Emergency Communications

Hello to all….

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for April is rapidly approaching.

The monthly ARES Net for April is Monday April 2nd, 2007, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening.

Make 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
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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
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Hello to all….

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for March is rapidly approaching.

The monthly ARES Net for March is Monday March 5th, 2007, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening.

Make 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
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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
1

The North Shore Radio Association‘s ARES team has begun production on an ARES Operations Manual, according to NSRA Emergency Coordinator Jim Palmer, KB1KQW.

“It is our hope that this manual will be used as a reference to the major operations conducted in our area: from severe weather to full-blown deployments,” writes Palmer. Palmer notes that the manual “is being compiled from various existing sources such as the ARRL and FEMA” as well as some original material.

KB1KQW invites NSRA members who have suggestions for the manual to contact the project leader, Assistant Emergency Coordinator Matt Dempsey, KB1MRH.

–North Shore RA News, Winter 2007

Eastern Massachusetts ARES and Massachusetts SATERN have signed a Local Statement of Understanding through the end of 2008 announcing mutual cooperation in exercises and support if disaster strikes and SATERN needs Amateur Radio support. [Full story]

Hello to all….

Cape Cod and Sturdy Memorial ARES both have both held exercises in the past 2 weeks to improve their readiness. Each group having several EOC’s and hospitals playing in the exercise. Both scenarios dealt with poor conditions from an ice storm.

The Cape Cod ARES exercise was Saturday February 3rd, 2007 led by Cape Cod ARES DEC, Frank O’Laughlin-WQ1O. Over a dozen stations participated in the exercise. The Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospitals both had Amateur participation for the first time in recent memory. EOC’s in Falmouth and Nantucket island were activated including what George Allen-N1NBQ, Nantucket RACES Radio Offier put in a note, a once in a lifetime opportunity to utilize the $500,000 dollar Nantucket mobile communications vehicle. The Red Cross in Hyannis was also used as a base of operation.

Simplex 6 Meters, 2 Meters, Packet and a portable 440 repeater on a portable tower was utilized along with a trailer. NVIS was attempted on both 40 and 75 Meters but band conditions were too poor for it to be utilized. ARES SEC, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, observed the Cape Cod ARES exercise from Red Cross Hyannis.

The Sturdy Memorial ARES team had an exericse on Sunday January 28th, 2007. The Sturdy Memorial ARES team had an exercise on an ice storm with numerous Amateurs participating in the Attelboro, North Attleboro, and Norton area. The club station at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital was activated. Their scenario also involved an ice storm and involved support for the Sturdy Memorial hospital and their local area.

Pictures were provided by the Sturdy Memorial team. The first picture shows Sturdy Memorial ARC Emergency Coordinator, John Benson-N1FLO at the mic of the Sturdy Memorial hospital station:

John Benson-N1FLO at the mic of W1SMH

The second picture shows several Amateurs at the station. From left to right is K2TGX, N1FLO, KB1DRL (foreground), W1TW hidden and N1DPY near the window. The picutre is shown below:

Amateurs gather at the Sturdy Memorial station

ARES SEC, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, participated in the exercise on the 147.195-Attleboro Repeater from home. He monitored and checked in with ARES EC John-N1FLO for any assistance they may require.

Special thanks to Frank-WQ1O and John-N1FLO for their efforts in making these exercises for their local ARES teams.

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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
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Click here for more information

Hello to all….

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for February is rapidly approaching.

The monthly ARES Net for February is Monday February 5th, 2007, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the RACES Nets earlier in the evening.

Make 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
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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
1

kfallon@seneschal.com writes on the PART-L mailing list:

The North Middlesex ARES will sponsor a kit-building session featuring the Opentracker APRS encoder. Interested parties wishing to participate are invited to contact the group.

“Please also include the models of radio you’ll be connecting. We’re trying to order the connect cables at the same time, so everyone will be ready to test as soon as the solder cools.”

The order will be placed in early February and the actual kit-building will take place at the Billerica Emergency Management Agency building.

Hello to all….

****Cape Cod ARES Document was updated and the link was updated. Remainder below is unchanged.****

Cape Cod ARES will hold an exercise this Saturday February 3rd, 2007 from 10 AM-Noon with setup time staring at 9 AM. The scenario is that after a major snowstorm strikes the Cape Cod region, a second storm hits causing significant icing and major communications outages. The goal will be to maintain communications on as many modes and bands possible without using repeaters.

Further details on the exercise can be seen in the following Word document at the following link:

Cape Cod ARES Exercise Document

Those outside of Cape Cod that would like to try and reach Cape Cod ARES are welcome to do so. A more general exercise for the Eastern Massachusetts section is set for Saturday February 24th from 10 AM-Noon. Details on that exercise will follow in the next week or so.

Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
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The Cape Cod and Islands District Amateur Radio Emergency Service will conduct an emergency winter weather exercise on February 3, 2007 to test its capability in establishing communications under emergency conditions.

“The emergency drill entitled ‘Operation Icy Cover’ will test the ability of “one field station to provide general communications and relay coverage for our operational zones,” writes ARRL District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O.

“It will also test some of our EOCs, hospital stations, primary stations and other ARES members’ home stations.” [Full story]

The Sturdy Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club will hold an emergency communications exercise on Sunday, January 28, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The drill will simulate a severe New England snow and ice storm with massive power outages, treacherous driving conditions and extended loss of commercial power. ARES team members will be stationed at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital’s radio room, along with remote stations manning mock shelters, damage assessment teams and local home relay stations.

“We’ve invited hospital [officials] to join and monitor us for that day,” writes ARES Team Leader John Benson, N1FLO.

The club’s radio room at the hospital is equipped with voice, slow-scan television, and APRS operating modes. N1FLO reports that the bulk of the exercise will be conducted from home stations “so if you want to join us and send a message, please do so.”

Hello to all….

Happy New Year! Given that last Monday was New Year’s Day, the RACES and ARES Nets were moved from the first Monday of the month to the second Monday of the month so this Monday January 8th, 2007 at 8:30 PM will be the first ARES Net for 2007 on the MMRA Repeater System.

Make this coming Monday, Emergency Communications Night, and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net. Thanks to all for their continued support of ARES!

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://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
1 1

Eastern Massachusetts ARES and RACES closely monitored the situation in Danvers, Massachusetts yesterday in the aftermath of a chemical explosion. Miraculously, no one was killed but the explosion severely damaged scores of home and businesses. Ten people were admitted to area hospitals with injuries. (WCVB, Boston Globe).

No requests for assistance from public service agencies were received, but an informal net continued all day long on the North Shore Radio Association 145.47 Danvers Repeater. ARRL Headquarters web site also carried a story describing the situation.

[See also: Eastern Mass ARES/RACES Groups Monitoring Danvers Major Chemical Explosion, North Shore ARES Stands Down from Danvers Incident at 1800]