. Weekend weather will be monitored closely..
..Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend. Many locations can be visited by the public and Amateur Radio Field Day can be a form of outreach to Ham and non-Ham Operators. It is also noted that several states have given proclamations to Amateur Radio/Ham Radio Operators for either an ‘Amateur Radio Day or Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or an ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..SKYWARN Activation on Saturday appears unlikely but will need to monitor for any potential for thunderstorms and attendant lightning risk and heavier rainfall. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Boston/Norton are possible Sunday Afternoon/Evening for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm potential..
There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Boston/Norton Coverage Area and adjacent NWS Coverage Areas. Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region:
Amateur Radio Field Day Information: http://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: http://fd.ema.arrl.org/
The commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared this week to be Amateur Radio Week and Governor Baker has proclaimed Sunday June 24th, 2018 Amateur Radio Day in honor of the ARRL Field Day event. The details can be seen at the following links:
NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/
NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are still encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
http://www.wx1box.org/node/37
The next Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message will be posted by 1000 PM Friday Evening.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Rob Macedo, KD1CY was featured in a radio interview on radio station WILI AM 1400 in Willamantic, Connecticut on June 15. Macedo spoke on severe weather and the importance of trained SKYWARN observers.
KD1CY is an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for Eastern Massachusetts and SKYWARN Coordinator for the National Weather Service office in Norton.
Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O writes on Facebook:
I was interviewed today by Kathryn Eident of NPR station WCAI today at our Barnstable County facility (used for the Multi-Agency Coordination Center) on Cape Cod.
We discussed ARES, agencies, volunteers and how basic simple equipment can often endure due to its lack of dependence on infrastructure. We gave her a live demonstration of digital modes and NBEMS sending files and ICS forms. We then had ARES member Jim, KC1KM send a digital image on VHF. It was of Kathryn’s own WCAI broadcast facility in Falmouth.
I think the interview went well. She is working in collaboration with the Cape Cod Times on a series about disaster preparedness and levels of communications. She will advise me when the final piece is ready to air, possibly in late July or early August. My thanks to Kathryn and WCAI for their interest in emergency communications.
The webinar will go through an overview of the historic 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, lessons learned from the season, key Amateur Radio group’s preparedness for the new season and how Amateur Radio operators and SKYWARN spotters can become involved. These Amateur Radio Groups include, WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, which is now in its 37th year of service, the Hurricane Watch Net, the VoIP Hurricane Net, SATERN (the Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Also, an Amateur Radio operator who is the Warning Preparedness Meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre will be giving the meteorological overview of the 2018 season.
We hope many folks can join the 2018 ARRL Hurricane Webinar!
MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
June 1, 2018
Today marks the start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs through November, 2018. To encourage preparedness for the next tropical storm or hurricane, MEMA issued the following press release earlier this morning. Additionally, we also have included an update that the National Hurricane Center issued this morning on its resources and changes to its forecast products for this hurricane season.
|
From: National Hurricane Center
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2018 7:33 AM
Subject: 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season
| 2018 HURRICANE SEASON |
| Today marks the start of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30th. Forecasts for storms and their impacts are available at www.hurricanes.gov.
Below are recent changes to NHC products, resources, and a list of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season names. If there is any assistance that we can provide, please don’t hesitate to contact the Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT). |
| TROPICAL STORM WIND ARRIVAL GRAPHIC |
| These graphics have become operational in 2018 and depict when tropical storm winds could begin for individual locations given forecast uncertainties.
a. Most Likely Arrival Time b. Earliest Reasonable Arrival Time
|
| PUBLIC ADVISORY |
| The Public Advisory includes information about watches and warnings, anticipated hazards, and previously, was limited to a 48 hour discussion of the forecast.
This year, Public Advisories will discuss the track and intensity forecast routinely through 72 hours, and allow the flexibility to discuss the forecast through 5 days when conditions warrant. |
| STORM SURGE WATCH AND WARNING |
| The Storm Surge Watch and Warning will highlight areas along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States that are most at risk for life-threatening storm surge.
Storm Surge Watch and Warning are available as:
|
| POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONES |
| The NHC can initiate advisories for systems that are not yet Tropical Cyclones, if they could bring Tropical Storm or Hurricane conditions to land within 48 hours.
These “Potential Tropical Cyclones” will have the same suite of forecast products as other Tropical Cyclones. |
| CONE GRAPHIC WITH INITIAL WIND FIELD |
| Last season, the NHC added the initial wind field to the forecast cone graphic. This change reinforces that the forecast cone is not an impact graphic and hazards can occur well outside the cone.
|
| IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS |
| –Hurricane Watch– Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours of the onset of tropical storm force winds. –Hurricane Warning– Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area, generally within 36 hours of the onset of tropical storm force winds.
–Storm Surge Watch–
Ø Tropical Depression Ø Tropical Storm Ø Hurricane Ø Major Hurricane |
| HURREVAC |
| The current desktop software version will be available and supported this season, and a web-based prototype (called HVX) will also be available for testing. For more information, please visit www.hurrevac.com. |
| 2018 ATLANTIC NAMES |
(Pronunciations)
|
This message has been sent from MEMA’s Private Sector Listserv.
To unsubscribe from this listserv, call MEMA Operations at (508) 820-2000.
Private Sector
Attachments area
John Barbuto, KS1Q writes on the South Shore Hospital ARC mailing list:
Net Control for the June 2, 2018 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH, The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club . The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed.
1.Sharon 146.865 tone 103.5
2 Marshfield 145.390 tone 67.0
3.Dartmouth 147.000 tone 67.0
Simplex 147.42
The Net will then return to the Sharon Repeater for final comments and Net closing.
NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard net check in procedure which is: Here is.., un-key, wait 3 seconds to check for doubling, then give yours or your facilities call sign, your first name, and your facility’s name.
We extend an invitation to any health care facility or EOC of any city or town that is served by one of the participating hospitals to join the Net. We also extend an invitation to any RACES or ARES member to check in during the NET.
Any hospital wishing to join the net that needs assistance with equipment or personnel should contact us at ssharc@gmail.com. We can assist you with getting your location on the air.
We are always looking for groups or organizations to try their hand at Net Control. If you are interested please contact us at the email address listed above. Our goal is to rotate Net Control throughout the year among as many groups as possible.
We thank the repeater trustees for their generosity in allowing us to conduct the monthly nets and the use of their systems in an actual event. The following list of repeaters are available for our use. Only a few systems are used each month with the selection of those used made by Net Control for that month. More systems are being added to the list on a regular basis.
REMINDER: The BARC Repeater is now using split tone. Boston 145.230 tone encode 88.5 tone decode 100.0
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 131.8
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 dcs 244
Wrentham 147.09 tone 146.2
We look forward to hearing you all on the Net.
Respectfully,
John Barbuto
KS1Q
—
South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
Box 42
55 Fogg Road,
South Weymouth, MA 02190
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Eastern MA Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator and Director of Operations for the Voice Over IP Hurricane Net was featured in an interview this past week with ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U on the May 17, 2018 edition of ARRL Audio News. You can hear Rob and Mike at 5 minutes 30 seconds into the broadcast.
As part of a renewed emphasis on ARES throughout the Eastern Massachusetts section, Greg Bennett, KC1CIC has been appointed as Section Emergency Coordinator. The appointment was made on May 23, 2018 by Section Manager Tom Walsh. As Greg assumes his new role, Tom thanked outgoing SEC Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG for his service to the section for the past three years.
Greg brings a great amount of experience to the job. Greg is currently an Assistant Section Traffic Manager. KC1CIC has been a licensed amateur since 2014 and possesses over ten years of radio communications expertise learned in the military special forces.
Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, is active daily on the HF and VHF nets, and he is no stranger to emergency communications and public service. He constructed his own ‘Go Kit’. He’s an effective manager and the author of articles on digital communications and emergency power.
I have complete confidence that Greg will accomplish the goals I have set forth for the ARES program in Eastern Massachusetts. Those new goals include raising the profile of EMA ARES; developing a section emergency plan; restructuring our current leadership; revitalizing the program through new member recruitment; revamping instructional materials; and conducting regular section-wide Simulated Emergency Tests.
Please welcome Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, to his new Section Emergency Coordinator role and give him your support.
Tom Walsh K1TW
ARRL Section Manager
Eastern Massachusetts
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
——————————————————————–
