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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update |  Next: Surfin': Continuing College Clubs Recollections |
 The ARES marshaling center in Chesterfield, Connecticut--just outside the TOPOFF 3 “hot zone.” |
 Realism was the order of the day at the TOPOFF 3 “ground zero” site in New London. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 8, 2005--The role of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Connecticut in this week's massive TOPOFF 3 exercise has drawn high praise from the American Red Cross, for which ARES provided virtually all radio communication. Sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security and intended as a realistic test of the nation's homeland security system, TOPOFF 3's goal was to push the system of first responders beyond its limits to find the weak spots. American Red Cross emergency services director Mario J. Bruno extolled ARES' performance.
“Operators were there when we needed them, and messages got to where they were needed,” he said in a note to ARRL Connecticut Section leadership. “We have learned a lot about what ARES can really do when things get messy, and TOPOFF 3 has been a clear example of how complicated a disaster can get.”
Bruno said the Red Cross doesn't have to worry if today's fancy telecommunications devices fail, because ARES will always be there to provide the needed support.
“Thank you ARES for helping us respond to the largest disaster exercise in the history of the United States,” Bruno concluded. “We will not forget.”
The Connecticut TOPOFF 3 began
April 4 with an explosion in New London meant to simulate a terrorist
attack. Realism, including simulated injuries, blood and fatalities,
was very much a part of the $16 million exercise--the largest federal
drill ever held. Prospective ARES volunteers were cautioned in
advance, so they'd know what to expect.
 As simulated TV crews record the action, a TOPOFF 3 “victim” is transported to the hospital. |
 ARRL Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC (left), and Eastern Massachusetts SM Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, are interviewed by a newspaper reporter from Norwich. |
Brian Fernandez, K1BRF, a Connecticut Assistant SM and ARES liaison to the Red Cross said Amateur Radio's performance in TOPOFF 3 did not go unnoticed at the highest levels. “Amateur Radio made a major contribution to the nation,” he said, “and those who contribute to making it safer and stronger, and folks in the right places know it.”
After ARES stood down from the drill late on April 6, ARRL Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, and SEC Chuck Rexroad, AB1CR--said they felt Amateur Radio acquitted itself very well during the drill.
“The energy, enthusiasm and absolute dedication of all the volunteers for this event are a testament to the real dedication and teamwork in the Connecticut Section,” Doane said in a statement thanking all who took part.
Rexroad agreed. “It's just been amazing,” he said. “People came into this drill prepared and ready to stay. It was a very positive experience.” Several, he pointed out, took time away from their jobs and families to volunteer for the drill. Numbered among the ARES volunteers were several members of the ARRL Headquarters staff.
Under the National Disaster Plan, the Red Cross had primary responsibility for mass care. Rexroad said ARES provided the only communication among all of the Red Cross emergency response vehicles (ERVs), mobile canteens, kitchen, headquarters and other sites the organization had to stay in touch with during the drill.
As many as 40 of the 150 ARES volunteers from Connecticut and other states in the Northeast were deployed to the field at any given time, and each one got to take part at some point, Rexroad said. “Everyone had at least one shift when they were able to get on the radio and provide communications support.” Doane credited the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses and other training with raising the overall level of operating skill--even among newcomers.
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, who monitored ARES net activity during the event, commended the high level of proficiency. “The level of professionalism and discipline was very impressive,” he said. “The benefits of the emphasis the ARRL has placed on training over the past several years were clearly evident.” Sumner this week also visited the ARES marshaling headquarters in Chesterfield, Connecticut, to congratulate some of the volunteers in person.
TOPOFF 3 called on participants to
be ready for unexpected events, and the ARES operation was no
exception. “The only big curveball we got thrown was when one
of the judges decided they were going to take one of our repeaters
down,” Rexroad explained. Connecticut ARES was able to promptly
switch to a backup. During a staged “power failure” at
unified command, only the ARES radio, equipped with battery backup,
remained working. ARES promptly worked around a genuine repeater
breakdown that occurred just before the exercise got under way.
 ARRL Connecticut SEC Chuck Rexroad, AB1CR (left), and TOPOFF 3 ARES Operations Manager and Area 4 District Emergency Coordinator Hank Wolcott, KA1WTS. |
Rexroad and Doane agreed that TOPOFF 3 not only was a success but a helpful learning experience for ARES. Doane allowed that there was a need to streamline things organizationally and to provide a mechanism to debrief volunteers returning from the field. “Feedback immediately after an event is important,” she said.
Rexroad says Connecticut ARES also prepared to assist the Connecticut Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and actually activated several of its stations to show state officials that it had the back-up coverage in case they needed it. In anticipation of that possibility, he said, the OEM added a 2-meter antenna at its headquarters in Hartford so ARES would have VHF and UHF capabilities from there as well as from a communications center at an OEM location several miles away in Rocky Hill.
“I want to let everyone know how proud I am and how privileged I feel to work with such an outstanding group of people,” Rexroad said in a post-drill message to Connecticut ARES members “Everyone dealt with difficult situations professionally and positively, and we overcame hurdles wherever, whenever and whatever they were.”
Doane expressed her gratitude not only to Rexroad and Fernandez, but to Assistant SEC Rod Lane, N1FNE, TOPOFF 3 ARES Operations Manager and Area 4 District Emergency Coordinator Hank Wolcott, KA1WTS, her Section Cabinet, ARES leadership, ARRL headquarters staff and all who volunteered. She also thanked Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, “and his dedicated, professional team” for their participation in TOPOFF 3. “This was a great example of how two ARRL sections can work together,” Doane said. “It was a real pleasure having them on board.”
A bioterrorism incident was the
scenario in New Jersey--the only other TOPOFF 3 site. Emergency
officials there not only were key to the exercise, they had genuine
problems dealing with flooding in the northern part of the state.
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