Emergency Communications

Hello to all..

The following is a situation report on the Amateur Radio response to the Haiti Earthquake. Eastern Massachusetts ARES has received a number of Health and Welfare requests to Haiti. We have also received requests from the media on whether we have made contact with the affected area of Haiti but we are not aware of any Amateur Radio Operators in our section who have made contact with Haiti. There was brief contact made on one of the HF Nets earlier today. This information is listed below as provided by ARRL and other groups along with a link to an ARRLWeb Story:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/13/11288/?nc=1

On Tuesday there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which has since been followed by serious aftershocks.  Communications in and out of Haiti have been disrupted.  No word has been received as of yet from any of the national HH Amateur Radio operators.  The DailyDX notes that HH2/HB9AMO, Pierre, is OK and was located about 140 km north of Port-au-Prince in Cap Haitien at the time.

The IARU Region II Area C Emergency Coordinator, Arnie Coro, CO2KK, is coordinating the multi-national response by hams.  There are organized nets on 7045 and 3720 kHz and amateurs are asked to monitor but also keep the frequencies clear of non-essential traffic.  Amateur Radio operators should also be aware that emergency traffic pertaining to the Haitian earthquake is expected on the SATERN frequencies of 14265, 7265 and 3977 according to SATERN’s leader, Major Pat McPherson. The Salvation Army has a website up for H&W traffic and other news at www.satern.org. 

Amateur Radio operators are circled around Haiti in Cuba, Florida, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other locations listening for any calls, but so far only one station has checked in.

Rich Moseson of CQ Magazine reported to us that Father John Henault, HH6JH, made contact late Wednesday morning with the Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net (IATN) on 14.300 MHz, the IARU Global Centre of Activity frequency for emergency communications. He said that he was safe, but had no power and no phone service. He was operating on battery power and hoping to get a generator running later in the day.

Please keep the nets clear for emergency and priority traffic on frequencies :
14300
14265
7045
7265
3977
3720

Additional frequencies may be activated on different bands at different times of day, so be sure to listen carefully before transmitting to make sure you are not interfering with emergency traffic.

The situation is still chaotic and more information will be posted as soon as possible.  Information is being validated and shared between many amateur groups and news sources as it unfolds.

Global ALE High Frequency Network (HFN) is now
on ALERT for Haiti earthquake Emergency / Disaster
Relief Communications (EMCOMM)

====HFLINK SPECIAL BULLETIN==== 13 JAN 2010
Alert: Haiti Earthquake EMCOMM

HFN Pilot Stations are active and ready 24/7
for ALE calling, relay, and internet messages.

All operators are encouraged to participate in
the ALE Comm Centre live operator chat room
http://hflink.net
and activate ALE radios on the ALE channels:

HFN net (text/internet/ sounding/ calling)
3596.0 USB
7102.0 USB
10145.5 USB
14109.0 USB
18106.0 USB
21096.0 USB
24926.0 USB
28146.0 USB

HFL net (emcomm/voice/ calling)
3791.0 USB
7185.5 USB
14346.0 USB
18117.5 USB
21437.5 USB
24932.0 USB
28312.5 USB

============ ========= ======
END OF BULLETIN
============ ========= ======
Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA
International Emcomm Coordinator
Global ALE High Frequency Network
http://hflink.net

The following is an update as provided by Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Traffic manager, Jim Ward-N1LKJ, concerning all the health and welfare traffic received to date from all across the country and internationally:

On Wednesday’s 2:30PM Eastern Area Traffic Net, Earl WX4J from Florida checked in and told all Hams to hold all Health & Welfare Traffic for now. There are just no outlets for it at this time. They will keep us advised.

Traffic can be listed on the Satern web page. www.satern.org On the Satern Net on 14.265 they gave out the information, that the State Department is giving out the phone number 888-407-4747 for all people inquiring about loved ones.

73,
Jim Ward N1LKJ STM

The International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC) and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network (SATERN) remain active supporting Haiti Earthquake Operations. Indirect contact has been established via email and second hand reporting and info as relayed by SATERN to IRESC and by IRESC operators. Direct contact to the affected area is being attempted by both groups.

The *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 reflector system has been connected directly to the *IRESC* echolink conference node: 278173 for listen only purposes. It will remain connected for as long as IRESC is active. Anyone with emergency/priority traffic or health and welfare traffic should connect directly to *IRESC* echolink conference node: 278173. Information on IRESC can be seen via the following link:

http://www.iresc.org/

SATERN is active on HF and has performed liasion with IRESC. Per the SATERN web site, SATERN activities are active on 14.235 MHz Primary for daytime operations and 7265 and 3977.7 Khz for evening and night time operations. Information on SATERN can be seen via the following link:

http://www.satern.org/

Once again, any stations that have HF capability or get any sort of contact with Haiti and those people can assist with emergency/priority traffic or health & welfare traffic are asked to make this known to the Eastern Massachusetts ARES/ARRL staff, IRESC and SATERN to setup direct contact and communications flow with the disaster zone. This would benefit those with Emergency/Priority and Health and Welfare traffic into Haiti. Stations that have Health and Welfare traffic to Haiti can provide the info to these groups but it may be several days before the messages will be delivered and relayed back so those that can help with direct contact with Haiti or contact through relays could help speed up the Health and welfare traffic flow.

We wish the best for the victims of this serious earthquake that has affected Haiti. Another situation Report will be posted Thursday evening or sooner if a significant development involving direct contact with Haiti occurs.

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 will secure its stand-by operation as of 20:00 EST.  The Blizzard of 2009 has departed the region leaving in its wake a widespread 1-2 foot snowfall across portions of Rhode Island, the South Coast, Cape and Islands. 

While wind gusts of over 60mph were reported in some instances, the amount of damage from this storm was minimal with the primary impact resulting from heavy snow accumulation.  With the storm moving away from the region, the threat for additional damage has passed thus allowing Eastern MA ARES to secure its operation.  A summary of wind and snowfall reports can be found below within this notice. 

We offer a special thanks to each and every Amateur Radio Operator that offered their assistance to this storm in some way, from EOC/Shelter operations to relaying critical weather information to the NWS.  Without all of us working together as a team this tremendous effort would not have taken place.  It should be noted that we received a tremendous amount of gratitude from local Boston Meteorologist Matt Noyes from NECN who was receiving our reports in real-time and promoting Amateur Radio SKYWARN during his live coverage of the storm. 

Please forward to us any storm photos you may have from this past event.  These photos are used frequently in video slide shows that promote ARES and SKYWARN across the region.  To view previous videos, please visit http://video.nsradio.org/.

Here are the snowfall, wind and damage reports that many Amateur Radio Operators across 4 states provided to the National Weather Service in Taunton Massachusetts:

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement on Snowfall and Wind Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nwus51.KBOX.html

Thanks again to all for their continued help and 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://www.wx1box.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

 

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO BE PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR POSSIBLE MOBILIZATION STARTING AT 8 PM ET SATURDAY LASTING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR MAJOR NOR’EASTER/BLIZZARD TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION***

***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE AT 6 PM ET THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON***

With the impacts of a major nor’easter/blizzard clearly defined, we will be placing Eastern Massachusetts ARES in stand-by mode from 6 PM ET Saturday through Sunday Evening for the impact of this major nor’easter/blizzard to affect portions of the Eastern Massachusetts section. Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the Eastern Massachusetts section. Please see the Blizzard Coordination Message posted at the link below:

http://www.wx1box.org/node/117

The Massachusetts State Emergency Operation Center Headquarters in Framingham along with the Region 1 MEMA Tewksbury office will be in partial activation starting at 9 PM. Region Two MEMA office in Bridgewater will be active between  7-9 PM to monitor this major coastal storm. A Public Advisory on State EOC activation can be seen at the following link:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/MEMA_SEOC_Activation.doc

We will place the town of Bridgewater EOC as the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Incident Command Post on stand-by. We will, however, activate the Acushnet EOC sub-regional ARES command center due to the most significant impact of the storm being over South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands.

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of snowfall, whiteout conditions, thunderstorms with heavy snow as well as any wind damage and power outages. 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.

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://www.wx1box.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

 

 

 

Hello to all..

The South Shore ARES group reports that it had its first successful Ham Radio licensing class. The class, which had 15 students, had all students pass the test and earning their Amateur Radio Licenses.

South Shore ARES District Emergency Coordinator, Phil McNamara-N1XTB, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator and Assistant Section Manager, Carl Aveni-N1FY, and NWS Taunton ARES-SKYWARN Operator, Phil McLaughlin-KB1CYO were the teachers of the class in Middleboro which was conducted over weekly sessions spanning approximately 1 month. “I’m really tickled.  The class taught by Carl, Phil McLaughlin and myself made a clean sweep at the VE session last night.  The Norwood VE team came down for the session.  We have 15 new hams.  One existing tech got his General.  One woman also took and passed the General after passing the tech” said Phil-N1XTB.

“The class was a mix of MRC, CERT, Fire Department, Police and others. It was a good group” Phil added. Efforts are now underway to schedule a Basic Emergency Communications Workshop for the group.

Congratulations to the students and teachers of this first Ham Radio licensing class for South Shore 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

Members of the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association and Cape Cod ARES participated in an emergency evacuation exercise at the Falmouth Hospital in August, 2009.

According to Dan Howard, K1DYO, of Cape Cod ARES, hospital administrators have requested a “list of equipment necessary to establish a permanent station within their building.” K1DYO says “the hospital has the necessary funds to cover the cost.”

Thanks, Falmouth ARA News, September, 2009

Hello to all…

…EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES STAND-BY MOBILIZATION SECURED AT 630 PM ET SATURDAY AUGUST 29TH, 2009…

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Standby Mobilization for the Kennedy Funeral and the Nor’easter storm associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Danny is secured at 630 PM Saturday August 29th, 2009. Thanks to all ARES folks who checked their go-kits and assisted with reports during the nor’easter associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Danny.

The Nor’easter brought the advertised 3-5″ of rain across Southeast New England with 1.5-3″ rainfall amounts common in Southern New Hampshire, Central and Northeastern Massachusetts. This produced some urban and poor drainage flooding and caused small rivers and streams to rise to near or just short of bankful. Winds briefly kicked up around the coast with 40-50 MPH wind gusts across East Coastal and South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands. One report from an elevated wind platform at 60 feet in Horseshoe Shoals had a wind gust of 53 MPH/61 Knots associated with the storm. The winds were brief and were likely convective in nature except for some backside winds reported in some areas between 5-6 PM Saturday Evening. Rainfall and wind reports can be seen via the links below:

Local Storm Report on Wind Damage and Flood Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nwus51.KBOX.html

Public Information Statement on Rainfall Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

The Kennedy funeral also went flawlessly and without incident in Boston Massachusetts earlier today. The State EOC was operational and secured at 2 PM for this event and for the nor’easter storm that affected the area. Once again, thanks to all who supported the stand-by mobilization and thanks to all for their 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 #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://www.wx1box.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Hello to all..

***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES TO BE PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR POSSIBLE MOBILIZATION STARTING AT 6 AM ET SATURDAY LASTING THROUGH 12 AM ET SUNDAY FOR IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORM DANNY AND FRONTAL SYSTEM INTERACTION ALONG WITH THE SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY FUNERAL PROCEEDINGS IN BOSTON FOR SATURDAY MORNING***

 

***SKYWARN ACTIVATION WITH OPS AT NWS TAUNTON WILL COMMENCE AT 5 AM ET THROUGH LATE SATURDAY EVENING/EARLY SUNDAY MORNING***

 

With the impacts of Tropical Storm Danny and his interaction with a frontal system potentially bringing 3-6” of rainfall and the potential for strong to damaging winds near and just inland from the coast coupled with the fact that there are a significant amount of dignitaries present for the Senator Kennedy Funeral, Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be placed on stand-by to cover the storm and potential flooding and damaging wind issues as well as any exigencies with the Senator Kennedy funeral.  

 

While the intensity and track of Tropical Storm Danny is uncertain, there remains the potential for flooding rains and strong to damaging winds as Danny interacts with a couple other approaching storm systems. There is the potential for a strong hybrid system to bring 3-6” of rain and strong winds of 50-60 MPH on Cape Cod and the Islands and 40-50 MPH along East and South Coastal Massachusetts. While this would normally be handled simply as a SKYWARN Activation, there is an outside chance of something stronger and that needs to be watched. This coupled with the fact that we have a large number of dignitaries in the Metro Boston area for the Senator Kennedy funeral means we should be alert for any issues that could occur with the storm or the funeral or a combination of both events.

 

We will activate the town of Bridgewater EOC as the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Incident Command Post. We will also activate the Acushnet EOC over the course of the day Saturday to assist with storm reporting and monitoring any other exigencies pertaining to the Kennedy funeral.

 

We’d like to have ARES personnel assist with SKYWARN reporting of flooding of rivers, streams and urban areas as well as any wind damage. Keep your situational awareness level high from any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ares web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitor local media on the funeral for Senator Kennedy.

 

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 or an issue arises at the Kennedy funeral.

 

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 #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://www.wx1box.org
http://ares.ema.arrl.org

 

Hello to all..

At the request of the Cape Cod Incident Management Team and the Cape Cod Red Cross, Cape Cod ARES provided support for the funeral services of Marine Corporal Nicholas Xiarhos who died in the line of duty in Afghanistan in late July. Cape Cod ARES District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin-WQ1O provides his after action report via the PDF document below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/CCARES_After-Action_FuneralSrvcs_Marine_Cpl._Nicholas_Xiarhos_07-31-09.pdf

It was an honor and privilege for Cape Cod ARES to participate. On behalf of Eastern Massachusetts ARES, I’d like to thank Cape Cod ARES for their support of this event.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org