CT Region 3 ARES

We are pleased to announce that there will be a basic weather spotter class, hosted by Channel 3, taught by NWS, Thursday, May 13, 2010, and all hams, police and fire personnel, and other interested persons are welcome.  NO prior registration is required. The class will run from 7:PM until 10:PM, and is taught by NWS Taunton, MA personnel.

73 from
Roger k1pai
Skywarn Co-ordinator for Hartford and Tolland Counties

I-91 exit 23 West Street/Rocky Hill.  If you’re on I-91 southbound, turn left off exit ramp.  If you’re on I-91 northbound, turn right off exit ramp.  Proceed in right lane and go past the Marriott.  Take immediate right onto Capital Blvd. (Right lane must turn right).  Channel 3 is on the left after a curve.  We are 333 Capital Blvd.

Below is an extensive list of websites that may be of interest to ARES members.  If you would like to offer to provide personal services, the single form that will be sent to all relief agencies is at: http://dex.cidi.org/dstechas.aspx

-Jay McIsaac, MD
KD1LA

A compiled list of Haiti/Earthquake web resources.
Courtesy of Greg Banner

HAITI References and Information                                As Of:   23 Jan 2010

Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad

http://www.amhe.org/

CDC
Clinician Guidance

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/clinicians.asp

Haiti/Travel Guidance

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-health-warning/haiti-earthquake.aspx

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/news-announcements/relief-workers-haiti.aspx

Health Worker Guidance (for emergency response)

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/relief-workers.aspx

Post Disaster Medical Screening: NIOSH Guidance for Post-exposure Medical Screening of Workers Leaving Hurricane Disaster Recovery Areas

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/pdfs/Medscreenwork.pdf

CDC Earthquake Website Now Available in French and Haitian Creole
Visit the French Homepage and Haitian Creole Homepage
DHHS
www.hhs.gov/haiti
Donations:
Center for International Disaster Information.  US Govt/US DHHS Donation/Volunteer registration site.

http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/

Questions:   cip@hhs.gov
American Red Cross                                    www.redcross.org
Florida International Volunteer Corps  www.favaca.org
Pan American Development Foundation         www.panamericanrelief.org
Samaritan’s Purse                                       www.samaritanspurse.org
UN ReliefWeb                                              www.reliefweb.int

http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

State, local, and tribal governments with goods and services to offer to the relief effort in Haiti should direct their offers to helphaiti@state.gov.
Dpt of Defense,  SOUTHCOM, Public Site

http://www.southcom.mil/AppsSC/APAN.php

The Haiti Connection,  List of Hospitals and Clinics in Country

http://thehaiticonnection.org/medical-clinics.html

Immunization/vaccination requirements for Haiti, DOD info paper

http://www.vaccines.mil/documents/1320Haiti%20vaccination%20info%20paper.pdf

Language Guides:
Dictionary.  English-Haitian

http://www.hashaiti.org/files/EnglishKreyol%20Electronic%20Dictionary.pdf

Project Haiti Heart.  Basic Medal Creole

http://www.projecthaitiheart.org/phhbasicmedicalcreole.htm

Language Course

http://www.byki.com/blog/

MEDSCAPE Key Resources Compendium

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715295?src=mp&spon=42&uac=21991FR

Pan-American Health Organization
Logistics Guidance

http://www.paho.org/english/ped/te_supp.htm

Area on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief.  Includes Response Team Handbook and Forms

http://new.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1057&Itemid=1

Relief Web (includes Situation Awareness and Maps)

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm

Situation Awareness:

http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/haitiearthquake.html

http://www.iscram.org/live/haiti

http://healthmap.org/haiti

www.cdera.org

http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html     (Maps in particular)

http://www.thrall.org/special/haiti2010.html

http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/UNOSAT-EQ-201001-HTI.asp

CNN Daily Status:  http://tinyurl.com/ydxfkev
CDERA:Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency: http://www.cdera.org/index.php
UN Haiti Efforts: http://tinyurl.com/ycfevky
UN Foundation: http://tinyurlcom/ydvascv
Reliefweb Status Update: http://tinyurl.com/yexkjmq
US Response Efforts:
Customs and Immigrations Service: http://tinyurl.com/ye7xshj
DOD Haiti Efforts: http://tinyurl.com/yfmsq6k
General Response Information: http://tinyurl.com/ybdg984
Red Cross Haiti Efforts: http://newsroom.redcross.org/
USAID Response: http://tinyurl.com/yejaucx
White House Haiti Updates:  http://tinyurl.com/yayqa6w
White House Press Releases:  http://tinyurl.com/ya485nr
PAHO Maps:

http://mapaction.org/

http://reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm

Satellite Imagery:
Google Satellite Imagery: http://tinyurl.com/ybfxj7y UNOSAT Imagery:  http://tinyurl.com/yc4l6tl
The Sphere Handbook, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. The Sphere Project, Red Cross, Red Crescent

http://www.sphereproject.org/index.php

State Department

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/earthquake/index.htm

Info Hotline:  888-407-4747
UN “One Resonse”

http://oneresponse.info/Pages/default.aspx

USAID

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/countries/haiti/template/index.html

Field Operations Guide, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAID

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/resources/pdf/fog_v3.pdf

USAID Disaster Response resources

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/resources/

US Embassy Haiti

http://haiti.usembassy.gov/

earthquake video

http://live.osac.gov/p99046527

White House Earthquake Relief Page

http://www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake

World Health Organization
Guidelines for Drug Donations  http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1999/who_edm_par_99.4.pdf.

Hello all,

I’ll be making several changes over the coming months regarding how we reach and communicate with our members.

First, I’ve started a facebook group for those of you active on that social network.  Just search for Region 3 ARES and you should find us.  We already have 8 or so members active in the group.

Using this service I’m able to increase the way we distribute information – especially if I’m mobile.

Second, some people received test phone calls from our automated calling tree.  This was a small test that we are thinking about improving upon this year.  It truly is impressive, open source technology which means we can modify the program source code and it doesn’t cost us anything!  Preliminary tests worked OK, so we’ll see how future tests go…….

Finally, you’ll notice a category on the left of the page called *calendar test.  I still have to work on a few things (mostly layout and such) but this is indeed functional.  I don’t know about the “widget” on the left of the page that is a whole calendar, but if you click on the page link, you can see the demo.

I’m thinking we’ll keep it on there as a way to organize online all our activities.

Feedback is always welcome.

Happy New Year and I look forward to working with the team for 2010!

Jonathan, KB1KIX

District Emergency Coordinator, Region 3

Please note a message I received from our SET regarding the use of Airmail message precedence indicators.

Jonathan

Attached is something I forwarded previously regarding Airmail Precedence that you ought to have at hand during the SET. Please note the desirability of using message precedence indicators in the subject line during a drill or a real emergency. It lets the recipient focus on the highest priority message(s) first. Also, including “//W2LK” in the subject SHOULD bypass any Winlink Whitelist issues.

I will use (and encourage you to use) the following example as BOTH part of the Airmail Subject line AND the file name for an attached QForms message: N1CLV 11001TP

The callsign indicates who it is FROM, the NUMBER identifies the specific message, and the E/P/R/W indicates the message Precedence.

Note: we will use TP/TR/TW for our drill or “test” messages during the SET. We should NOT use E during the drill except for an ACTUAL REAL EMERGENCY.

So the full Airmail subject line for this example would be: //WL2K P/ N1CLV 11001TP

See you on the radio on Saturday!

73, Wayne, N1CLV

SEC – CT ARES(r)

File:  Amateur Precedence

Press Release

Connecticut Ham Radio Operators Simulate & Prepare for Crisis Nov 14th

Please contact: Wayne Gronlund in East Lyme, CT at 860-917-6472

East Lyme, Connecticut, November 14th – Should a Natural or Man made Crisis strike Connecticut in the future, this weekend Amateur Radio Operators across the state will be using emergency powered radios, backup power systems and other radio based technologies while working with state and local agencies across Connecticut to establish both radio and data communications networks, which can be used should there be a failure or overload of normal services.

The Amateur Radio operators provide both voice and wireless data communications between the many government and volunteer agencies which are needed in disasters. “This is a critical and welcomed role that we provide to public service agencies at absolutely no cost” said Wayne Gronlund, Section Emergency Coordinator of the CT Amateur Radio Emergency Service. “Our fabric of systems can operate, without grid power, beyond the reach of many public systems.”

America was abruptly reminded of the critical role of Amateur Radio in 2005 as amateur operators, often called “hams,” came from all over the country to provide emergency communications when other systems failed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  This year the work of the Amateur Radio operators continued and provided lifesaving services in many floods and wildfires around the country.  Because of the complexity of today’s normal communications systems, even if they remain functional, they are often overwhelmed in a major disaster.  These painful lessons are being tested again, on November 14^th, as Amateur Radio operators around Connecticut will conduct their well organized annual Simulated Emergency Test.

More Background on Amateur Radio, ARES and its role.

Organized into the Amateur Radio Emergency Service by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, trained Amateur Radio volunteer operators from across the country respond to the calls for aid when needed.    Despite cell phones and satellites, every year has seen many situations in which they have been called upon in critical times needing expert communications to keep an emergency from turning into a disaster.  They provide their services and equipment freely to their communities.  They are “Amateurs” only in that they are not paid, but their service in a crisis can be priceless.

This year, Amateur Radio operators will be replicating many scenarios which have crippled normal communications in the recent past.  These include flooding, wildfires, bombings ice storms, hurricanes and earthquakes.  Something new for this year are plans for responses in case of pandemic flu and the probability that large populations will need to shelter at home and not go out.   The hams have the slogan, “When all else fails – Amateur Radio works!”   According to Allen Pitts, Amateur Radio operator W1AGP, “The hams of the ARRL, the national Amateur Radio association, take that saying and promise very seriously.”

What are some recent disasters where authorities needed Amateur Radio aid?

·         Earthquake in Hawaii—2006

·         Flooding in Northeastern States—2006

·         Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita—2005

·         Wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico—2005

·         Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne—2004

·         Tsunami in Asia—2004

·         Earthquake in Central California—2003

·         Hurricane Isabel—2003

·         Northeast Blackout—2003

·         Shuttle Columbia Recovery Effort—2003

·         Wildfires in Colorado—2002

·         Flooding in Kentucky—2002

·         World Trade Center, Pentagon and Western

·         Pennsylvania Terrorist Attacks—2001

·         Tropical Storm Allison—2001

·         Fires in Los Alamos, New Mexico—2000

·         Hurricane Floyd—1999

·         Flooding in Texas—1998

·         Hurricane Georges—1998

·         “500-Year Flood” in N.D. and Minn.—1997

·         Western U.S. Floods—1997

·         Hurricane Fran—1996

·         TWA Plane Crash—1996

·         Oklahoma City Bombing—1995

What do Amateur Radio operators do during and after disasters?

Amateur Radio operators set up and operate organized communication networks locally for governmental and emergency officials, as well as non-commercial communication for private citizens affected by the disaster. Amateur Radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters that damage regular lines of communications due to power outages and destruction of telephone lines.

How do Amateur Radio operators help local officials?

Many radio amateurs are active as communications volunteers with local public safety organizations. In addition, in some disasters, radio frequencies are not coordinated among relief officials and Amateur Radio operators step in to coordinate communication when radio towers and other elements in the communications infrastructure are damaged.

What are the major Amateur Radio emergency organizations?

Amateur Radio operators have informal and formal groups to coordinate communication during emergencies. At the local level, hams may participate in local emergency organizations, or organize local “traffic nets” using VHF (very high frequencies) and UHF (ultra high frequencies). At the state level, hams are often involved with state emergency management operations. In addition, hams operate at the national level through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) which is coordinated through the American Radio Relay League and its field volunteers, and through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) which is coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  In addition, in areas that are prone to severe weather, many hams are involved in Skywarn, operating under the National Weather Service.

Is Amateur Radio recognized as a resource by national relief organizations?

Many national organizations have formal agreements with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other Amateur Radio groups including:

• Department of Homeland Security – Citizen Corps

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• National Communications System

• American Red Cross

• Salvation Army

• National Weather Service

• Association of Public Safety Communications Officials

To Learn More:
For Interviews and live  audio/video of activities, contact E. Jonathan Hardy at kb1kix@arrl.net.

The best way to learn about Amateur Radio is talking to hams face-to-face.   To find out how to get started and who to contact in your area, call or write:

The American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111

Telephone 1-800-32 NEW-HAM                                  www.arrl.org/hamradio.html

The following information comes from Larry, K1HEJ, our Section Traffic Manager.

A quick introduction to NTS Net Operations.

1. All our Nets are FORMAL NETS.
2. You check into the net when the Net Control calls for Stations with traffic and separately for without traffic.. When checking in, use your call, Liaison from or to (ARES REGION NET) and stating With traffic or Without Traffic
3. “LIAISONS FROM” WILL BE BRINGING TRAFFIC FROM THE Region Net to the NTS Net. “Liaisons to” will be picking up traffic to take back to the Region Net.
4. NTS works on a cycle of Nets once each day normally. For Emergencies that cycle gets stepped up. Instead of once a day our NTS Net Liaisons will have to pinwheel every hour. That is, they will move the traffic they have picked up from you to the proper net for delivery in that hour.
5. VERY IMPORTANT! If you are a “Liaison FROM” from your ARES Net you must check in between the top of the hour and 10 after the hour. If you are an “Liaison TO” for your Region ARES Net you must check in between 30 minutes after the hour and 40 minutes after the hour. This allows two things to happen.
6. A) When running in a No commercial power situation, NCS AND Checking in Stations can shut down if no traffic comes on frequency conserving their emergency power source.

B) This also insures liaisons are on frequency when the inbound traffic from other Regions of the state comes on frequency.

1. Our Net Controls will call for “Stations without traffic” so folks who wish to test their ability to get into a net but who have no traffic can check in. Folks without traffic please be patient, We have to keep the traffic moving to meet the next nets sessions so there may be only a few places to check in if there is a lot of traffic.
2. DIGITAL (Classic Packet) NTS runs 24/7/365. If you have classic packet I encourage you to send at least one NTS Message using this system. You can put your message onto either of the following Classic Packet linked BBS’s: W1EDH-4 145.09 Glastonbury, W1HAD-4 145.05 Shelton, or K1YON-4 145.07 in East Hartland.. Please include the Region number in the subject line to allow our classic packet liaisons to bring your message to the correct voice net in case it must be relayed by voice. Remember to send an NTS Message at the BBS prompt type ST zipcode@ NTSCT and then hit the enter key. You will need to know the zipcode for the BBS to accept the message. FYI my zip code is 06052. On the next line put QTC Region followed by the Region number your message is going to if it is going in CT. This allows other packet ops in other Regions to quickly see messages for their Region by doing the BBS Command “LT” and a return.

Have Fun and if you have any questions before SET check into your Section NTS traffic Net or your Local NTS traffic net and someone should be able to get you an answer.

Larry K1HEJ CT STM

11/10/09

Join us for the 2009

CT ARES Region 3 Holiday Dinner

When:  December 13, 2009
Where:  Suffield Sportsmen’s Association Clubhouse, 2900 Phelps Road, West Suffield CT.
Time:  1300 to 1900 Local Time

Enjoy the afternoon with friends. Meet others on the ARES Region 3 Team. The site is an old hunting style lodge on secluded property in West Suffield. Sit by the fires or out on the deck (weather permitting).

Doors open at 1300 hours. Dinner will be served buffet style at 1500 hours. Soft drinks, water and ice will be provided.
BYOB. Refrigerators are available to keep canned or bottled items cold.

Cost is $15.00 per person paid in advance. Seating is limited so respond by 11/15 to be included. Checks made to Suffield Amateur Radio Association must be received at PO Box 61, Suffield CT 06078 by 11/21 to hold your reservation.
If you have questions, contact Richard at rghodge@msn.com or 860-668-8909.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Talk-in on the KB1AEV Repeater System

From: Gronlund, Wayne Dr.
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 8:07 AM
To: Connecticut ARES Discussion List
Subject: Drill – CT Section SET – 14 Nov 09

Greetings!

The Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for the Connecticut Section will be held on Saturday, 14 November 2009. The SET will be a statewide emergency communications exercise. It is intended to test our ability to provide communications for our Served Agencies which include the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (CT DEMHS), the American Red Cross (ARC), as well as local municipalities.

Exercise play will begin on Saturday, 14 November 2009 at about 1000 EST and end at approximately 2200 EST Saturday evening as determined by the Exercise Director (N1CLV). The exercise will be executed at the Regional level by the respective District Emergency Coordinators.

Play will occur over three operational periods: 1000-1400 EST, 1400-1800 EST, and 1800-2200 EST. Players can participate in one, any two, or all three of the operational periods. Please advise your Regional DEC as soon as possible which of the operational periods you will be available to participate.

In addition to the SET purposes outlined on the ARRL website, the CT Section 2009 SET Planning Committee has established the following specific Exercise Objectives:

(1) Establish emergency communications (both voice and data) between and within the five CT ARES Regions – to include fixed, mobile, and field-deployed stations.

(2) Encourage the use of emergency power (battery, generator, and/or mobile) by all stations during the exercise.

(3) Maximize the number of amateur radio participants – the five Regional District Emergency Coordinators will establish Resource Nets and Tactical Nets as needed and will coordinate exercise play within their respective areas.

(4) Utilize National Traffic System (NTS) format for all record message traffic.

(5) Coordinate and integrate interplay between ARES, NTS, and SKYWARN components.

(6) Incorporate appropriate elements of NIMS/ICS to the degree possible.

The CT ARES Player Handbook for the SET can be downloaded from the CT ARES home page <http://www.ctares.org/>. Version 1.5 is the latest update. Also posted there is the CT ARES Digital/Data Standard covering data communication modes.

Please watch this Discussion List (and other sources) for additional information as the SET gets closer!

Please note: we are seeking maximum participation from ALL radio amateurs, not just CT ARES/NTS/SKYWARN members! Please pass the word!

73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC – CT ARES(r)

Below is part of a dialogue between George Lillenstein, AB1GL and a few other hams regarding simplex frequency assignments.  George put into words best how I feel about the topic, not just for Region 3, but amateur radio in general.

I’d just add that this is the reason why I try to have as many towns as possible work with ARES so that we do not have any conflicts.

That being said, I hope I can rely on at least one basic tenet that all hams should have – compassion.

Let’s work together and thanx George for giving me permission to post this on our site.

Jonathan, KB1KIX – Region 3 District Emergency Coordinator, CT Section

No ham has “special status” when it comes to amateur frequency use and band plans.

There are only two exceptions:
1) a ham requesting assistance in an emergency involving loss of life or property who has no other means of communication available; or
2) a disaster or military emergency, declared by the President of the United States, during which the FCC designates specific frequencies for specific usage.

There are, of course, “Gentlemen’s Agreements” about certain frequencies, but this is not the case here.

The Region 3 Handbook frequency assignment chart is simply a list of frequencies that should be available for simplex operation because as far as we know they have not been assigned to a coordinated repeater in our area of operation.  We have assigned alpha names to them so we can assign them without having to say the frequency over the air — useful in the event of deliberate jamming. We publish the list in advance so ARES members can have them all preprogrammed into their radios and thus achieve maximum frequency agility. The phrase “primary” simply means, the first frequency the named station will monitor in addition to the area-wide linked repeater system. There is no intent to confer a right to use that frequency upon the named user.

The assignments we listed are simply a suggested starting point.  Given no other instructions in an emergency, the ARES parties named should start by monitoring the indicated frequencies.   There is nothing to prevent them from moving to a clearer frequency in the event of interference. If they do so, they should notify ARES regional leadership.

Clearly, there are not enough frequencies for every town and EOC in Connecticut and adjoining states to have their own.    Our plan relies on each ham using the absolute minimum power that allows communication, so as to allow distant towns to use the same frequency.

In past SETs, conflicts arose because some towns were transmitting much farther than they could hear.  This is rude and poor operating procedure, but not illegal.

If this happens, try reaching the offender by relay, phone, digital or NTS message and respectfully request they reduce power or change antennas.

As always in Amateur Radio operations, conflicts over a frequency should be resolved with courtesy, cooperation, and cool heads.  Be flexible. Remember that our communications are in the clear — the rest of the world is listening to you.  Let’s not give hams a black eye.

If it is not possible to find a clear frequency or reduce the interference, see if you can arrange to share the assigned frequency by creating a “layered net.”  This can work very well for nets with very short messages or infrequent traffic, but depends on the Net Controllers being able to hear each other.

November 14th is the big day for our SET.

I have received a couple of useful documents from the section leadership.

One is the most recent revised “SET Players Handbook” and the other is the Section digital communications standards guide.

SET 2009 Player Handbook v1pt5

CT ARES Data Comms Standard 10-16-09

More information on the SET will be released in the coming months.