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News last updated: Wed, December 16, 2009 at 11:51 PM ET
For the latest news from Richard Krohn, N2SMV, the Northern New Jersey Section Manager, please visit his Web page at this link: http://arrl-nnj-sm.blogspot.com/
NNJ Section ARES Update
George Sabbi - KC2GLG
NNJ Section Emergency Coordinator
As we come to the end of 2009, its time again to give everyone a quick update on our regional ARES activity throughout the ARRL NNJ Section.
2009, thankfully, saw no major activity needed in the ARES and/or other EmComm areas of amateur radio in our area. While several incidents did come up, many weather related in nature (tornado touchdowns, large and significant hail, freezing rain impacting communications systems, flooding, etc) that called for increased levels of situational awareness, no major activations of amateur radio EmComm resources took place. ARES activity was evident though as many local ARES groups conducted highly successful 2009 SET activities in their jurisdictions, involving not only their members but also with participation from served agencies.
The year saw the first (and successful) implementations of our now in place ARRL NNJ Section ARES Alert Status Chart and Procedures. Starting with a Freezing Rain event in the first few days of 2009 and then again later in the year with the expected local impacts of the remnants of Hurricane Danny, NNJ ARES Leadership raised the NNJ Section Alert Status to the Monitoring Stage as noted here: http://www.hudson.arrl.org/nnj/ares/index.htm#StatusChart .
On both the Section and Local levels, NNJ ARES continues to work closely with many Served Agencies and Partners. These include keeping contact with local and regional EmComm related organizations such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local Medical facilities, the National Weather Service and the NJ State Police Office of Emergency Management. Open and frequent communications, electronic, amateur radio based and most importantly, personal contact during conferences and meetings, occurs within and among these and other organizations. Having this level of personal contact with representatives of these and other important responders to possible wide area impacting events, is paramount to amateur radio being a part of a coordinated response, should such ever be needed. Having all these groups and participants aware and knowledgeable in the ICS and NIMS operational systems also means we are all on the same page and know each other's role and place during any responding situation.
I am also very pleased to report that 2009 saw numerous new members sign-up for our NNJ ARES email based direct communications system, and if you haven't done so yourself, please do so now so that you too can be up-to-date and aware as things come along that might call for an ARES response, not only within the NNJ Section, but also in mutual aid scenarios into neighboring areas. Please sign up here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nnjares
This year also saw the further implementation of Situational Awareness communications procedures to, from and with the Field Services Team at ARRL HQ. This affords all partners to be aware, well ahead of an actual event, of the potential for local or regional amateur radio associated EmComm related field operations.
In closing, the collective thanks of the ARRL NNJ Section Leadership, goes to all our ARES participants and supporters. This includes all of the ARRL NNJ Section Amateur Radio Clubs and Organizations that actively support ARES operations either with their members or with their repeater systems. Without all of your dedicated support and your input, we would be unable to be ready to deliver should we are called upon. Best Wishes to all for not only a Happy 2009 Holiday Season but also for a Safe and Peaceful New Year.
George Sabbi KC2GLG
Section Emergency Coordinator ARRL Northern New Jersey Section
Email: KC2GLG@arrl.net
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