 October 18, 2023 Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE | |
ARES® Briefs, Links Attention: The ARRL website will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance on Monday, October 23, 2023. Follow us on Facebook for updates. - ARRL Administrative Headquarters Alachua County (Florida) ARES - one of the leading groups in the country -- has approved its After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) for its Hurricane Idalia response. A spokesman for the group said: "We write these up for almost every significant event or exercise. The improvement plans have steadily made us grow. This 25-page report in standard HSEEP format has 25 problems identified, each with improvement plans. Nine of those are already 'completed.' Putting our problems in writing so we can track our solutions has been key for us." FEMA Publishes Unmanned Aircraft Systems Resource Typing Documents -- These updates integrate the latest best practices into the National Incident Management System (NIMS) resource typing definitions library. Remote Pilot-In-Command: Operates an unmanned aircraft platform in a safe and secure manner according to all local, state, and Federal regulations. Technical Specialist - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Provides technical support to the UAS Team, including managing data recording equipment and software, managing communications systems and frequencies, and maintaining documentation in the appropriate chain of custody. Small Unmanned Aircraft System Team: An aircraft operations team without a human pilot on board, also known as a drone. The pilot on the ground has an FAA or military license to collect data for improved situational awareness through remote sensing. The UAS Team operates under the Air Operations Branch, as established by the requestor. These resource typing documents enhance the interoperability and effectiveness of mutual aid by establishing baseline qualifications. This facilitates sharing deployable resources at all jurisdictional levels. -FEMA NIMS Alert October 17, 2023 Great ShakeOut Exercise is Tomorrow! From the October 1-15 2023 issue of the FEMA Disaster Emergency Communications News Clippings and Topics of Interest newsletter: "The Great ShakeOut is the world's largest annual earthquake drill and will occur nationwide on October 19, 2023, at 10:19 AM local time. To highlight the significance of accurate ground truth in the early stages of a disaster event, Winlink and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are collaborating to provide radio operators an opportunity to participate and train on process and procedure for information reporting in the 'Did You Feel It' (DYFI) exercise; subsequently, this drill will also underscore how the proficiency of Winlink facilitates this sharing of information. USGS will use the Winlink 'Did You Feel It' ground truth data to contribute to the calculations of their earthquake intensity assessments when modeling the Modified Mercalli (MMIS) Intensity Scale, a standard index used for earthquake severity. Data will be leveraged to improve event response products, including Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER), a system that provides fatality and economic loss impact estimates following significant earthquakes. The secondary purpose of this event is to illustrate to emergency management officials the ability of the Winlink system to provide situational awareness information they may not otherwise be able to obtain in the initial phases of disaster response." For more detailed instructions on how to participate in the Great ShakeOut DYFI exercise, please visit https://winlink.org/content/shakeout or use the following link that has specific "how-to" information ShakeOutWinlinkExercise_cm6.pdf. Comment Deadlines Set on Proposed 60-Meter Band Changes A public period is open until October 30, 2023 for radio amateurs to comment on proposed changes to the 60-meter band. ARRL is asking all radio amateurs to join it in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue the existing use of the band. ARRL is encouraging expressions of support to the FCC for the current 100 watt ERP power limit (instead of reducing the power limit to 15 watts EIRP) and continuing secondary access to the current channels. An opportunity to reply to comments ends on November 28. The federal government is the primary user of the 5 MHz spectrum. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal government's spectrum regulator, has argued that the WRC-15 proposals should be implemented as written. Doing so would result in amateurs losing four of the discrete channels they have been using on a secondary basis and having the maximum permissible power reduced by more than 10 dB, from 100 watts ERP to 9.1 watts ERP. In 2017, ARRL petitioned the FCC to keep four of the current five 60-meter channels -- one would be within the new band -- as well as the current limit of 100 watts ERP. "Such implementation will allow radio amateurs engaged in emergency and disaster relief ARRL said that years of amateur radio experience using the five discrete 5-MHz channels demonstrated that amateurs coexist well with the primary users at 5 MHz. "Neither ARRL, nor, apparently, NTIA is aware of a single reported instance of interference to a federal user by a radio amateur operating at 5 MHz to date," ARRL said in its 2017 petition. ARRL will continue to advocate to maintain the 100 watt limit for 60 meters, continued authorization for the four channels outside the WRC allocation that are being used today, and adoption of the new 15 kHz allocation with the same 100 watt power limit. In the NPRM, the FCC recognizes that Canada adopted rules equivalent to those proposed by the ARRL. "Finally, we note that Canada has essentially implemented the same rules as ARRL has requested," the Commission wrote. The FCC seeks comment on the proposed 15 kHz of contiguous spectrum, but also on whether the existing channels should remain allocated to amateur radio on a secondary basis, and whether the maximum power limitations should be reduced from 100 to 9.1 watts ERP. The FCC also requested comments on whether the power limitation should be expressed as EIRP as the WRC-15 recommends, or as ERP as in the current rules. Healthcare Coalition Conducts Interoperable Auxiliary Communications Test The Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (EHPC) in conjunction with the North Carolina Auxiliary Communications Eastern Region (AUXCOMM) conducted an interoperable Communication Exercise (COMMEX) on May 4, 2023. This is the fourth modified Functional Exercise conducted to better improve communication and information sharing across the region. This exercise was opened to all statewide partners along with federal agencies located in North Carolina. The exercise was later opened to all FEMA Region 3 and 4 Auxiliary Communications and SHARES stations. The sole goal of this exercise was to ensure preparedness for the 2023 hurricane season. Overview EHPC conducts monthly VIPER - Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders -- radio checks with all of its regional hospitals and State Medical Assistance III Teams (SMAT III). While North Carolina is a leader in tactical communications, gaps still exist between various disciplines with radio and information sharing platforms. EHPC leadership wanted to take regional communication testing a step further with functional exercises. The EHPC COMMEX is designed as an all hazards exercise, but is particularly focused on healthcare across the region. Various exercise play lanes were developed to challenge players with real life examples of problems encountered in their fields. The EHPC COMMEX was conducted as a hybrid exercise. Players were allowed to remain at their home base in a virtual format while exercise control duties occurred at key locations. Facilitators were virtual in nature and exercise play was advanced by participant interaction. The event included 308 total participants from 47 agencies in North Carolina. 192 stations from 16 states outside North Carolina sent HF Situation Reports. Key Findings Key findings conveyed baselines of interoperable communication challenges, provided recommendations, and can help North Carolina improve communications interoperability. With this knowledge, agencies can also develop priorities and focus their efforts on achieving and improving communication interoperability. Several interoperable communication successes:
EHPC also identified several opportunities for improving the knowledge and preparedness of regional and statewide partners. Conclusion The EHPC COMMEX (004) was an essential step toward increasing and improving communications interoperability throughout North Carolina in preparation for future catastrophic incidents. The success of this exercise was based on the knowledge shared and lessons learned during the exercise and associated discussions. The AAR/IP will be published in the coming weeks. The improvement plan will focus on recommendations to substantively further interoperable emergency communications capabilities. More information here. - Thanks, Duane Mariotti, WB9RER, Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network, Orange, California ARRL Launches The NTS Letter There's a new newsletter in the ARRL repertoire as of this month. The first issue of The NTS Letter was published on October 3, 2023. The NTS Letter is a monthly digest of all things related to the ARRL National Traffic System®. It is edited by Marcia Forde, KW1U, who is a veteran traffic handler and serves as the Section Traffic Manager for the ARRL Eastern and Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island Sections. The NTS is a network that allows for rapid movement of messages, referred to as "traffic," from origin to destination, and for training amateur operators to handle written traffic and to participate in directed nets. The network consists of the layering and sequencing of both voice and CW traffic nets, as well as a digital system that operates 24/7. This nationwide system operates 365 days a year, generally relaying routine message traffic for training purposes and for maintaining readiness if called upon in an emergency. If called upon, these operators stand ready to assist emergency communications personnel and served-agency partners in relaying welfare and other messages. It is the modern continuation of the historic "radio relay" from ARRL's founding in 1914. ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, said the NTS is a great way to get involved in emergency communications. "Newly licensed and experienced amateurs alike who participate in NTS find satisfaction and enjoyment in learning the skills of sending and receiving concise written voice and CW traffic in an organized, on-air network. It's a natural complement to the skills and training one needs to become an effective emergency communicator and Amateur Radio Emergency Service® volunteer. Plus, it's an opportunity to meet new friends, and it's fun!" said Kemmerer. The NTS Letter is published monthly and is free of charge to ARRL members. Members can subscribe at arrl.org/opt-in-out by selecting "edit" to view all of their subscription preferences (members need to be logged in to their ARRL website account to do this). Major Minnesota Marathon Canceled -- Amateur Radio Team was Ready The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 2023, scheduled for earlier this month (October 10) was canceled just before the start due to forecasted record heat and humidity creating dangerous running conditions. However, the amateur radio team - one of the leading public event communications groups in the country -- was ready to roll. Here's a summary of what they had planned based on their extensive experience and education. Amateur radio -- the Medical Communications Department -- again played several key roles in the Type 3, Unified Command event:
Generally, except on two of our ham led Med Comms nets, public safety radios are not used by event volunteers. And public safety does not use our event radios. This is deliberate -- the chains of command are not mixed or confused. The idea, under stress, the departments use their established procedures and there is not a change. We meet at the top, under Unified Command. For our race, we are event/volunteer led; our government partners have two large cities to run, and if we need them, we politely ask. (Some marathons are government led, which is a different model). -- Erik Westgard, NY9D, Med Comms Lead, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon K1CE for a Final: Personal Hurricane Idalia Notes After 40 years of working hurricane response as a member of the ARRL Headquarters staff and then providing mostly administrative and communications support as a volunteer following my retirement, I experienced the real thing firsthand with Hurricane Idalia. We were in its path. I never made it to my ARES assignment at a town shelter, instead hunkering down with my wife and five dogs at home. That morning was truly terrifying - no hyperbole here. Our two vehicles were crushed and ultimately declared total losses. For the first time in over 40 years of association with the WX4NHC station at the National Hurricane Center, and the venerable Hurricane Watch Net, I found myself checking in to the net and filing a report on conditions. Net and station operators - thank you. After writing about hurricane preparedness and emergency communications for decades, I found that I violated many of my own recommendations. I discovered firsthand the psychological challenges that work against doing the right things. I'll stop here, but watch for a QST Public Service column on my personal experience - and failings - soon. It will be an unflinching self-assessment that might help you in a future disaster situation. -- Rick Palm, K1CE, Fort White, Columbia County ARES, Florida ARES® Resources
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because ARES is an amateur radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership. How to Get Involved in ARES: Fill out the ARES Registration form and submit it to your local Emergency Coordinator. ARRL Resources No other organization works harder than ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® to promote and protect amateur radio! ARRL members enjoy many benefits and services including digital magazines, e-newsletters, online learning (learn.arrl.org), and technical support. Membership also supports programs for radio clubs, on-air contests, Logbook of The World®, ARRL Field Day, and the all-volunteer ARRL Field Organization.
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