Spring Communications Exercise Sat. May 11th 2013
At our last club meeting (April 29th 2013) the program was supposed to be preparation for the communication exercise that will take place on May 13th. Unfortunately the Board meeting ran much longer than usual causing a late start to the club meeting. The club meeting also dealt with a lot of issues. By the time for the program, everyone was tired and it was necessary to cancel the program. Joe dropped off to me the material that was to be covered during the club meeting. I reviewed it and found that it is quite extensive. In retrospect, this material probably will be better absorbed early in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee!
Basically this exercise tests our ability to handle message traffic from the local repeater on up a communications chain to the folks who have to deal with the content of the message. Furthermore, the messages are in a standardized format which is different from the ARRL message format that is usually used in amateur traffic handling.
Everything we need to know is in two PDF files. The first file shows some slides which gives us a rough idea of what we are trying to do. I would suggest taking a look at this orientation file first. Don't spend too much time on this set of slides, because we are going to see it again in much greater detail. The "two cups of coffee file" spells out the exercise, from orientation to detailed information about how the messages are formatted. This is the meat of the presentation and will require some study and concentration.
Now that we know how to handle emergency message traffic (well maybe have some idea of how it should be done!!), there is one more file that will help us review the chain of command and how all emergencies are handled in this country. We have all studied the FEMA course ICS100, and this file is a little review of this information. If you listen to the fire frequencies on a scanner, you will hear this system in action.
Please take some time to familiarize yourself with this material so we can use this exercise to increase our emergency communication skills.
General Orientation to Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Adrian Amateur Radio Club serves the community by being prepared to provide reliable communications during times of emergency. The club trains through participating in controlled communication nets and special training exercises, often coordinating with other county emergency and relief agencies. These functions are carried out through the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) program, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and weather nets (SKYWARN®). Click here to see how the ARRL supports all of these activities. Click here for an interesting page showing how Washtenaw County integrates ARES and RACES functions, including separate ARES and RACES nets. Joe Pullen, K8YZA, is ®the county Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator (AREC), and is in charge of the ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN® programs. Note: At the November meeting Joe told us that the State Emergency Services director was particularly interested in the use of Amateur Radio Packet Communication. The information pertaining to how to implement Packet Radio in Lenawee County so that it integrates with the State system is on the web here.
Joe Pullen, K8YZA, AREC
The National Weather Service (NWS), in cooperation with other organizations, has established the SKYWARN® local severe weather spotting network. The program is an effort to save lives and property during severe weather emergencies. Click here to see how SKYWARN® ties in with ARES and RACES. Click here to visit the Detroit NWS web site. Review the Basic Spotters' Guide and the Advanced Spotters' Guide in .pdf file format.
2012 Spotter Training: Adrian is April 24th, 7:00 P.M. Siena Heights Univ. Dominican Hall. See other classes below.
Skywarn Spotter Training classes have been scheduled this spring across Southeast Lower Michigan. These free sessions are presented by the National Weather Service and the local emergency management office. The Skywarn Spotter class will typically last about two hours. The presentation covers a review of the 2011 severe weather season, thunderstorm hazards and safety, severe thunderstorm and tornado development, and methods of observing and reporting severe weather.
In some cases, class size is limited. Please contact the local Emergency Management Office where the Skywarn Spotter Training is scheduled to reserve your place.
If you cannot make one of the Skywarn classes this year, there are a couple of new alternatives for Skywarn Training. A new online Skywarn training is available through the NOAA MetEd web site. Currently there are two courses, each taking about one hour to complete...The Role of the Skywarn Spotter and Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics.
There will also be two webinar Skywarn Training classes conducted by the NWS Detroit/Pontiac office in April and early June. Look for the webinar details in March.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Skywarn spotter training class!
| Date | City and County | Time | Location |
| March 19 | Groveland Township, Oakland | 7 p.m. | Groveland Township Fire Station 1 |
| March 21 | Clinton Township, Macomb | 7 p.m. | Macomb Intermediate School District |
|
March 24 |
Chelsea, Washtenaw | 10 a.m. | Washington Street Education Center |
|
March 26 |
Huron Township, Wayne |
7 p.m. |
Huron High School Auditorium-Huron Civic Auditorium |
|
March 27 |
Sandusky, Sanilac |
7 p.m. |
Firebird Theater |
|
March 31 |
Flint, Genesee |
10 a.m. |
3rd Floor Auditorium County Building |
|
April 2 |
Port Huron, St. Clair |
7 p.m. |
St. Clair County Building |
|
April 3 |
Bay City, Bay |
7 p.m. |
Red Cross Building |
|
April 5 |
Midland, Midland |
7 p.m. |
Law Enforcement Center |
|
April 10 |
Livonia, Wayne |
7 p.m. |
Livonia Library |
|
April 12 |
Dearborn Heights, Wayne |
6 p.m. |
Caroline Kennedy Library |
|
April 14 |
Pontiac, Oakland |
10 a.m. 1 p.m. |
Oakland County Executive Office Building |
|
April 17 |
Flint, Genesee |
7 p.m. |
3rd Floor Auditorium County Building |
|
April 18 |
Saline, Washtenaw |
7 p.m. |
Liberty School Auditorium |
|
April 19 |
Lapeer, Lapeer |
7 p.m. |
Lapeer East High School Auditorium |
|
April 24 |
Adrian, Lenawee |
7 p.m. |
Siena Heights University Dominican Hall |
|
April 30 |
Farmington Hills, Oakland |
7 p.m. |
Costick Center |
|
May 1 |
Bad Axe, Huron |
6 p.m. |
Huron County Fairgrounds Expo Center |
|
May 2 |
Pontiac, Oakland |
7 p.m. |
Oakland County Executive Office Building |
|
May 12 |
Detroit, Wayne |
2 p.m. |
Main Branch Detroit Public Library |
|
May 15 |
Monroe, Monroe |
7 p.m. |
Monroe High School Auditorium |
|
May 19 |
Warren, Macomb |
10 a.m. |
TBD |
The federal Homeland Security Office has requested that all radio amateur emergency workers participating in RACES have special training. Lenawee County wants all persons in the RACES to have taken the current IS-22 course and the Lenawee County background and security clearances to assist in our county.
The background and clearances are NOT required for most of our emergency
operations which are handled by ARES. The checks are required for RACES
because that will most likely be enacted by the Federal government during war
or terrorism events. Sometimes RACES persons are needed at an emergency
operations center and everybody is more comfortable during times of terror
with persons who have been checked.
For those of you who would like to become certified, you can take this class
on line (click
here) as well as your test. The test is a 50 question multiple-choice and
true-false test, which is primarily a common sense test covering information
which most hams are already familiar. After downloading the written materials
to read (or reading them on line) you should print the test, then circle the
correct answers, then take the test on line. The on-line form resembles a
fill-in bubble sheet, but you click the space for your choice of answer.
When you receive your certificate in the mail, make a copy of it and place the following info on the back of your copy: CALL, NAME, BIRTH DATE, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER & STATE IF NOT MI, PHONE(S), ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE. Bring this info to Joe and he will deliver it to Jim Anderson who will deliver it to Captain Walsh of the Lenawee County Sheriff Dept. for the background checks.
ADRIAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, ARES, & RACES TRAINING AT MADISON FIRE DEPARTMENT by Joe Pullen, K8YZA
Five members of the Adrian Amateur Radio club attended Communications Equipment training on Sunday, April 25, from 2 to 6 pm. The participants included Bob Warwick, K2IBM, Randy Sweeney, N4UUJ, Caleb Squires, KK1G, Ted Rachwal, K8AQM, Peter Ossman, KD8IJC, and Joe Pullen, K8YZA. The trainer was John Waters, KD8CCR, of the District 1 Medical Coalition based at Livingston County Dispatch, /The program was hosted by Fire Chief Don Palpant, Station 88.
This course was intended to provide uniform training to participants within District 1 who will utilize communictions equipment supplied with Mobile Medical CBRNE Support Units (MMCSU). Training on equipment requiring an FCC license was limited to equipment set up and power supply. Select equipment included instruction of set up, power supply, operation and problem solving.
Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to:
1. Describe the state and national disaster communication frequencies and their purposes.
2. Program and operate MMCSU radios.
3. Establish radio interoperability and operate the Smart MSG function of Codespear.
4. Track patients and communicte through the use of electronic patient tracking system (EPTS).
Unfortunately, do to some equipment failures and missing equipment, some of the above were not able to be completed.
COMMENTS ON APRIL AARC MEETING by Joe W.Pullen, K8YZA, Lenawee County
EC/RO
At the last club meeting, it was suggested that ARES Training be offered 30 minutes prior to each meeting. Although a majority of those persons interested in training liked the idea, there were some objections and modifications offered. Unfortunately, I did not ask those club members who will not take part in the training what they thought of the idea.
Some objections included the loss of social connections as well as the fact that many people find it difficult enough to get to the meeting by 7:30 due to work schedules and mealtime. Modifications added included reduction of the training time to 15 minutes on alternate meeting nights. This would give training before club meetings a total of 90 minutes per year, which is totally inadequate.
Because of the inadequate time allotted and the lack of consulting the club members who do not wish to participate in this training, more will probably be accomplished by having essential training at times that do not infringe on all club members.
I recognize that the meetings are for the
total membership of the Adrian Amateur Radio Club and definitely do not
wish to impinge on the membership ARES & RACES training if the
majority do not wish to participate. Meanwhile I fully appreciate those
who do want to take part; we will still conduct training at other times.
Thanks for reading this.
Here is the roster and which tests have been passed.
| LENAWEE | COUNTY | NIMS | TRAINING | AS OF | 11/10/2007 | ||||||||||
| Required | Courses | ||||||||||||||
| Sort | Issued | Lastname | Firstname | Callsign | City | Zip Code | IS2 | IS22 | IS100 | IS200 | IS195 | IS700 | IS800 | ICS 300 | ICS400 |
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Back | Alan | N8TIB | LasVegas | YES | |||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Banker | Dale | N9MHD | Adrian | 49221 | |||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Bowman | Brian | KC8MCR | Riga | 49276 | YES | yes | yes | ||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Brooks | Cletus | K8TLT | Onsted | 49265 | YES | YES | YES | YES | yes | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Brooks | Kevin | N8JMN | Onsted | 49265 | YES | YES | yes | ||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Bydalek | Stan | KC8ZDH | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Densel | Richard | K8GX | Adrian | 49221 | YES | ||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Groover | Bill | KA8ARK | Tecumseh | 49286 | YES | ||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Lacy | Orman | W8LNR | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Miller | Alec | K8ADM | Onsted | 49265 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Pullen | Joe | K8YZA | ManitouBch | 49253 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | |
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Rice | Jerold | K8YCA | Clayton | 49235 | YES | ||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Schell | Nick | KC8ONZ | Tecumseh | 49286 | YES | YES | yes | ||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Schutte | Norm | W8TTH | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Schutte | Virginia | W8TTX | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Sheely | Lowell | KC8JJT | Jonesville | 49250 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Smith | Eric | K8JVW | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Sweeney | Walter | N4UUJ | Blissfield | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | |||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Warwick | Bob | K2IBM | Adrian | 49221 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||
| 1 | RACES 2005 | Wheeler | Art | KC8GTA | Manitou Bch | 49253 | YES | ||||||||
| 1 | RACES 2007 | Willey | Marjorie | KB8TMM | Onsted | 49265 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
Click here to learn more and download Telpac software.
Click here for an overview of the WINLINK communication system.
Click here for a look at the Power Point presentation on WINLINK for emergency services.