ARES Letter for August 17, 2005

The ARES E-Letter offers a useful source of timely information for
those interested in public service and emergency communications. The
ARES E-Letter includes time-sensitive news, informative items, and
ideas of interest to ARES communicators.  



Premier Issue:
The ARES E-Letter 
Covering Emergency Communications and Public Service 


A NEW E-LETTER FOR YOU! Welcome to the debut of the ARES E-Letter!
Monthly issues will bring the ARES communicator a wealth of
after-action reports, editorials, technical tips, news, and views in
a more expeditious manner than QST with its integral editorial delay.
Timeliness, utility and inspiration are the goals of this new monthly
devoted entirely to Amateur Radio emergency communication, all for
you, the field activists. 

You are receiving this e-letter because you have proved that you are
keenly interested in emergency communications and public service. 
However, if you already receive more email than you can keep up with,
you may opt out of receiving this -- please see the final paragraphs
of this e-letter, below.

After having served as a Newington pencil pusher for twenty years,
the ARES E-Letter's new editor retired to Florida--a ground zero as
far as natural disasters go. Last year, the state better known for
its embarrassing case of electile dysfunction in 2000 was the scene
of four calamitous hurricanes that ripped up lives and property--we
adopted a new moniker, "The Plywood State."  It was a wonder to
monitor firsthand the Floridian radio amateurs fulfilling their
public service mission by providing communications for their
neighbors and response agencies, in some cases directly in the path
of harm's way. For example, as I huddled with my wife in the center
of the living room of our wind-buffeted, boarded-up house in Flagler
County during one storm, I listened with simultaneous horror and
admiration as ARES AEC Merrill Musikar, KG4IDD, transmitted his
mobile position out in the maelstrom on his way to delivering another
radio to an emergency shelter full of terrified community members.
That is dedication, I thought to myself. He and his father, AEC Jay
Musikar, AF2C, along with EC Art Cooper, AB4QQ, were providing
support to the county's emergency operations center. 

A plethora of stories like this one propelled Amateur Radio back into
the forefront of the minds of relief agency planners on both the
county and state levels. A recent statewide meeting in Tallahassee
focused on honing plans for Amateur Radio in the context of the
current hurricane season. As this is being written, storms are
revving up in the Caribbean basin and Gulf of Mexico, aimed this way.
It won't be long before the storm shutters are pulled down, the
repeaters are brought up, and the fur flies once again here in the
country's "sunshine" state.

Those of you on the frontlines of ARES activations: this new ARES
E-Letter is for you! We hope you enjoy this maiden voyage.

THANKS--ARRL wishes to thank David Thorne, K6OJ, for his pioneering
efforts with emcomm newsletters; he is credited with setting the
standard for such newsletters.  The content of his letter, EmComm
Monthly (which can be read at www.emcomm.org/em/), and The ARES
E-Letter are quite different, since the latter will contain much more
information pertaining directly to the ARRL Field Organization, Field
Appointees and our EComm courses and certification.  


SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH 2005--ARRL is a coalition
member supporting a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to
better prepare for emergencies. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security and the American Red Cross, National Preparedness
Month 2005 is "to increase public awareness about the importance of
preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take
action," according to a joint news release of both entities.

"No community is truly prepared for a disaster until every
individual, family and household takes personal responsibility for
preparedness," said the Red Cross.  "Chapters across the country are
helping people learn how to create a family disaster plan so that
each person knows what to do, where to go, and how to contact loved
ones." ARRL has a longstanding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with
the Red Cross.

Throughout September, Homeland Security and the Red Cross will work
with government organizations and the private sector to highlight the
importance of public emergency preparedness.  ARRL joins more than
125 national organizations to distribute emergency preparedness
information, host events and sponsor activities across the country.  
  

National Preparedness Month will teach Americans about preparing for
emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist
threats.  Events, activities, and messages across the nation will
encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family
emergency plan, be informed about different threats and get involved
in preparing their communities. The initiative launches on September
1, 2005 in Washington, D.C.  

ARRL will sponsor Amateur Radio Awareness Day and this fall's
Simulated Emergency Test as part of its annual effort consistent with
National Preparedness Month goals. See next story.


AMATEUR RADIO PUBLIC AWARENESS DAY EMERGENCY POWER OPERATING EVENT
SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 -- Amateurs will participate in a
15-hour operating event on emergency power. On that day, amateurs
make contacts with others who are also using only emergency power to
demonstrate preparedness for emergency communications for the public.
Emergency power can be any source that is completely separate from
commercial mains: solar panels, generators, storage batteries,
alternators powered by bicycles, battery packs in HTs, and wind
power, for examples. Operation can be from home or field. 

Times: 9 AM Eastern (6 AM Pacific) on Saturday, September 17, 2005,
until 12 AM Eastern (9 PM Pacific). All bands and modes included. The
exchange is up to the individual operators but can include the
traditional signal report, location, and the type of emergency power
being used, for examples. W1AW will be QRV on generator power. A
special QSL card will be available to those stations using emergency
power that contact W1AW.  (A regular QSL card will still be available
to those stations that wish to contact W1AW, but who are not using
emergency power).  Please include an SASE with your card request, and
please indicate the power source that was used (if applicable).


IRONMAN ARIZONA 2005 -- On April 9, 2005 the Ironman Triathlon
debuted in Tempe, Arizona, with Amateur Radio for communication
support.  Explorer Post 599 stepped up to the plate to provide APRS
communications, a perfect mode for this special event. Scotty
Cowling, WA2DFI, served as point ham.  

The mission was to provide APRS mapping to the interdisciplinary
public safety team of agencies so that it could coordinate race
operations.  Image communication was also supplied via Amateur Radio
to the Ironman staff on a two-minute basis for its coordination
purposes. Scout Nate Kilzer, KD7FNH, wrote a program to automate this
function, which worked flawlessly.

Technical bugs were worked out and the team was ready on the eve of
the race. The Ironman is a rigorous event: Athletes swim 2.4 miles,
bike 112 miles, and run a marathon (26.2 miles) in less than 18
hours.  

On race day, Cowling and team effected use of five self-contained
trackers. When used to track the bikes, they were bungee corded to
trackers' motorcycles. When tracking the lead runners, they were
similarly attached to the racks on bicycles.  Bugs were worked out on
the fly. After the lead competitors finished, the scouts were idle
for several hours until it was time to send the sweep unit out. 
Scout David Clark, KD7NZK, Extra class at age 12, volunteered for
sweep rider duty, and did an excellent job of shadowing the last
runner allowing for positioning of sag units to ensure a timely
response to runners needing assistance. 

Post event debriefing led the Deputy Fire Chief to comment "the
communications center was the most efficient and professional group I
have ever seen," and "the way we ran communications should be the
model for every other event that comes to town." The event director
added, "you guys did a remarkable job -- the ability to provide
real-time tracking was icing on the cake for the communications side
of this event."  

The Explorer Scouts of Post 599 made a significant contribution to
the success of the first running of the Ironman in Arizona.  See
<http://www.post599.org/>. (Thanks to ARRL Arizona Section Emergency
Coordinator Rick Aldom, W7STS)


INTERNATIONAL BEAT

United States' radio amateurs are among the best-trained emergency
communicators in the world. Our obligations in the realm of emergency
communication do not stop at the country's borders, especially here
in the Americas of ITU Region 2 where smaller countries' disaster
mitigation assets are quickly overwhelmed. We are in a unique
position to contribute to the functioning of emergency communication
across the entire region. We should meet this obligation to the best
of our ability. 

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Emergency
Coordinator (abbreviated as EMCOR) is an international coordinating,
planning and organizational position, spreading knowledge of the
international organization of emergency management and communication.
The EMCOR is familiar with the emergency communication structure and
resources of the Region 2 countries through continuing liaison with
area advisors and the region's IARU Member-Societies. The EMCOR
maintains a database of up-to-date key contact information including
telephone, fax, E-Mail, and pertinent data about the capacity and
capabilities of the emergency facilities of each Member Society and
their respective emergency communication programs. 

Another EMCOR objective is to develop compatible international norms
and standard operating procedures in a Region 2 International
Emergency Communications Plan (R2IECP), and ensure its acceptance by
all Region 2 Member Societies to promote efficiency in mutual
assistance planning and operations. The IARU Region 2 EMCOR will also
receive and publish reports from each major emergency operation in
the region, and revise techniques and plans based on those actual
experiences under disaster conditions. Finally, the EMCOR will
encourage discipline and a professional manner in radio communication
efforts.

U.S. radio amateurs should be familiar with the Region 2 EMCOR
program in the event that mutual assistance is needed during
overwhelming disaster conditions anywhere in the region.

For information, see the official IARU Region 2 EMCOR website: 

<http://www.iaru-r2emcor.net/>


GAREC-2005 -- The first ever Global Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Conference took place on June 13-14, 2005, in Tampere,
Finland. 17 countries including the U.S. (ARRL) and all three IARU
Regions were represented. Delegates discussed the role of radio
amateurs in emergency communications: the cooperation between hams
and the institutional emergency response providers on the national
level, and the exchange of experiences from recent events. The
presentations showed how hams support the emergency responders as
skilled volunteer telecommunication operators for the responders'
networks as well as by providing their own global networks. The
conferees also discussed ways to improve and facilitate the work of
these networks. It concluded that the establishment of a "Center of
Activity Frequency" for emergency traffic would be desirable. 


STORM ARLENE SENDS UP EARLY WARNING THAT HURRICANE SEASON HAS ARRIVED
-- The first tropical system of the season, Arlene, visited a storm
weary and wary Florida panhandle in June. Arriving nine months after
Hurricane Ivan, Arlene was dubbed "Ivan's baby." 

But the West Panhandle ARES district was ready for the challenge.
Escambia County ARES under the direction of EC Eugene Bannon, KB4HAH,
manned the Escambia EOC and two shelters. Santa Rosa County ARES,
under the leadership of the new EC Steve Ford, KG4SEW, staffed the
Santa Rosa County EOC and a shelter. EC David Trentham and the Walton
County ARES took care of the Walton County EOC and one shelter. The
DEC of the West Panhandle District, Bobby Tyree, KG4KGX, was located
at the Santa Rosa County EOC and tried to keep communications open
with the entire District, Tallahassee and with the new SEC, Joe
Bushel, W2DWR. A District-wide net was started at 1300 local time on
Friday, June 10, and was monitored continuously until Saturday, June
11, at 1800. 

Luck held: Arlene caused little damage across the entire District.
The West Panhandle District thanked all who participated and
especially Bushel and Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, Northern Florida SM, for
their excellent leadership. "Their help in getting us through this
first tropical system of the year was invaluable," said Tyree, who
provided this report. 


HURRICANE WATCH NET AND HURRICANE CENTER'S WX4NHC GET EARLY SEASON
WORKOUT - While the ARES organization of DEC Bobby Tyree, KG4KGX,
worked the Florida panhandle's needs, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)
and WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami activated
Saturday, June 11, in support of their effort before Tropical Storm
Arlene made landfall in the region. The storm, which produced
considerable rainfall, never did reach hurricane status, although it
had been expected to. Arlene caused scattered power outages affecting
several thousand. 

The HWN activated on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level weather data
"ground truths" to relay via WX4NHC to hurricane forecasters, one of
its most traditional functions. HWN Manager is Mike Pilgrim, K5MP,
who secured operations on June 11. 

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Arlene was a
wake-up call for the entire southeastern and Gulf seaboards.


AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COURSE REGISTRATION --
Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Level I on-line course (EC-001) opened on-line Monday, July 4.
Although federal grant reimburseable seats are no longer available,
the ARRL's corporate grant -- from United Technologies Corporation --
will continue to offer reimburseable seats for all 3 emergency
communication courses through October. Level I courses open on the
first Monday of the month at 1201 AM Eastern; Level II on the second
Monday; and Level III on the third Monday. Because the number of
seats now is fewer, the on-line registration window will close even
quicker than previously. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants
send a check or money order to "ARRL, ATTN CCE Reg, 225 Main Street,
Newington, CT 06111." Once received, this will assure them a seat in
the next available class. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification
and Continuing Education Web page. For more information, contact
Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG,
cce@arrl.org; telephone 860-594-0340.


PRESIDENT CITES AMATEUR RADIO'S VALUE IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FOR
SUPPORT OF SPECTRUM PROTECTION -- ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
commenting on the recently re-introduced Amateur Radio Spectrum
Protection Act, said: "As you know, this legislation is vital for
ensuring that the Amateur Radio Service, the only 100 percent
fail-safe emergency communication capability, remains a viable public
safety option." Haynie and ARRL are working on successfully passing
this legislation during the 109th Congress. The legislation
references Amateur Radio's role in providing "voluntary,
noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications,"
and it points out that hams have "consistently and reliably" provided
communication support in the event of emergencies and disasters
including tornadoes and hurricanes, chemical spills, forest fires and
rail accidents. 

Message: Long time observers of League pleadings in FCC rulemaking
proceedings, and ARRL testimony before Congress, are well aware of
the fact that we as radio amateurs hang our hats on the rack of
public service, especially emergency and disaster communications,
when it comes time to defending our valuable spectrum. When you are
in the field during your next ARES activation, know that you are not
only helping your community, but you are also helping us all to keep
our precious bands: dual-purpose communications! 


EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION EVENT BRIEFS: 

Arizona, July 1, 2005--The Cave Creek fire burned over 199,000 acres
and became the second largest fire in state history. Many hams were
involved with emergency communications while fire fighters worked to
put out this fire. (Thanks Tom Fagan, WB7NXH, ARRL Section Manager,
Arizona)

Western Washington, April 2005 -- The Seventh Annual Communications
Academy's theme of "Standing Up to Challenges in Communications"
educated over 240 attendees. The academy gave the opportunity to
learn, share and network on a broad range of topics related to
emergency communications. For many, it was their first academy
attendance. Marina Zuetell, N7LSL, and her planning committee put the
fantastic event together and was presented an ARRL Certificate of
Merit by Section Manager Ed Bruette, N7NVP for her leadership role in
seven academies and nine years as the ARES DEC for Medical Services.
PowerPoint presentations given at the Academy will be posted on the
<http://www.commacademy.org/> web site under "Session Handouts."
(Thanks, ARRL Western Washington Section News)


DENNIS POSTSCRIPT: Hurricane Dennis ended up sweeping over the
western Florida panhandle and Alabama Gulf coast on Sunday, July 20.
Veteran SM Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, indicated that seasoned ARES teams
provide the required communication, and coordination with Tallahassee
worked smoothly. Excerpts from the log of West Panhandle DEC Bobby
Tyree, KG4KGX: 

Sunday, July 10, 1207 EDT-"Well, here it comes. Tropical force winds
just reached the south end of Santa Rosa county. The eye [will] make
landfall at 2 PM. Estimated storm surge of 17 feet. I am starting a
District Net . . . and contacting all of the other counties at this
time. It looks bad."

1412-"We are locked down until hurricane force winds die down.
Shutters are closed at Santa Rosa EOC. Power outages exist in all
four counties."

1839-"Santa Rosa got hit pretty badly. I believe several tornados
touched down in the county. Jay Baptist Hospital lost its radio
communications. My brand new Silverado got a tree across it, possibly
totaled."

Monday, July 11, 0756-"I am awaiting morning meetings in the counties
to determine when EOCs will close. The Governor is on his way here,
so I don't know what time all meetings will be over. Santa Rosa will
be up for at least 2 more days."

Tuesday, July 12, 1116-"Well, we're all still going. Santa Rosa is
continuing to remain activated until the EOC goes to level II or as
long as they are needed. Santa Rosa got the worst of the hurricane
and will remain activated for probably two or more days."

From Joe Bushel, W2DWR, ARRL Northern Florida SEC: "Dennis is now a
memory, although not too pleasant a one.  Most emergency operations
across North Florida are shut down. Damage was localized but very
heavy in some areas and will take weeks or months to clean up. For
most of us outside the isolated severe damage areas, Dennis was a
great drill that provided much needed experience. Unfortunately,
Florida has had its share of "experience" over the last two years."


______________________________________________________________________

ARRL MEMBERSHIP. JOIN US or RENEW TODAY! -- When you join ARRL or
renew your ARRL membership, you are investing in resources and
programs that support thousands of ARES(r) volunteers. If you're a
public service volunteer, but not an ARRL member, please consider
joining today.

The American Radio Relay League is the largest national organization
of radio amateurs. The association serves radio amateurs through its
four pillars: public service, advocacy, education and membership.
With support from members, ARRL is committed to the protection,
promotion and advancement of Amateur Radio. 

Every new and renewing member makes ARRL and its programs stronger
and more effective. Thank you! 

Join or renew TODAY, www.arrl.org/join. 

Already an ARRL member? The ARRL Diamond Club is an exciting way to
increase your involvement, support ARRL and receive valuable
benefits, www.arrl.org/diamondclub.

If you would like more information on making a financial contribution
to ARRL, or for details about annual giving and ARRL funds, please
visit www.arrl.org/development.

GEAR, PUBLICATIONS, and MORE. -- ARRL offers books and other products
to enhance your effectiveness as an emergency communications
volunteer. Our newest title, "The ARRL Emergency Communication
Handbook," includes details on basic emergency communication skills,
message handling, and more. Browse the ARRL online store at
www.arrl.org/shop, and select the Public Service
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/index.php3?category=Public+Service>
product category.

Show-off your support with distinctive products designed for the
active emergency service volunteer: shirts, hats, vests, jackets gear
bags and more. ARRL has teamed with Barker Specialty Company to
provide quality products for ARES volunteers. To review the entire
collection, or to order, please visit www.barkerspecialty.com/arrl.
Personalization with your name and call sign is available on many
items.