Emergency Communications

Emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®)
All / Emergency Communications

CCARES Drill

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EMa ARES Logo CCARES will hold its “Operation Big Chill” exercise this Saturday, 31 Jan at 1000 throughout the Cape and Islands District.

[The following article contributed by K9HI at http://ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=319 , -W1MPN]

Grab your boots and mittens—oh, and your Go-kit for the Cape Cod Amateur Radio Emergency Service’s (CCARES) winter cold weather exercise on January 31, 2004 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Dubbed “Operation Arctic Chill” the exercise will test the ability of Emergency Operation Centers, zone-based relay stations, and field operations teams under freeezing, weather conditions.

WQ1O “This will be a drill to test our primary stations and other ARES member home stations,” explained District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O. “We will attempt to utilize HF NVIS, VHF/UHF simplex FM. We’ll also utilize VHF/UHF SSB and digital modes. And we will attempt communications with other ARES districts and their EOCs.”

WQ1O Photo courtesy of K9HI

All / Emergency Communications

CCARES “Operation Arctic Chill” January 31, 2004

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EMA ARES logoGrab your boots and mittens—oh, and your Go-kit for the Cape Cod Amateur Radio Emergency Service’s (CCARES) winter cold weather exercise on January 31, 2004 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Dubbed “Operation Arctic Chill” the exercise will test the ability of Emergency Operation Centers, zone-based relay stations, and field operations teams under freeezing, weather conditions.

“This will be a drill to test our primary stations and other ARES member home stations,” explained District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O. “We will attempt to utilize HF NVIS, VHF/UHF simplex FM. We’ll also utilize VHF/UHF SSB and digital modes. And we will attempt communications with other ARES districts and their EOCs.”

For additional information, please check the EMA ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org.

All / Emergency Communications

The Future of NTS/ARES

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Hello everyone:

There are some comments in Gil’s letter below that I find very disturbing.
In particular, the comment about “handing the whole show to ARES.” Having
served as an EC, NM, STM, and SEC, as well as having dealt with ARES and
RACES organizations from the other side of the fence (as a Professional
Emergency Manager), I feel I have a fairly unique perspective.

On one hand, I agree that there is no harm integrating the Internet and
automated digital protocols into ARES and NTS. This is simply evolution and
progress. It needs to be done. However, it should be noted that these are
simply additional communications tools, whereas NTS is a methodology.
Please bear with me while I illustrate with an example:

During a recent bioterrorism response exercise in Central Michigan, the ARES
group repeatedly entered the Emergency Operations Center requesting
etiological information and other data from State and Federal public health
officials. In each case, the served agency representative asked some very
simple questions:

* “How’s requesting this information”
* “What time did he request it?”
* “What facility is he located at”
……..and on and on.

Finally, the local Emergency Manager walked into the ARES room, handed them
a book of radiogram blanks, and demanded they use them. He’s not a radio
amateur. As an exercise evaluator, I asked him what his reasons were for
doing so. The response was straightforward: “NTS format will insure we get
all of the necessary information in a consistent manner.”

As one who has had to rely on ARES and RACES groups to send messages at
HAZMAT scenes, during major disasters, and so forth, I can say without
equivocation that Amateur Radio has serious deficiencies. These may be
summarized as follows:

1. Most ARES groups are equipped (trained) only to handle informal tactical
communications in which they are the direct recipient of the information or
instructions. Many such organizations “fall apart” in net configuration
because the majority of members haven’t the least familiarity with proper
radiotelephone net procedures.

2. Most ARES groups are incapable of utilizing a standard message format for
accurately transmitting third party traffic. As such, important service
data is often lacking. A message recipient needs to know from whom and
where a message was originated. He needs to know when it was drafted. This
information is almost never available through ARES.

For over 30 years, I have seen numerous ARES groups and ARRL Sections bypass
NTS by creating ad-hoc “ARES Nets” to facilitate cross jurisdictional
message flow. Sometimes this is necessary to serve a unique, specialized
purpose, such as linking a number of Skywarn Nets. However, in most cases,
these nets serve only to avoid the use of a standard message format, which
many ECs and AECs are simply afraid to admit they don’t know.

If NTS were entirely supplanted by WINLINK and Internet message delivery
tomorrow, I am willing to bet my retirement income that the very same
problems will exist with message accuracy and content. Furthermore, new
problems will arise in that specific arrangements will not be made for
addressees to regularly check e-mail to accept messages in a timely fashion.
Isolated failures to the local telephone systems and ISPs would also result
in messages “disappearing” in time of emergency.

The simple fact is, ARES has repeatedly failed in a variety of message
handling tasks. Now, NTS is being blamed. We are told we aren’t keeping up
with the times. I say this is simple “bull.” If we want to get to the
bottom of this problem, I suggest the following, somewhat rhetorical
question: “Did the NTS fail the League, or did the League fail the NTS.”

Consider this:

———————-

For years the League has offered many recommendations for ARES
organizations, but has promulgated few, if any, minimum requirements for
member training and basic organizational capabilities. If your local
volunteer fire departments were run like many ARES groups, some would have
adequate hose, others wouldn’t. Some would have SCBA, others wouldn’t.
Some would have a few sets of turn-out gear, others would have too many.
This is why groups like the Red Cross, CAP, and even the Boy Scouts require
field units to meet certain basic requirements to maintain their Charter.
We do nothing of the kind, and the customer (served agencies) pays the price
in many cases.

——————-

For years, the League has done nothing to promote NTS or standard message
format. There are articles in QST on everything from collecting antique
radios and AM phone to the latest data modes, yet, rarely is NTS even
mentioned. When it is, it is usually about the nuts and bolts of layered
nets and how the various cycles work, as opposed to articles explaining how
NTS was applied to an actual ecom problem. One can’t help but ask how an
invisible organization can recruit or interest potential new members?

————————–

In Michigan, we have spent tens of thousands of dollars developing Packet
and PACTOR infrastructure. The result: Several Detroit area ECs told me,
“We don’t want anything to do with your g-d d–ned message handling
procedures.” They view any outside requirement as a threat to their power
and control. Nothing can be done to enforce standards because none exist.

So, this begs the question; Whether via WINLINK, packet, CW, or FM, how is a
message going to flow between a major Detroit Metropolitan Area hospital and
our State Public Health Department or State EMA in the abscence of
commercial/government infrastructure? My bet….it isn’t. If it does, it
will be incomplete, confusing, and perhaps even garbled.

In my opinion, the League failed NTS as opposed to the other way around.
The current NTS situation is simply a display of symptoms caused by an
underlying disease affecting the ARRL community. If the ARRL wants to do
something about the disease, they need to take some serious actions that
have little to do with NTS. Some steps may include:

1. Develop an ARES Certification Program. A local ARES group would have to
meet certain minimum standards to be “certified.” This might include:

* a specific percentage of individuals properly trained (ARRL CCE courses
or??).
* mandatory annual participation in SET on the standard date specified.
* daily NTS liaison.
* specific communications capabilities above and beyond two-meter FM.

The audit would be performed by an independent third party or someone
appointed by the SM or SEC.

2. Further implement the ARESMAT process so that “weak” ARES programs could
be supplemented with outside skills and capabilities. Require ARESMAT
capabilities be available throughout all Sections.

3. While integrating WINLINK and similar automated systems, recognize the
fact that messages may have to leave these systems to be transferred to a
manual method for ultimate delivery. Keep a framework for maintaining
“traditional” mode nets, such as NTS CW, SSB, and FM nets. In addition,
maintain a standard format for all official communications, regardless of
the mode utilized.

4. Recognize the fact that for digital methods to work reliably in time of
emergency, some things have to be standardized, such as mode and baud rate,
terminal software, and so forth. It will therefore be necessary to insist
that each ARES group develop a capability to utilize a standard digital mode
and deploy standardized software before developing additional capabilities.
This may be part of the certification process.

3. When the Field Organization Management Structure is revised, enforce it
for a change! More than likely, had NTS nets been utilized as intended and
defined in the Field Organization management chart (to facilitate message
flow between ARES groups), NTS would have likely grown and evolved to meet
current demands. Because the management structure was consistently
undermined, NTS was never pressured by demand into a state of natural
evolution.

As a side note….does anyone think that an employee of a business or
government agency of a size and budget similar to the ARRL has the same
discretion as an SM to violate and bypass the basic structure of the
business organization? Case in point: Look at the SMs currently
eliminating the STM position without the Board having yet approved the VRC
recommendations!

4. The continued existence of NTS is not incompatible with the development
of additional digital capabilities. It should be kept and encouraged to
function. However, it must work with ARES. Therefore, if the SEC or SM is
placed in charge of Section message handling capabilities, then he/she
better insure that the ARES programs and a cadre of members have minimal
familiarity with it.

In conclusion, and I’ve said it before: Some may think NTS is obsolete, but
the “shadow” is dead as well. The days of the radio amateur shadowing an
official at a disaster scene with a two-meter HT and shouting inaccurate,
unrecorded communications across a command post or an EOC is heading the way
of the passenger pigeon far more quickly than NTS.

Individuals can blame NTS all they want, but they should be forewarned; a
failure to deal with basic training and preparedness issues at the local
level will kill Amateur Radio emergency communications just as quickly as a
failure to address NTS issues.

73,
Jim Wades, WB8SIW

All / Emergency Communications

Limited ARES Mobilization (expired)

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***** Limited ARES Mobilization during Boston “First Night” Activities *****
**** Metro Boston District Only. All other Districts will be on Standby Status ****

Hello to all…

There will be a limited ARES Mobilization during Boston “First Night” Activities in the Metro Boston District Only. All other Districts will be on Standby Status to provide any needed support to the Metro District. SEMARA ARES and the SEMARA club emergency team have been mobilized for this event by South Shore/Bristol MA DEC, Rob, KD1CY.

Please consider yourself on 24 hour notice for activation. The scheduled time for the mobilization is from 1800, 31 Dec to 0100, 1 Jan. Please do not self mobilize to any location. Your DEC will contact you directly should your services be needed elsewhere. Please plan on providing relay services from your home during the “in-disaster” phase of an incident. Please review these procedures on our website, as well as helpful family preparedness info at http://www.ready.gov. Please guard the RACES repeater for your area at all times during the mobilization, including assuming net control until relieved. Please make liberal use of other frequencies/nets as established by your DEC. “Post-disaster” activities will be determined subsequent to this message.

Additionally, the mobilization in the Metro District will be in direct support of dedicated and contingency operations of our two of our major clients; the Red Cross (RC) and the Salvation Army (SA). The latter organization will also mobilize their Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) at the Boston Headquarters. SATERN usually draws from selected ARES and Boston Amateur Radio Club (BARC) for manning.

Mass Bay Chapter Red Cross will mobilize at the Waltham Chapter facility, and has specifically requested ARES support. Metro DEC, Mark, KB1EKN will lead our efforts there as an ICS leader. I will collocate with Mark to perform my section coordination duties, and to substitute for Mark should he be called away to deal with real world problems. As of this writing, it seems unlikely I will be taking up my duties at the SEOC.

[Please press “Read More” to view Mark’s OpPlan, the frequency plan, and VHF/UHF Repeater and 75m net activation preambles.]

s/Michael P. Neilsen
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Eastern Massachusetts
Section Emergency CoordinatorAMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE

METRO-BOSTON DISTRICT

FROM: Mark Duff/KB1EKN,
Metro-Boston DEC

TO: ARES Members

SUBJECT: ARES Activation UPDATE 1

DATE: 12-28-2003

Apparently my E-Mail about the ARES activation on the 31st was not as clear and understandable as it should have been and therefore I will attempt to do a better job of explaining what is going on.

Due to the Orange Terror Alert Status, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross will be staffing their EOC’s during New Years Eve. This is not a full-blown activation for these agencies but there will be a limited amount of people on duty. The Salvation Army will be operating from their Hqts. in downtown Boston. The Red Cross will be operating out of their field office in Waltham. ARES will be supporting both agencies. This is a limited ARES activation in Metro-Boston.

I am requesting assistance in three areas on New Years Eve between 1800 and 0100 hours. You do not need to commit to that entire time. I am just trying to get a handle on who is available and who is interested in helping. This E-mail is only being sent to a limited amount of ARES members, as I need people I can depend on and trust.

The three areas needing attention are the following:

Home Stations,
If you plan on being home during the evening and can get on the air IF NEEDED, please let me know. Home stations are a vital part of the ARES organization and I encourage all ARES members to be prepared to operate from home. You do not need to be on the air, I just need a commitment that can get on the air if needed.

Red Cross EOC, Waltham
If you are available to staff the Red Cross EOC in Waltham for any where between two and four hours please contact me. There is a duel band antenna at the facility. All that is required is a 2-meter mobile radio and power supply. I will supply a radio and PS if needed. I do not expect a lot of activity at this assignment but it is important that we have someone there.
If possible I would like to run this in shifts and have two hams on duty between 1800 and 0100. Two, four-hour shifts work best but other arraignments may be possible.

Field Assignments
No Field Assignments are anticipated at this time. In the event that a field assignment is required, it will depend on the specific incident and the needs of that incident. Needless to say safety will be the primary concern with any field assignment and no assignments will be given to any ham unless it is considered totally safe and has prior approval by the ARES leadership.
Again, I am just looking for availability.

If you plan on being in Boston as part of the First Night Festivities, I encourage you to carry your HT and enjoy the evening!

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 781-749-7664 or by E-Mail if you have any questions. This is an opportunity for Amateur Radio to shine and for us to practice our skills. I don’t want to let it pass us by.

Metro-Boston ARES Frequency Plan for Operations on 12/31/03-01/01/04

The following frequency plan is being established for operations during the evening of 12-31-03 into Jan 1st. The Metro-Boston ARES Activation will be primarily a 2 meter event. The additional frequencies listed are being established in the event that expansion of the plan or additional communications are need. If additional repeaters are required or simplex operations becomes necessary the plan allows it for it in an orderly and systematic manner.

We are requesting that all ARES stations operating in the Metro-Boston District operate on 145.23 or 146.64. The Boston 145.23 repeater is currently operating at reduced capacity. We will continue to plan to use it as the Boston Primary Repeater. It is expected that MMRA will be linking the 146.67/Quincy, 146.985 /Brookline, 447.875-Brookline (UHF) and 146.715/Stoneham repeaters during the evening of the 31st. The MMRA linked repeaters will serve as back-up for both Boston and Waltham, and may be used for any ARES communications.

Metro-Boston 2 Meter ARES Repeater Frequencies
Boston Primary 145.23/88.5 [Repeater located in Boston] Waltham Primary 146.64 [Repeater located in Waltham]

{Additional 2 Meter repeaters if required} [Expected to be linked] Boston North 146.715/146.2 [Repeater located in Stoneham] Boston West 146.985/88.5 [Repeater located in Brookline] Boston South 146.67/146.2 [Repeater located in Quincy]

2 Meter ARES Simplex Frequencies
147.42
146.415
146.430
146.445
146.460
146.475

2 Meter RACES Repeater Frequencies
RACES Primary 146.64 [Repeater located in Waltham] RACES Secondary

HF Frequencies
3.943+/- LSB (Primary)
7.245 (Secondary)

220 Frequencies
Primary 224.40/ [Repeater located in Quincy] Secondary 223.78/ [Repeater located in Belmont]

70CM Repeater Frequencies
Boston 447.175/110.9 Rep. Located in Boston
Boston 446.575 Rep. Location in Boston
Brookline 447.975/88.5 Rep. Located in Brookline
[Linked to Boston North and Boston West]

New England Network of Echolink and IRLP Nodes and Repeaters

The New England Network of IRLP and Echolink Nodes and Repeaters will be linked on New Year’s Eve Night providing coverage across portions of Eastern Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Echolink Node # 9123 or IRLP Reflector Node# 9055 will get you access into the network. With Echolink, you could get into the system from your PC with either dial-up or broadband Internet access. The following are repeaters in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island that will allow for connection into the New England Network:

145.390-Scituate, Mass.
443.800-South Dartmouth, Mass. PL: 88.5 Hz
447.025-Johnston, RI PL: 77.0 Hz

Additional HF Frequencies:

KB1DAV-Mario Bruno, CT Disaster Services State Lead Director provided the following additional HF Frequencies:

3.915 MHz. Statewide amateur (Tri-state frequency)
7.280 MHz. Backup.

SATERN RI Simplex Net:

Frank Murphy-N1DHW from Boston Salvation Army mentioned that RI SATERN would be having a net at 2330 on 146.58 Simplex. The SEMARA Club will attempt to make contact with them at that time. N2NCL-Dennis will be running the net.

75m Preamble

Calling the Boston First Night Limited ARES Activation Net….
Calling the Boston First Night Limited ARES Activation Net….

This is at the mic, my name is and I am located in . The purpose of this net is to have a brief call-up between all served agencies that are involved in monitoring Boston First Night activities. We will have two call-ups. The first call-up will be a roll-call of all served agencies and a call for ARES leadership who are monitoring to check-in and state whether they have traffic or announcements for the net. The second call-up will be for any licensed Amateurs to check into the net. We will then have a brief round of comments from all stations that have checked into the net.

The first call-up will be for stations participating in the activation. Please state whether you have traffic or announcements for the net:
-Calling Boston Salvation Army Headquarters….
-Calling Mass. Bay Red Cross in Waltham….
-Calling MEMA Framingham State EOC….
-Calling ARES SEC or DEC leadership….

The second call-up will be for any stations wishing to check into net. Any stations wishing to check into net please say, This is….pause and give your call-sign, name and location. Stations wishing to check into the net, please call now:

Hearing no other check-ins, this is wishing to thank all stations who stood-by while the net was conducted. Eastern Massachusetts ARES would like to thank all repeater trustees, Amateurs and Radio Clubs for their cooperation and use of the frequency. We will return the frequency back to normal Amateur Radio use but ask Amateurs to leave sufficient pauses to allow for emergency traffic. The next net call up will be at XX:XX Local time. This is saying 73 for now and signing clear.

VHF/UHF Repeater Preamble

Calling the Boston First Night Limited ARES Activation Net….
Calling the Boston First Night Limited ARES Activation Net….

This is at the mic, my name is and I am located in . The purpose of this net is to have a brief call-up between all served agencies that are involved in monitoring Boston First Night activities. We will have two call-ups. The first call-up will be a roll-call of all served agencies and a call for ARES leadership who are monitoring to check-in and state whether they have traffic or announcements for the net. The second call-up will be for any licensed Amateurs to check into the net. We will then have a brief round of comments from all stations that have checked into the net.

The first call-up will be for stations participating in the activation. Please state whether you have traffic or announcements for the net:
-Calling Boston Salvation Army Headquarters….
-Calling Mass. Bay Red Cross in Waltham….
-Calling MEMA Framingham State EOC….
-Calling ARES SEC or DEC leadership….

The second call-up will be for any stations wishing to check into net. Any stations wishing to check into net please say, This is….pause and give your call-sign, name and location. Stations wishing to check into the net, please call now:

Hearing no other check-ins, this is wishing to thank all stations who stood-by while the net was conducted. Eastern Massachusetts ARES would like to thank all repeater trustees, Amateurs and Radio Clubs for their cooperation and use of the frequency. We will return the frequency back to normal Amateur Radio use but ask Amateurs to leave sufficient pauses to allow for emergency traffic. The next net call up will be at XX:XX Local time. This is saying 73 for now and signing clear.

All / Emergency Communications

EMa ARES Update (expired but UHF info still needed)

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***** EMa ARES Update *****
***** ARES relay stations may be needed *****
***** Please test the UHF repeaters listed below during windstorm *****

As of 0045, most of the section is enduring a bruising from an early winter
storm, with only minor damage so far. This may change overnight or during
the day Sunday.

It is important that you stay in place until we request that you do
otherwise. SKYWARN will certainly need reports and ARES may need relay
stations during the day tomorrow. This request follows our shelter-in-place
doctrine which is detailed at
http://ares.ema.arrl.org/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=2904&page_id=67 .

While you are assisting in the ways listed above, we request that you gather
signal reports from the list of repeaters listed below DURING the windstorm.
Please list:

Your location and time
List of repeaters worked
Whether home or mobile
Power on input
Antenna type
Other comments (i.e. unusually good or bad location, etc.)

Please send reports to me at w1mpn@ema.arrl.org

List of repeaters:443.450-Westport Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

443.700-Gloucester Repeater No PL Listed

444.200-Bourne Repeater PL: 118.8 Hz

445.175-Newton Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz

446.575-Boston Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

449.925-Marlborough Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz Part of
MMRA System

446.725-Stoneham Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz Part
of MMRA System

447.075-Kingston Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

447.175-Boston Repeater PL: 110.9 Hz

447.325-Truro Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

447.575-Concord Repeater PL: 110.9 Hz

447.975-North Attleboro Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

448.125-Framingham Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

448.975-Walpole Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz

449.075-Waltham Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

The following repeaters were considered Good location, good local coverage,
may have extended coverage and has linking capability (to either other
repeaters, IRLP, Echolink or a combination of each):

442.450-Westford Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

443.350-Pack Monadnock, NH PL: 110.9 Hz

443.500-Dennis Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz Part
of Cape Cod Link Sys.

443.800-Dartmouth Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

444.200-North Truro Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz

444.250-Falmouth Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz Part
of Cape Cod Link Sys.

445.175-Barnstable Repeater PL: 141.3 Hz Part
of Cape Cod Link Sys.

447.875-Brookline Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz Part
of MMRA/Has Echolink

446.675-Marlborough Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz Part of
MMRA System

The following repeaters have good location but unknown or questionable
coverage. Some of these repeaters may have IRLP or Echolink coverage:

441.075-Chelmsford Repeater PL: 100.0 Hz

441.400-Assonet Repeater PL: 192.8 Hz

441.400-Plymouth Repeater PL: 100.0 Hz

441.500-Medfield Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

441.750-Seekonk Repeater PL: 192.8 Hz

441.850-Bradford Repeater PL: 127.3 Hz

442.250-Marlborough Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz -Has Echolink
capability

442.500-Braintree Repeater PL: 118.8 Hz

442.800-Danvers Repeater PL: 136.5 Hz

442.900-Pepperell Repeater PL: 100 Hz

443.200-North Andover Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

443.600-Norwell Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz -Has Echolink
capability

444.100-Wilmington Repeater PL: 123.0 Hz

444.300-Saugus Repeater PL: 123.0 Hz

443.350-Fall River Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

444.550-Bridgewater Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

444.600-Newton Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

444.700-Boston Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

446.525-Reading Repeater PL: 151.4 Hz

446.875-North Reading Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

446.925-Medford Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

447.025-Peabody Repeater PL: 110.9 Hz

447.275-Haverhill Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

447.625-Lawrence Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz

447.675-Natick Repeater PL: 203.5 Hz -RACES?

449.650-Belmont Repeater PL: 67.0 Hz

449.725-Cambridge Repeater PL: 114.8 Hz

449.825-Woburn Repeater PL: 136.5 Hz

Please also visit the website to vote in the poll about UHF usage. Thanks
in advance for your help.

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Voice
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary Voice
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
w1mpn@ema.ares.org
All / Emergency Communications

SEMARA ARES Self-Activated

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New EMA ARES Hello to all…

SEMARA ARES was self-activated by ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Tony Duarte-N1XRS, as a power outage gripped an area from the Plymouth area to Cape Cod and Islands and appeared to extended from roughly Dartmouth/Westport eastward across much of South Coastal Massachusetts.

The ARES Net was started at 6:30 PM and preempted a Swap Net that would typically be held at 7 PM that evening on the 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater. [Please read on by pressing link below – W1MPN]A total of 20 check-ins were recorded. Amateurs relayed information of where the power was out, any public safety issues and when power was restored to their specified areas. I was enroute home from work when the event occurred and when notified by Tony-N1XRS, I went to man the Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (W1AEC) so that additional district coverage could be maintained from our affected area to other parts of the Eastern Massachusetts section. Southeastern Massachusetts district relay was done to the Metro Boston Area and the Cape Cod districts via the 146.685-Plymouth Repeater where contact was made with Metro Boston ARES District Emergency Coordinator, KB1EKN, Mark Duff and Cape Cod and the Islands District Emergency Coordinator, WQ1O, Frank O’Laughlin. Liaison was also maintained with ARES DEC’s and ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, Mike Neilsen, W1MPN via AOL Instant Messenger during the latter portions of the event.

Power started being restored across the area at approximately 7 PM and was fully restored to all areas by 8 PM with South Dartmouth, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard being some of the last areas where power was restored. Amateur Operators checked in from the area as power was restored and also reported if they still did not have power. With Frank, WQ1O, tied up talking with Emergency Management directors, I established contact with Nantucket Island RACES Radio Officer, N1NBQ-George Allen and he told us when power was restored for the island via the main line power cable.

The ARES Net was secured at 8:30 PM. The following Amateurs checked in on the 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater.

1.) KB1FYF-Brian
2.) K1AHA-Dick
3.) W1RJC-Rick
4.) W1AEC/KD1CY-Rob
5.) K1KID-Carl
6.) KB1HJL-George
7.) W1VRP-Joe
8.) N1XKD-Peter
9.) WA1CRA-Dick
10.) W1EAV-Chris
11.) W1GYL-Henry
12.) N1EBW-Ray
13.) KB1EVX-Ray
14.) W1DBX-Larry
15.) WA1ZCB-Ed
16.) K1IBR-Bill
17.) N1NBQ-George
18.) N1VDM-Bob
19.) N1ZZN-Jeff
20.) N1XRS-Tony (NCS)

Mike Neilsen-W1MPN, when informed of the ARES Self-Activation and the response of the Amateurs from the SEMARA club, was tremendously pleased and thankful for the efforts of the SEMARA ARES team. He stated that he was pleased that the workshop and exercises were increasing awareness and resulting in such a strong response to a real event and was very impressed with the fact that SEMARA ARES responded quickly to an event that had no advanced warning.

Please let me know if any check-ins were missed during this event or if there are any additional major points that should be included in this report. Thanks!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES 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

Emergency Communications

Invitation to play in our annual SET

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On behalf of all the Eastern Massachusetts (EMa) DEC’s and EC’s, I would like to extend a cordial invitation to play in our annual Section Emergency Test (SET), scheduled for Saturday November 8th. As most of you know, it is our annual opportunity to formally evaluate our emergency communication skills, and readiness to respond to exigencies.

This year we will be emphasizing local response with a mandatory interdistrict communication element. Please contact your DEC to coordinate your efforts on this year’s exercise.

The ARES Leadership is reminded to keep a detailed roster and/or logs of those stations participating in the SET.

s/Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts Section

Please check for more coordination details by pressing the link below.Cape Cod ARES Plan

Press this link CCARESsetOutline&Scenario.pdf to view specific planning material that your ARES leadership will use.

Middlesex District Plan

Press this link Middlesex District ARES SET.pdf to view specific planning material that your ARES leadership will use.

South Shore/Bristol Plan (SE Mass ARES)

Press this link South Shore/Bristol Plan.pdf to view specific planning material that your ARES leadership will use.

Metro Boston Plan, and from Mark, KB1EKN, Metro DEC

Press this link Metro Boston Plan.pdf to view specific planning material that your ARES leadership will use.

My plans for the Nov 8th SET are as follows.

1.) Send Bill Foley & the Army a formal written invitation to participate in the Nov 8th SET.

2.) I will be hosting a meeting at the Chelsea EOC on the Oct 21st. for all Metro-Boston ARES Members to discuss and plan our participation in Nov. A notice is going out in the SPARK on Thur. about the meeting. I would like the group to plan collectively for the SET.

View generic plan

Press this link ARESsetOutline&Scenario.pdf to view generic planning material that your ARES leadership will use. Please note that frequencies will probably be developed for this exercise using standing (existing) district frequency plans. Please consult with your EC/DEC for details.

All / Emergency Communications

Framingham ARES Members Plan for SET 10/28

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EMA ARRL ARESMarc Stern, WA1R wrote:

“For those folks interested in participating in the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Nov. 8, or in becoming more active in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, please plan to meet with me at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the club shack.

The meeting is, more or less, a get-acquainted meeting with some discussion of plans for the SET and follow-on activities, as well as, possible organizational planning.

Thanks for reading,

73,

Marc, WA1R
ARES EC, Framingham

All / Emergency Communications

Metro Boston ARES Members to Meet for S.E.T. Planning, 10/21

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EMA ARRL ARESMetro Boston District Emergency Coordinator Mark Duff, KB1EKN is hosting a planning meeting for all amateurs who are interested in participating in the upcoming ARRL Simulated Emergency Test on November 8, 2003.

“Collectively, we will plan our participation in this most important training exercise,” Duff stated.

The meeting will take place on October 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chelsea (MA) Emergency Operations Center at 500 Broadway in Chelsea. There is ample parking at Chelsea City Hall.

—Boston Amateur Radio Club, The SPARC, October 2003

All / Emergency Communications

ARES Workshop! (update)

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New EMA ARES
Supplement the knowledge gained in the ECC courses with our all day workshop. Learn about actual communication procedures from experienced ARES leaders. Includes field equipment demonstrations and personal preparedness. Attendance is required for all active ARES members prior to any assignment.

N1VSJ instructing Ed Burg, N1VSJ, DEC for Emergency Ops, conducting a “go-kit” demonstration. Click to enlarge. Photo courtesy W1MPN

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday October 25th, 2003 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Littleton Town Hall, 41 Shattuck Street in Littleton, Massachusetts. This session is being put on by the ARES Section Staff and through the efforts of ARES DEC for Field Operations Ed Burg-N1VSJ and Northern Middlesex County ARES Emergency Coordinator Darrel Mallory-K1EJ.

This Emergency Communications Workshop will provide the background and information to serve Amateur Radio Operators when they need to respond to a communications emergency. It will feature an Introduction and Conclusion to Emergency Communications, and training sessions on topics including:

*Overview of Eastern Massachusetts ARES-RACES-SKYWARN Programs
*Net Operations
*NTS Traffic Message Handling
*Basic Overview of ICS
*Practical discussions and “Go Kits” demonstration
*Interactive Exercises on Field Operations

This training will also feature a 1 hour lunch that will be provided at no coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session.

Please press link to read more and find out how to sign up and directions.The Emergency Communications presentations will be given by Amateur Operators in the ARES leadership who are well versed in the topics listed above. The training will be a worthwhile endeavor not just for emergency communicators but for anyone who is an amateur radio operator, and wants to,learn more about the hobby.

Preregistration is requested but not required for this workshop. You are allowed to preregister right up until the workshop and walk-ins to the workshop will be allowed.

Directions to the Workshop:

From the South:

Take I-495 North to Exit 30, which is the Route 2A/Route 110 exit and head toward Littleton/Ayer. Merge on to MA-2A/King Street/MA-110 to Littleton Common and take a left on to Shattuck Street.

From the North:

Take I-495 South to Exit 30, which is the Route 2A/Route 110 exit and head toward Littleton/Ayer. Merge on to MA-2A/King Street/MA-110 to Littleton Common and take a left on to Shattuck Street.

Talk-in: 146.955 PL 74.4 PART repeater

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop, please contact:

W1MPN-Mike Neilsen w1mpn@ema.arrl.org
K1EJ-Darrel Mallory darrelma@aol.com

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in general.

[Webmaster note: View pictures of the last workshop at the ARES Workshop and SEMARA Cookout Photo Gallery. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Southeastern Massachusetts ARES District 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, and personal website:
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

Emergency Communications

EMA Simulated Emergency Test, Nov. 8, 2003

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EMA Section Emergency Coordinator Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, has announced the date for this year’s Section Emergency Test (SET), scheduled for Saturday, November 8th. The SET affords interested amateurs and groups an opportunity to participate in emergency communications exercises on both the local and area level. The SET also allows ARES leaders the chance to evaluate our emergency communication skills and readiness to respond to exigencies. [Full story]

All / Emergency Communications

ARES Stand-down

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Please stand down from storm preparation activities, except specific areas along the coast, at the discretion of South Shore, Bristol, and Cape/Islands DEC’s.

Hurricane Isabel has crossed the 75th meridian and is in the process of making landfall on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Please see latest advisory issued by SKYWARN chief, Rob, KD1CY, below, and/or direct links to NHC provided here:

For the latest position briefing on the Hurricane, please refer to the 5-day Hurricane diagram. For the most up-to-date discussion, please refer to the latest NHC discussion of Hurricane Isabel

s/Micheal P. Neilsen
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Voice
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary Voice
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
w1mpn@ema.arrl.org

All / Emergency Communications

ARES/RACES Repeaters in Standby

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Hi Folks,

New England area ARES/RACES Amateur Radio Operators went into full standby mode late this afternoon as word of the massive power outage filtered in. In the Eastern Mass Section, SEC Mike Neilsen – W1MPN placed all ARES/RACES Stations on Standby at 17:00 Thursday evening.

Several RACES/ARES stations checked in and monitored 3.943 Mhz for Massachusetts communications. WC1MA, the Mass State EMA Headquarters checked in and advised that they were on full alert. The Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC held their normally scheduled ARES Net and were joined by Rob Macedo – KD1CY, operating W1AEC, the Southeastern Mass ARC club station. Most ARES/RACES Teams had contacted their respective city/town EMA Directors, checked into their local repeaters and awaited further instructions. As word of the gradual restoration of power was made available, most stations were advised to “stand down” and were thanked for their assistance. The response was quick and organized, showing that our recent drills and training sessions have proved beneficial.

Thanks to all the local and regional ARES/RACES personnel that have given of their time to train our people in the techniques required to handle these situations. Also, thanks to the ARRL for their work with the ARECC (Amateur Radio Emergency Communicatons Course) program.

73,

Jim Duarte – N1IV
ARRL Public Information Coordinator
Eastern Mass Section

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Ema-staff mailing list
Ema-staff@ema.arrl.org
http://ema.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/ema-staff

Text of original instructions and press release follow:****** MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE ******
***** PLEASE BRING UP RACES/ARES IN STANDBY *****

A massive power outage has been reported in NYC and many Midwest cities including Canada. Media reporting “natural” occurrence not terrorism. It may or may not spread to our area.

NCS please bring up all ARES/RACES repeaters in standby mode. Advice of your presence, and require time between transmissions.

s/Michael P. Neilsen
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Voice
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary Voice
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
w1mpn@ema.ares.org

This is a precautionary move as many cities to our west including midwest and Canada have lost power. Terrorism in NOT suspected, but is felt to be part of an accidental breakdown. ISO New England has declared our power supply secure.

s/Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Eastern Mass. Section Emergency Coodinator

Hi All!

In the Eastern Mass Section, SEC Mike Neilsen – W1MPN placed all
ARES/RACES Stations on Standby as of 17:07 this evening. Several RACES
Stations are already checked in and monitoring our 75 meter frequency.
Most ARES/RACES Teams have been in contact with their respective
city/town EMA Directors and are awaiting further instructions.

Regards,

Jim Duarte
Public Information Coordinator
ARRL Eastern Mass Section

Emergency Communications

CEMARC BBQ, ARES Workshop at SEMARA 8/9/03

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combined CEMARC, EMA ARES logosFrank Murphy, N1DHW writes:

Time is getting close for the BBQ at the Southeastern MA ARA on August 9th. If you are planning to attend just the BBQ lunch, please reply to this email, or call me, Frank N1DHW, 617-491-8451 so SEMARA can plan for food. If you plan to attend just the BBQ, arrive about 10:00 a.m.

Spread the word to those in your club who might want to attend. You are on the CEMARC mail list and others in the club depend on YOU to forward CEMARC info. Talk it up on the repeater.

Better yet, attend the all day ARES Workshop being conducted at SEMARA that day, and really have a day out. The Workshop is from 9:00 – 4:30, with a 2 hour break for the BBQ lunch.

Workshop details, and directions to SEMARA can be found at:

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/emrgshop.htm

Hope to see you there.

All / Emergency Communications

Cape Cod ARES Summer Exercise 7/19/03

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ARES logoMembers of the Cape Cod ARES will conduct a summer communications exercise Saturday, July 19. The exercise, dubbed “Operation Long Haul” will test the ability of “EOCs, three field teams and multiple zone-based home relay stations to provide general communcations and relay coverage of the operational zones.” See http://ares.ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=105 for the details.

All / Emergency Communications

Cape Cod ARES Drill 7/19/03

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Members of the Cape Cod ARES [held its] summer communications exercise Saturday, July 19. The exercise, dubbed “Operation Long Haul” will test the ability of “EOCs, three field teams and multiple zone-based home relay stations to provide general communcations and relay coverage of the operational zones.”

According to Cape and Islands District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, the exercise will utilize high frequency Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS), VHF/UHF FM and SSB. O’Laughlin adds, “we’ll attempt communications with other ARES districts if the opportunity arises.”

The drill will be the first CCARES exercise in which a field team conducts an NCS operation on the 6 meter band.

A description of Operation Long Haul can be found in the ARES web site links under “Departments/Programs | Training”.