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The ARES E-Letter

December 20, 2017
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE

In This Issue:

 *  Illinois Amateurs Support "The Century," Providing More than
    Communications Services
 *  Muskegon Hosts First DHS-OEC Auxiliary Communications Training in
    Michigan
 *  A Last Wish Realized -- A Final QSO -- A Story for the Holiday Season
 *  K1CE For a Final: End of Year Message

____________________________________________________________________________


ARES Briefs, Links

Report from India: Ham Radio Aids Rescue of Two Fishermen (12/7/17); World Wide
 Radio Operators Foundation Announces KP4 Generator Project (12/4/17)

Southern California Firestorms -- As of December 14, the Thomas Fire in
Southern California consumed more than 230,500 acres, forcing evacuations.
Amateur Radio volunteers provided communication for American Red Cross shelters
 in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, passing traffic between evacuation
centers.

A Ventura County Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS)/ARES net was convened
December 5 to support Red Cross shelters there, providing communications
between shelters. Radio amateurs also deployed to the Ventura County Emergency
Operations Center (EOC). According to ARRL Ventura County District Emergency
Coordinator Rob Hanson, W6RH, the ACS/ARES volunteers staffed four evacuation
centers, in addition to the EOC.

Santa Barbara Section Manager Jim Fortney, K6IYK, reported an Amateur Radio
Digital Network (ARDN) MESH video system has live streamed images from several
sites, as long as it remains up. "Loss of primary power has required using the
solar power backup capabilities, but, unfortunately, the heavy smoke has made
that backup less than fully reliable," he said. In addition, some sites were
down because of power outages, and at least one hilltop site was overrun by
fire.

"The Santa Barbara District ARES organization works closely with Santa Barbara
County OEM and is prepared to support any requests as the Thomas Fire continues
 to burn into Santa Barbara County," Fortney said.

Rich Beisigl, N6NKJ, reported that the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Group and other
groups in the North County (San Diego) provided communication at some
evacuation centers, and the Red Cross activated its Amateur Radio group. He
said a group in Carlsbad also was providing shelter communication support.

In addition to power loss to repeater sites, solar panels charging off-grid
batteries have been affected by the huge plumes of smoke blocking the sun. --
summary of report by Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, ARRL News

For ARES(R) activity and data for your Section, please view ARES Annual/Monthly
 Reports. If your Section's ARES report is not found there, please check with
your ARRL Section Manager for the important data. This documentation helps you
compare ARES activities across your Division and the rest of the country, and
can also help you in supporting proposals for Amateur Radio as an
emergency/disaster response asset before local, county and state emergency
managers. The data is also used by ARRL Administrative Staff and Counsel in
buttressing ARRL/Amateur Radio positions and comments filed in various FCC
rulemaking proceedings, including those involving spectrum defense.

____________________________________________________________________________


Illinois Amateurs Support "The Century," Providing More than Communications
Services

In September, nearly 40 Amateur Radio volunteers converged on Springfield,
Illinois to support the Capital City Century, a cycling event. The "Century" is
 the largest in the area for which the amateurs provide not only communications
 support, but are also responsible for logistics, safety and operations.
Amateur Radio operators from six counties included three ARES(R) Emergency
Coordinators, Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, and Police Officers.
 Jess Hunter, W9ABS, who coordinates and organizes communications and
operations, said "the amateur community has skills in addition to radio
communication skills, which brings added value to the event organizers."

Hams provide logistics support by replenishing water supplies at field
locations, addressing issues out on the routes, and providing medical
intervention for minor injuries. Event Safety Officer Rich Marx, KB9TZS, said
"I am also a licensed EMT; it only makes sense to bring that training,
knowledge, and skill set to an event like this."

This year's event drew 750 cyclists, with more than 120 ham and non-ham
volunteers in supporting roles. One key to event success is the planning that
occurs months in advance; the Amateur Radio team participates fully in the
planning.

The event is planned and executed under the Incident Command System (ICS),
which includes the use of standard ICS forms and planning tools. For the 2017
event, the Incident Action Plan (commonly referred to as the "Playbook"
included over 40 pages of information -- everything from frequency assignments
to the location of port-a-potties. By providing the Amateur Radio operators
with this comprehensive information, they are able to look up and answer
questions in the field, thus reducing the need for over-the-air consultation,
keeping frequencies open for possible critical issues.

Hunter gives the following example: "If a participant wants to know the
location of the next water or food stop, instead of the radio operator
contacting Net Control asking for the information, they already have this
routine information available to them in the field through the use of the
Incident Command System methodology."

In addition to promoting a smooth running event, using the ICS exposes the
operators to the forms they would encounter in an emergency or disaster
response typically managed under the ICS.

Hunter states that for planning purposes he uses a mass evacuation scenario, a
function operators could be called upon to support in an emergency or disaster
situation. By participating in this event, not only is Amateur Radio providing
a service to the public, the operators are also training for potential
real-world disaster situations.

Harv Koplo, the organizer for the Century, said "We appreciate the added level
of organization and safety the Amateur Radio crew brings to our event. Over the
 course of the five years I have coordinated the Century, the two groups --
cyclist support volunteers and ham volunteers -- have evolved into a single
team to insure the safety of our riders and increase efficiency. I have
participated in rides from New York to Illinois, and we are the only event of
this type using Amateur Radio operators in this fashion."

Strong relationships have been forged between the amateur community and the key
 stakeholders for this event. Every year the Amateur Radio team receives
numerous compliments on its professionalism and dedication.

____________________________________________________________________________


Opportunity for New Hams

The event also gets newer hams involved. Ben Gaul, N9HHI, had never worked one
prior to the Century and was assigned the position of Resource Net Control
operator. Under the direct guidance of Logan County Emergency Coordinator
Jeremy Wells, KC9WMV, who serves as communications manager, Gaul learned new
skills and gained experience in the communications trailer. Another new ham,
Matt Joseph, KD9IUV, was paired with veteran Jim Grimaldi, N9DUI, to help
provide field support functions, learning as he participated.

Wells stated that "the communications trailer functions more like a Public
Safety Incident Command Trailer than a Net Control Station. With multiple
radios providing amateur voice communications, a computer screen keeping track
of mobile units via APRS and systems that pull information from the National
Weather Service Doppler to keep track of weather events makes for a busy work
environment."

Wells continues, "Having direct contact with the local weather service office
via Amateur Radio is a big plus.The day of the event a staff member in the
local weather service office is assigned to monitor weather patterns. Having
that higher level of support from NWS is a big help."

This year's event saw the creation and appointment of the ICS Logistics Section
 Chief, filled by Tom Labonte, KD9FZF. With the help of Jamie Ursch, KD9FZI,
and Pam Rock, KD9JER, he was busy making sure that water, food and other
supplies were available and that all volunteers were fed.

Al Tabor, N9MAF, performed the function of backup Net Control at a location
separate from the main Event Command location and was always at the ready to
take the helm should an incident occur that required the need for additional
Net Control resources. Having Tabor there for redundancy added another layer of
 support and stability.

Kevin Kesselring, KC9IGM, the Chief of Police for Pleasant Plains, Illinois, a
community that sees hundreds of participants pass through during this event,
stated "The planning and organization is evident the day of the event. This is
a great training opportunity for the ham community, and as a public safety
official I am glad to see the level at which Amateur Radio can perform." Chief
Kesselring said that "in the world we live in today, Amateur Radio has to
compete with other forms of communication technologies that do not require a
license, and it is good to see that Amateur Radio operators are willing to step
 up and do more than just provide communications support. This makes them a
force multiplier and increases the opportunities for Amateur Radio in a time of
 need."

Thus, the biggest lesson learned from the amateurs' involvement in the Capital
City Century is simple: Amateur Radio operators can and should perform more
than their traditional radio communications functions. Leaders need to identify
 external skill sets of the radio operators and take advantage of the
additional resources they possess to increase potential opportunities for the
amateur radio community as a whole when serving our communities.
Emergency/disaster communications support is more than just communicating with
radios. -- Jess Hunter, W9ABS, Springfield, Illinois

Muskegon Hosts First DHS-OEC Auxiliary Communications Training in Michigan
Muskegon County (Michigan) Emergency Communication Services (MCECS) recently
hosted a specialized Amateur Radio training class. The course, Auxiliary
Communications Training, or AUXCOMM, provides instruction to groups and
volunteers that provide radio communications services and support to public
safety agencies. The class was created by the US Department of Homeland
Security's (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC). Students completed
the 2-day, 20 hour course on October 28 and 29 at Muskegon Community College in
 Muskegon, Michigan. The class was instructed by Michigan instructors through
OEC's state-sponsored, OEC Recognized Instruction program.

"The class teaches amateur service operators how to develop and formally
document amateur communication solutions based on the needs of incidents,
exercises and planned events," explained lead instructor Raymond Hasil. Support
 Instructor John Imeson added, "The solutions and documents they create become
a part of the incident action plan, or IAP, that public safety agencies use to
manage major incidents."

Volunteer communications operators/groups, using Amateur Radio, have been
providing backup communications to public safety for nearly 100 years. Today,
nearly all of the states/territories have incorporated a level of participation
 by Amateur Radio auxiliary communication operators into their emergency
communications plans. 28 students from 11 Michigan counties participated in the
 training. -- James C. Duram, P.E.M., CIPS, COML, COMT, K8COP; Emergency
Manager, Oceana County Emergency Management, Hart, Michigan

____________________________________________________________________________


A Last Wish Realized -- A Final QSO -- A Story for the Holiday Season

Hams worked to grant a dying Vietnam vet and radio amateur a last wish of
making one more contact recently. It was David Hartnett, K9DRH, and crew Don
Whitney, K9DRW, James Nelson, K9QF, Harry Hahn, WB9R, Scott Campbell, KC9SJP,
and others who made it happen. An account of the event was published in the
local section of the Chicago Tribune. The story is about John Nugent, WA2EQJ, a
 U.S. Army Signal Corps member in Vietnam, who came home from the war to
feelings of isolation and found ham radio to help ameliorate them: he could
socialize with others around the world.

At a health care center in Chicago recently, Nugent's wish of one last QSO was
realized. As many of us old timers did, he had made his first radio out of a
cigar box when he was 9 years old. He told the facility staff that he was a ham
 since he was 16, and never let his license lapse.

The American Legion Amateur Radio Club, the North Shore Amateur Radio Club,
Lake County Emergency Management and the Lake County Sheriff's Office all
offered to assist in meeting his request. Lake County RACES set up antennas and
 his radio. Nugent made several contacts.

Nugent had volunteered for the Army and was wounded in the leg by shrapnel. His
 career as an electrician followed. After the QSOs were "in the log," his son
Chris walked around the room thanking the Lake County RACES and other
volunteers who facilitated his Dad's last wish.

To read the Tribune story, click on the link above. For video of the event,
click here. -- ARRL Illinois Section News; Ron Morgan, AD9I, Section Manager

____________________________________________________________________________


K1CE For a Final: End of Year Message

It's been a year of natural disasters across the country on a scale that I
cannot recall ever having been more horrific, from tornadoes to West coast
wildfires to Atlantic hurricanes and more. As this is written, wildfire is
raging across southern California in a month that is usually reserved for
mudslide and flooding season. The Los Angeles Times reported no major wildfire
had ever occurred in the state in December; California's wildfire season is
usually summer and early fall. Of the 20 largest California fires since 1932,
14 have burned since 2000. The five largest have all occurred since 2000.

It's also been a hurricane season to remember, with horror: the humanitarian
crises of Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, the flooding that Harvey
wrought on southern Texas, and here on the Florida peninsula, the march up land
 of Hurricane Irma that, according to some reports, spurred the largest
evacuation in US history, put large segments of the population into shelters,
and locked me into the hospital to work and live for almost 60 hours.

Amateur service licensees worked in partnership with emergency/disaster
response agencies, responding at all levels of government, and for the Red
Cross and NGOs over the course of the year. ARRL Administrative HQ staff
supported the ARRL Field Organization, and[tws_atl_latest_sm2.gif] HQ's
Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, traveled to Puerto Rico with
radio and other equipment made possible by donors to Ham Aid, to represent HQ
and personally add to the response and recovery effort there. Countless other
examples of support abound, and have been documented in QST and other outlets.

One asset that seems to me to be underutilized and could evolve to be a force
multiplier in community and neighborhood response and safety in disasters is
the CERT program. I know I sound like a broken record; I've harped on this
subject numerous times. The ARRL supports the Community Emergency Response Team
 (CERT) construct, and has formally supported it since 2003, when the League
became an official affiliate program of Citizen Corp, the DHS initiative. The
Statement of Affiliation makes ARRL an affiliate under the four charter Citizen
 Corps programs--Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community
Emergency Response Teams and Medical Reserve Corps.


Help before the Help Arrives

The premise of CERT is undeniable: when a disaster occurs, a neighborhood or
entire community could be isolated for days, inaccessible to first responders.
Residents are on their own, and must take care of themselves. The CERT program
trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as light search and rescue,
 First Aid, fire management, and radio communications. A team can be trained by
 local emergency management staff in the classroom, and organized at a local
community center or even a neighbor's living room.

Radio amateurs are found in just about every neighborhood, and they make
logical key members of CERTs, especially when it comes to establishing
communications with the outside world. To start, please check FEMA's CERT web
page here.

Finally, thank you being a reader of the ARRL ARES E-Letter. There are almost
40,000 of you across the country. Best wishes from the editorial and production
 staff for a great holiday season and happy new year!

__________


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____________________________________________________________________________


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