Emergency Communications

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

Hello to all..

While this may be a bit off topic for some SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and Red Cross volunteers, many of which are SKYWARN Spotters, will be involved in the Boston Marathon on Monday April 20th. To reach out to the highest level of Amateur Radio Operators involved in the event, this coordination message is being sent out to the SKYWARN email list. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this message. This is likely to be the only coordination message on the Marathon unless a significant change in the weather forecast occurs. See information below:

Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be in Stand-by Mode from Monday April 20th from 7 AM-7 PM for any significant issues outside of the Boston Marathon that may require Amateur Radio Emergency Communications support and for any unexpected issues on the Boston Marathon route. If this message is not updated during the day on Monday, the stand-by mode will expire at 7 PM once marathon activities are completed. With over 300 Amateur Radio Operators staffing the Boston Marathon route, the start line and the finish line, if an issue arises needing Amateur Radio support outside of the Marathon route or an unexpected issue arises in marathon operations, it is important that any ARES members not involved in the marathon can help with any response that is required. The Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net Control Center at the town of Bridgewater EOC will be active to backup any issues at marathon net control and monitor any events within the marathon and outside of the marathon. A second backup to marathon operations will be in Walpole as done in years past.

ARES Stand-By mode means ARES members should monitor the Eastern Massachusetts ARES web site for any updates and potential mobilization and have their go-kits ready in case a deployment is required. Do not self-deploy. Please wait feedback from appropriate ARES leadership before deployment and be ready in case deployment is required. In past years for the marathon, no deployment has been required but it is an honor to be prepared in case one is required and good practice for future operations where a stand-by mode becomes an actual deployment as was the case in the December 2008 ice storm.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) UCC (Unified Command Center) at the SEOC (State Emergency Operations Center) will be active for the Boston Marathon. Amateur Radio Operators will be at the SEOC to support backup operations while many agencies will be there performing primary operations for the marathon. A Press Release from MEMA can be seen at the following link:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/old/local/News_Release_UCC_2009.doc

The weather outlook for the Boston Marathon is one that should be favorable for the runners but a bit cool for the volunteers participating in supporting the marathon. The Weather Forecast across the Boston Marathon is for mostly sunny conditions from morning into a portion of the afternoon followed by increasing cloudiness. There will be a 10-15 MPH breeze with gusts of 20-25 MPH along the route. At this time, rain is expected to hold off until Monday Night with most of the rainfall expected to occur late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. Temperatures will range from the upper 40s to around 50 degrees. This means that conditions for the runners should be reasonable with an ‘average’ amount of ambulance requests along the route versus some prior years where warmer weather conditions resulted in some of the highest amounts of ambulance requests since Amateur Radio Operators have handled the event.

For Amateur Radio, Red Cross and all other volunteers along the route, it is recommended that you dress in layers for this event so that you can put on or take off clothes as needed for comfort. Be sure to drink liquids and eat properly during the event and that you are self-sufficient so that you can be of a full help to the function and not distract everyone from the main purpose of supporting the runners by having a health issue on your end that can be avoided. Rain is expected to hold off until Monday Evening but it may be wise to bring ‘light’ rain gear in case the rain moves in sooner than expected. It is likely that as the sun is dimmed by increasing clouds conditions may feel cooler than when the day starts and conditions are sunny.

Barring a significant change in the weather forecast, this will be the only coordination message on the Boston Marathon. We appreciate everyone’s support in this event and hope those that volunteer enjoy themselves and feel the self-satisifcation of supporting this historic event and those that are monitoring the Marathon or events outside of the Marathon realize that the monitoring is an important function as well and is a testament to being able to scale other incidents beyond the marathon if required. Thanks to all for their support!

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

ARRL Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY has announced a number of organizational changes within EMA ARES effective immediately. [Full story]