Emergency Communications

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 6:00 PM SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH 2011, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM AN EARLY SEASON NOR’EASTER CAPABLE OF CAUSING SIGNIFICANT TREE AND WIRE DAMAGE FROM HEAVY WET SNOW ACCUMULATION COUPLED WITH FOILIAGE LEFT ON TREES OVER INTERIOR MASSACHUSETTS***

An anomalous early season nor’easter is expected to impact much of Southern New England including Massachusetts Saturday Night into Sunday. The main concern prompting the ARES Stand-by activation is the threat for heavy wet snow in interior Massachusetts especially along and west of I-495 coupled with foiliage left on trees causing widespread tree and power line damage and power outages. Other impacts will include strong to damaging winds, heavy rainfall along and southeast of the Boston to Providence RI corridor and minor to moderate coastal flooding in East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands though this should be typical nor’easter impacts versus the heavy wet snow threat which looks much more serious. For further meteorological updates, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org   

In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from Saturday evening, 10/27 through early next week. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT 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.  We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to aresmat@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,

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..

Hurricane Irene had a significant impact across the US East Coast from North Carolina to New England and this was featured in the September edition of the ARES E-Letter. A significant article on the efforts of the Eastern and Western Massachusetts sections along with an article on the Connecticut section was featured in the ARES E-Letter. Other sections impacted were also part of the ARES E-Letter. A link to this ARES E-Letter article is listed below:

http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2011-09-28

We again want to thank everyone who supported deployments, storm reporting and all the administrative tasks that were required to make our efforts during Hurricane Irene a success. Thanks to all for their support!

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…

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for September is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for September is Monday September 12th, 2011, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site and the repeaters that will be linked in will be through Hub 1:

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

In addition, if the Echo-IRLP node on the MMRA hub is available, we will likely link that to the New England Reflector system on IRLP 9123/Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123.

Make this second Monday of the month due to a holiday on the first Monday of the month, “Emergency Communications Night” and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

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!

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 STAND-BY LIFTED AS OF 330 PM TUESDAY AUGUST 30TH 2011
AS THE AREA CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE IRENE..

Hurricane Irene caused widespread pockets of tree and wire damage across the
region. Irene knocked out power to over 600,000 residents in Massachusetts.
Those numbers as of this message wirting was down to approximately 215,000
people. Eastern Massachusetts ARES supported the following activities as
Irene impacted the region:

-ARES Support of NWS Taunton SKYWARN Operations and reportds from SKYWARN
Nets from across the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area
-ARES support of the city of Boston and town of Carver EOCs
-ARES Support of Red Cross Regional Shelters that were established
-Support and communications to the FEMA Region 1 Federal Response Center
-Cape Cod ARES supported 7 shelters, Red Cross EOC Staffing, staffing at
the Mutual Aid Coordination Center (MACC) and Nantucket ARES supported a
shelter and primary and backup EOC communication.
-CAARA (Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association) supported the Gloucester EOC with three net control operators and one operator to Addison Gilbert Hospital, (part of the Northeast Health System).
-An ARESMAT was nearly required for Franklin County Massachusetts and
Western Massachusetts ARES. Several Amateurs were nearly deployed to support
issues caused by severe flooding in Franklin County Massachusetts but the
needs were covered in Western Massachusetts and those operations were
completed by Monday Evening August 29th.

The National Weather Service in Taunton has posted their Local Storm Report
and Public Information Statement on wind meassurements, river, stream, urban
and storm surge flooding reports as well as rainfall and measured wind
gust information. This information can be seen in their reports via the
following links embedded into the Post Hurricane Irene Coordination
Message #1:

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report Link:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/LSR_8_28_11.txt

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement link:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/pns_8_28_11.txt

A Hurricane Irene Post Tropical Cyclone Report will likely follow in the
coming days or weeks. This will be covered under a Post Hurricane Irene
Coordination Message that will be posted on the WX1BOX, NWS Taunton
Amateur Radio Station Home Page via the following link:

http://www.wx1box.org

A great thank you to all the Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters, non-Amateur
Radio SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) members
for their support in Hurricane Irene. The efforts made by
everyone helped save lives and is greatly appreciated by the National
Weather Service, American Red Cross, and local, state and
federal emergency management.

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 REMAINS ON STAND-BY STATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM HURRICANE IRENE***
***WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN ADVANCE OF THE STORM AND ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR AVAILABILITY LIST.  PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EC/DEC/ASEC/SEC OF YOUR AVAILABILITY AS OUTLINED BELOW***

Hurricane Irene made landfall this morning along the outer banks of North Carolina and slowly continues her track towards the Southern New England region.  All computer model guidance products have are now in agreement that Irene will travel up the coast overnight tonight and make landfall along Long Island and Southern CT (possibly Coastal RI) as a Category-1 Hurricane. Should the storm make landfall, this would be the first land falling hurricane in New England since Bob of 1991. Most importantly, Irene has a significantly large wind-field with strong winds being felt well away from the storm center.  For further meteorological updates, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org

We are continuing to collect availability for potential deployment to some of our served agencies.  As of Saturday morning, 8/27, we have received several requests in advance of the storm including local EOC’s, American Red Cross, and hospital locations.  We are currently reviewing all submitted availability and will be sending out assignments as needed.  As a reminder, please do not self-deploy.  Check with your local ARES leadership for additional information on deployments.

Please continue to advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from Saturday morning, 8/27 through early next week. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT 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 continue to send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. 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,

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

Eastern MA ARES is currently on stand-by for all areas effective 9:00 AM Thursday, August 25, 2011 until further notice due to potential impacts from major Hurrican Irene.

Full story

 

 

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO GO ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 9:00AM THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM MAJOR HURRICANE IRENE***

Major Hurricane Irene has been steadily strengthening and currently sits as a major, category 3 storm currently affecting the Bahamas and is poised to become a category-4 storm in the next 24 hours.  Numerous computer model guidance products have established a track where the storm makes a direct impact to Long Island and/or New England during the day on Sunday as a Category-2 hurricane.  Should the storm make landfall, this would be the first land falling hurricane in New England since Bob of 1991. For further meteorological updates, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org   

In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from Saturday morning, 8/27 through early next week. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT 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.  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,

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..

..COMMUNICATIONS RESTORED TO REASONABLE STRENGTH AFTER INITIAL COMMUNICATIONS
PROBLEMS IN THE WAKE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TORNADO OUTBREAK OF JUNE 1ST 2011..
..EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES STAND-BY LIFTED AS OF 11 PM FRIDAY JUNE 3RD 2011..

After the worst tornado outbreak in Massachusetts since 1995, there were
initial communications issues after tornadoes ripped through the Western
Massachusetts ARRL section. Eastern Massachusetts ARES was placed on stand-by
in case support of our neighboring section was required. Since that time,
communications have been restored to tolerable levels and we have lifted
the ARES stand-by as of 11 PM Friday June 3rd, 2011.

The National Weather Service in Taunton has posted their assessment on the
tornado outbreak that hit Massachusetts. Three Tornadoes hit the state. The
complete report on the tornadoes can be seen via the following
Public Information Statement link:

http://www.wx1box.org/local/pns_6_3_11_tor_report.txt

The complete severe weather report for all of the severe thunderstorms is
listed in the link below:

http://www.wx1box.org/local/lsr_6_1_11.txt

The following is a tornado response report from John Ruggiero-N2YHK, Western
Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator:

Just a quick note about the assistance that amateur radio provided during
and after the recent series of tornadoes that affected the area from
Westfield to Southbridge in the Western MA Section:

* SkyWarn was active and amateur radio operators assisted in gathering
severe weather reports on the Mt. Tom, Paxton and other associated
repeaters. Initial reports of a tornado striking Westfield were relayed
to NWS via amateur radio and SkyWarn.

* Tom Doyle, N1MUV, DEC Hampden / Hampshire, and his team provided
assistance to the Red Cross by staffing the Springfield Chapter and three
shelters in Springfield, Monson and Brimfield.

* Tom and his team also provided assistance to several local EOCs, as well
as support to RACES operations at the MEMA Regional HQ in Agawam.

* Charlie Dunlap, K1II, EC Hampden West, and his team provided assistance
to Southwick and surrounding communities, as well as support to RACES
operations at the MEMA Regional HQ in Agawam.

* Tim Mongeau, KB1LZF, EC Worcester, staffed the Worcester Emergency
Communications Team / MEMA Region 4 Radio Room and provided assistance in
gathering reports for SkyWarn.

* Amateur radio operators were present with NWS survey teams today.

* The ARRL has posted a news article about amateur radio’s response on
their website. See link below:
http://www.arrl.org/news/central-massachusetts-experiences-rare-tornado-area-hams-hasten-to-help

* At this time, amateur radio operations are winding down and no further
requests for assistance are pending.

Thank you all for your assistance and continued support of WMA ARES!

John, N2YHK
WMA SEC

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has setup storm assistance
centers for people in need of aid after the tornado outbreak. They have also
setup their 211 line for homeowners and businesses to report damage. Damage
Asessment teams from MEMA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
will be on site starting Monday. Links to these PR releases are listed below:

Storm Assistance Centers:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/storm_assistance_centers.pdf

211 Registration News Release:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/211_Registration_News_Release.pdf

FEMA/MEMA Damage Assessment Teams Press Release:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/News_Release_IA_PA_PDAs_6-3-11.pdf

A great thank you to all the Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters, non-Amateur
Radio SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) members
for their support in this horrific tornadic outbreak. The efforts made by
everyone helped save lives and is greatly appreciated by the National
Weather Service, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and local, state and
federal emergency management.

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 EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING JUNE 3RD 2011 DUE TO DAMAGE FROM MAJOR TORNADO OUTBREAK ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS.***

There has been a significant outbreak of severe weather across the region including numerous reports of tornadoes on the ground from Springfield to points as far east as Sturbridge and beyond.  Due to the significant infrastructure damage, we are activating Eastern Massachusetts ARES in stand-by mode to support any potential requests for assistance from around the area. 

Please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from now through Friday June 3rd, 2011. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT 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.

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,

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

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