ARES Letter for April 18, 2007
The ARES E-Letter April 18, 2007 ================= Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor <http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>, =================================== ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>;;; =================================== + The View from Flagler County Dr. Gray's Hurricane Forecast: 17 Named Storms, 9 Hurricanes, 5 Major Hurricanes. He had earlier forecasted 14 Named Storms, 7 Hurricanes and 3 Majors. Predictions are once again higher than the average. For more info, <http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/> It's Volunteer Recognition Day this Sunday. Flagler county ARES members are invited to the Emergency Management Division's event to be held at the EOC. The day will include food, awards and prizes. The host is Troy Harper, our EMD's Chief. Thanks, Troy! The Flagler EOC is also the venue for a meeting of the East Central District ARES ECs next Saturday, conducted by DEC Jay Musikar, AF2C. The district includes the Orlando metroplex. The indefatigable Northern Florida SM Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, will be in attendance, as will yours truly. Hurricane season preparation will be a featured agenda item. ----------------------- In This Issue: + The View from Flagler County + ARRL Update on Red Cross Background Investigations + Gwinnett County Georgia ARES Conducts Tornado Exercise + New Mexico Tornado Outbreak + All Hazard Alerting in Norfolk, Virginia + Maine ham radio EmComm volunteer credentialing bill dead + Letters: GAO Report on Interoperability + Florida Fire Department Honors Radio Amateur + ARRL, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Ink Pact + ARES Supports ADA Bike Run in Sarasota, Florida + Letters: Georgia Tornados Follow-Up + Letters: RVs as ARES Assets + Letters: Wikipedia Referencing + Letters: TSA Wants Staffers as Amateurs + Letters: Red Cross/ARRL Relations in Major Disasters + ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration + Quick Links + K1CE For a Final _______________________ + ARRL Update on Red Cross Background Investigations NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 16, 2007 -- In March, the ARRL posted its position statement <http://www.arrl.org/announce/ARRL-ARC-bg-check.html> regarding the American Red Cross background check policy for volunteers. This updates information the League has obtained about that program. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, met March 20 at American Red Cross offices in Washington, DC, with two attorneys from the Red Cross General Counsel's office and two management-level staff members from Red Cross Disaster Services. ARRL asked the Red Cross staff if ARRL ARES volunteers would be subject to the American Red Cross background check if they are providing communications for more than seven days. The position of the Red Cross is that ARES volunteers would not be permitted to provide communications at a disaster site for more than seven days without submitting to the Red Cross background check procedure. Discussion was then held regarding the Red Cross announcement that credit checks and mode-of-living checks would not be conducted. ARRL's stated concern was that the ARC background investigation consent form states that a consumer report and/or an investigative consumer report -- which includes certain credit checks and includes mode of living checks -- will be obtained on the volunteer signing the form. The ARRL team asked if the Red Cross would be willing to modify the consent form so that it limits the authority granted by the person signing the form to criminal background checks only. The Red Cross representatives did not indicate a willingness to modify the consent form. The ARRL team also suggested alternatives to the Red Cross investigation firm, MyBackgroundCheck.com. ARRL was given an indication that the Red Cross is also unwilling to accept background checks conducted by other entities, because the Red Cross would be required to compare the methodologies of its selected entity with those of the alternative background-check provider. ARRL reiterates its recommendation that members carefully review any consent document permitting a private organization to conduct a background investigation on that person. The current Red Cross background check consent form does include permission, without further consent from the volunteer, to conduct a consumer report and/or an investigative consumer report. The Federal Trade Commission and Federal statutes define investigative consumer reports as including a mode-of-living check as well as certain credit checks. ARRL will not suggest what organizations or agencies should or should not be supported by volunteer Amateur Radio communications. ARRL does wish to facilitate the provision of volunteer services, however. + Gwinnett County Georgia ARES Conducts Tornado Exercise In support of Severe Weather Awareness week, Gwinnett County ARES in Georgia conducted a tornado exercise on February 24. The exercise was designed by Assistant Emergency Coordinator Ed Woodrick, WA4YIH. ARES members were notified on Friday evening to be on alert for activation for severe weather expected to move through the area during the night. A resource net was started with alert information from the county EMA, which requested a list of stations available for deployment on Saturday. At 0700 Saturday morning, another net was activated with specific deployment instructions by EC John Davis, WB4QDX. The exercise called for voice and digital communication links to be operational by 0900 at three locations within the affected area. A Command Post was established at a Fire Station with UHF voice communications and VHF packet to a Public Information Area in a mall parking lot about a mile away. A second voice and digital link was established from the Command Post to a Staging/Dispatch area about five miles away. A Mobile Communications Vehicle operated on self-contained generator power from the parking lot area. There were several key concepts and practices that were targeted for this exercise. Simplex communication was used among the three locations due to their close proximity, keeping repeaters free for dispatching and movement of ARES personnel. Simplex operation required additional planning for higher-powered mobile-type equipment and outside antennas instead of HTs. Careful frequency planning and use of both VHF and UHF frequencies prevented interference. The use of packet provided a means for transferring large amounts of data including health and welfare inquiries. Several challenges were added to the mix during the exercise to simulate real problems. At one point, a Command Post voice operator was informed that their frequency was no longer usable due to interference. The operator quickly switched to the pre-planned backup frequency and continued to pass traffic. "The exercise was a successful test of our ability to support Gwinnett County's emergency needs. We passed over 60 dispatch messages and 150 missing person names during the three hour exercise", said Davis. "We plan to conduct additional field and tabletop exercises during the year as a part of our ongoing training." The exercise was planned and closely coordinated with Major Alan Doss, Director of Gwinnett County Homeland Security and Greg Swanson, Gwinnett County Emergency Services Coordinator. A review of the exercise was presented at the February ARES meeting attended by Swanson. + New Mexico Tornado Outbreak New Mexico radio amateurs activated March 23 for 13 tornados. A day before the storms, SKYWARN Coordinator and National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Keith Hayes, KC5KH, at the Albuquerque NWS office (WX5ABQ) warned New Mexico's ARES DECs and county emergency managers of the potential for severe weather. ARES teams and SKYWARN weather spotters consequently were already in the field and ready when the string of tornados struck. "The teamwork by the ARES teams, support from the surrounding county emergency managers, the NWS forecasts and real-time radar support, WA5IHL's Mega-Link [repeater system] and numerous SKYWARN observations saved lives," Jay Miller, WA5WHN, observed. During the weather emergency, ARES volunteers relayed real-time weather information to NWS offices in Albuquerque and in Midland, Texas. Robert Tice, W5TIC, reported in with a tornado spotting west of Tatum at about 5 PM. Jim Morrison, KM5BS, observed a large tornado on the ground just south of Roosevelt County at about 5:45 PM. That prompted the first of many tornado warnings for the counties along the Texas-New Mexico state line. The city of Clovis was especially hard hit. "We have always trained for a single tornado, but not eight of them at the same time," Blaine Smith, KB5UOT, in Clovis commented afterward. Using the KK5OV EchoLink node, hams in Clovis established a backup connection with Jory McIntosh, KJ5RM, at the Fort Worth National Weather Service Office. McIntosh was able to pinpoint the exact course of destructive tornados that hit the city. The state EOC lost contact with Clovis, Logan, Texico, Carlsbad, and Portales. Sandoval County DEC Mike Scales, K5SCA, was able to relay information from hams in tornado-stricken areas to the state EOC via the state-wide Mega-Link repeater system. The American Red Cross requested Amateur Radio assistance to staff shelters in Logan and Clovis. John English, WB6QKF, was on the air from the Albuquerque Red Cross office to assist in setting up those shelters. -- New Mexico PIO Charlie Christman, K5CEC, and other reports + All Hazard Alerting in Norfolk, Virginia In Norfolk, Virginia, Tidewater Wireless <http://www.W4VB.org/> and Norfolk ARES <http://Norfolk-ARES.org/> have teamed up to provide a multi-repeater system with linking capabilities and emergency power. NOAA All Hazard Alerting Devices also directly interface with the repeater systems: One system uses a CATAUTO WX-200 <http://www.catauto.com/wx200.html> and the other system is using a Radio Shack CAT 12-249 <http://radioshack.com/>. Newer VHF Mobile rigs have the Alerting feature built in, when enabled. Some newer HT's also have the feature. Hand held Alerting Devices are included in ARES members' "To-Go" kits. The reason is that NWR broadcasts warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards: weather (e.g., tornadoes, floods), natural (earthquakes, forest fires and volcanic activity), technological (chemical releases, oil spills, nuclear power plant emergencies, etc.), and national emergencies (e.g., terrorist attacks). Working with other Federal agencies and the FCC's Emergency Alert System (EAS), NWR is an all-hazards radio network, making it the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public. <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/allhazard.htm> -- Rich Davis, W4NMH, Norfolk CERT, EC Norfolk ARES + Maine ham radio EmComm volunteer credentialing bill dead A bill in the Maine Legislature that would have required credentials for Amateur Radio emergency communications volunteers is dead. Sponsored by State Rep Stanley Gerzofsky of Brunswick, LD 696 received an "ought not to pass" recommendation March 14 from the Maine Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. The committee's action followed a March 7 public hearing. On March 21, the measure was placed in the legislative files, effectively killing it. The bill would have included registered and credentialed emergency communications volunteers among individuals the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) could call upon to help in an emergency or disaster. Before they could be issued a valid MEMA identification card, Amateur Radio EmComm volunteers would have had to meet certain training criteria and other requirements, including certifications from the ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The measure also would have required EmComm volunteers to undergo criminal history and driving record background checks. Maine Gov John E. Baldacci is KB1NXP. + Letters: GAO Report on Interoperability The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report this month on interoperability issues likely to be taken seriously by this congress. Among them, it cites technical solutions including VoIP, and software defined radios. It also addresses the core issues having little to do with technology, including the resistance to the use of plain language instead of codes and industry specific protocols. As we move towards the digital future of Amateur Radio, I'm starting to question the wisdom of some of our systems, like D-Star, which are not directly interoperable with first responders. APCO 25 would seem a better choice, since spending in the first responder community dwarfs that of Amateur Radio. It's likely that ultimately Amateur Radio digital systems using APCO 25 would be less expensive to manufacture than D-Star versions and assuming the radios were capable of wide-band receive, we'd still retain our ability to use our radios to directly monitor public service frequencies, which is a huge asset during an emergency. Currently, I own an ICOM ID-800H D-Star transceiver but I've also purchased a handheld scanner with APCO 25 capability. It would be nice to have both in one radio. First Responders: Much Work Remains to Improve Communications Interoperability (GAO-07-301). Washington, DC: GAO Report to Congressional Requesters, April 2007. <http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-301> -- Les Rayburn, N1LF, National Communications System-NCS047; Navy MARS NNN0HSI; ARES-SHARES-Skywarn; ARRL EmComm Level 3 Certified Official Emergency Station + Florida Fire Department Honors Radio Amateur The 2007 Firefighter of the Year in Dania Beach, Florida, is Steve Adams, N4JRW -- a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT). The 31-year fire department veteran was cited for his "unselfish dedication to the department and his fellow firefighters." An ARRL member, Adams says he's participated in a lot of public service and emergency operations. "I am very proud of this honor," he told the League. "I was totally taken by surprise." Adams oversees the ham radio program for the Dania Beach and Hollywood EOCs. During hurricane emergencies, Adams and his son Josh, N4OSO, staff both EOCs. Over the years, Adams has spent many hours of his own time to put the best equipment and procedures in place so Amateur Radio can back up normal telecommunications in an emergency or disaster. Ham radio also permits the local EOC to link with the Broward County EOC. + ARRL, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Ink Pact ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) <http://www.npstc.org/> have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The League is an NPSTC member organization, and the MoA culminates efforts begun in 2003 to formalize the relationship between the two organizations. "This agreement promotes the concept of strength in unity," the MoA says. "Speaking with one unified voice provides a clear and strong message from the public safety community." The MoA also aims "to promote a consensus input decision-making process." The NPSTC has been among the organizations that have asked the FCC to thoroughly explore the potential of broadband over power line (BPL) technology to interfere with public safety and other licensed radio systems. A federation of public safety organizations, NPSTC serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information for effective public safety telecommunications in the US and abroad. Under the ARRL-NPSTC pact the ARRL designated Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, to be its primary representative to the Council (ARRL Atlantic Division Vice Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, is the alternate representative). Rinaldo will participate in NPSTC meetings and serve on committees and working groups. The League also has agreed to provide "other expertise, advice and resources" to further the goals of the MoA and in support of the NPSTC Charter and to promote NPSTC as "the collective voice of public safety telecommunications." NPSTC agrees to provide a National Support Office that will, among other things, coordinate its outreach activities and provide "national level technical assistance to the public safety telecommunications community." In addition to the ARRL, the Council's 13 member organizations include the American Red Cross, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials -- International (APCO), the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors. NPSTC is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Council will mark "10 Years of Progress" during its Committee & Governing Board Meetings June 11-13 in Denver, Colorado. + ARES Supports ADA Bike Run in Sarasota, Florida The second annual American Diabetes Association Sarasota Tour de Cure bike run was held on the back roads of Manatee County Sunday, March 18. The Sarasota Emergency Radio Club, in collaboration with the Manatee County ARES, fielded their own team of sixteen amateur operators to provide communications over the 12, 40, 62, and 101 mile legs of the course. In territory where cell phone service can be spotty, amateur operators stationed at rest stops, SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles, logistics supply van, and safety patrol units positioned at strategic locations provided a communications web of safety, security, and coordination. Despite the predawn event following a St. Patrick's Day Saturday night, and unseasonably chilly morning temperatures, the hams were front and center as planned. Event organizers attributed a 35% drop in participants from registrants to the weather. The use of the NI4CE "Big Stick" linked repeater system provided clear communications by many units utilizing hand held radios. The two groups want to express their appreciation to the West Central Florida Group, Inc. for the use of the repeater, and to the west coast amateur community in general for the courteous, uninterrupted use of this repeater during a normally busy weekend period. The base of operations, start and finish lines, and center of good food, fun and entertainment was staged at the Lakewood Ranch Park adjacent to Lakewood Ranch High School. The Sarasota County Emergency Management/American Red Cross communications trailer contained the Net Control operations center. 128 man-hours on ride day and 40 pre-event hours were spent on this project. + Letters: Georgia Tornados Follow-Up Glad to see the mention [in the last issue] of Georgia ARES operations during the March 1 storms. Georgia has a series of EchoLink-enabled repeaters scattered across the north and central part of the state and many of these are linked together during severe weather, including a link to WX4PTC at the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City. When it was announced by NWS that a tornado had struck the high school in Alabama, I immediately observed the offending storm cell on weather radar just northeast of Enterprise, and began tracking its progress. It appeared to be coming our way, here in central Georgia. I called my supervisor at the Sheriff's Department in Peach County and warned him about the approaching cell. I then called our board of education and relayed the same advisory. This very same cell is the one responsible for most of the damage in Georgia. It struck Americus, killing two and severely damaging the hospital there, killed several in an adjacent county, continued northeast and killed another in Taylor County (just west of us), and then caused significant damage in the Lake Tobosofkee area of west Macon/Bibb County. While there were a number of confirmed tornado sightings across the southern and central part of Georgia, it is interesting that this one storm cell continued to develop and redevelop as it crossed two states. - Tim Hardy, AF1G, Kathleen, Georgia + Letters: RVs as ARES Assets A potential ARES asset is the Recreational Vehicle owners. Most of them belong to radio clubs that meet on the air, giving them the experience of participating in networks. Numerous RV networks exist that can be readily available to operate as ARES nets. Amateur stations permanently installed in these vehicles are not uncommon. Satellite television capability and cell phone communications are also installed. With their onboard supplies of propane, gasoline and foodstuffs, they are self-sufficient for long periods of time. Motor generators are typically operated on gasoline or propane and provide long-term electrical power. Non-ham members of the family can provide logistical support in the form of cooking, housekeeping, message delivery (sneaker net) and other related tasks. Operation on Citizens Band is very common, providing ARES with another group of mobile radio stations that can collect disaster information from the field. CB operators represent a large pool of potential ham radio operators. The individual RVs are already dispersed geographically. They can be radio-dispatched to different areas to collect specific information. All RVs are fitted with cooking and food storage areas as well as sleeping accommodations. Some of the larger vehicles are quickly adaptable to serve as mobile communications centers. -- Frank Wyatt, N6FW, Scotts Valley, CA <n6fw@baymoon.com>; + Letters: Wikipedia Referencing I noticed a reference to Wikipedia in the last issue. As an assistant professor of communication at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska I prohibit the use of any Wikipedia references. Everyone should be aware that Wikipedia is a forum that allows anyone to post anything. The idea is that eventually someone will come along and eventually correct erroneous information. This is not an acceptable way to provide a source of reliable information. Anytime Wikipedia comes up as a source there should be a red flag that pops up with a warning. I suggest avoiding Wikepedia as a journalist source. While I have not personally conducted the experiment there are college professors who post bogus information and wait for it to come back into the classroom as a demonstration of how inaccurate information can be placed on a site such as Wikipedia. -- Vern Wirka, W0VMP (former Nebraska Section Manager) + Opinion: TSA Wants Staffers as Amateurs I think we are seeing an increase in the speed with which our federal government is formally adopting Amateur Radio as their supplemental and backup communications service, and their intent to use government employees as the primary operators. The camel has more than just his nose under the tent. From an ARES EC who attended a Houston, Texas, Amateur Radio club meeting Monday night April 9: "We had an unusual guest at the ECHO [Society] meeting tonight. The 'Assistant Federal Security Director' for the TSA, as in Homeland Security, was there gathering assistance and information on establishing training, licensing and mentoring TSA employees to get their ham tickets. It would appear that they are setting up HF/VHF stations at all 27 key Gulf Coast airports." On March 28, Army MARS conducted a regional communications exercise, with stations operating at the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth airport TSA offices, FEMA Region 6 HQ in Denton, Texas, Texas state operations center in Austin, and 5th Army HQ in San Antonio. This EC's report hints at TSA's Amateur Radio infrastructure and resource expansion beyond the Army MARS-TSA agreement. Perhaps TSA recognizes the limited Army MARS resources and facility access obstacles. -- Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, SEC South Texas + Letters: Red Cross/ARRL Relations in Major Disasters The discussion re ARES and Red Cross is a good step. It should be emphasized that in the field in a major disaster, the Red Cross must coordinate with the local ECs upon arrival. No incoming volunteers for Red Cross or any other organization should attempt to usurp the authority of the EC in the affected area. This is still a very sore spot among the Gulf Coast hams who were so abused after Katrina. We are there to assist but are not subservient to these agencies. And lastly, when Red Cross arrives with their own amateur equipment, they still are required to coordinate with the local EC or DEC as appropriate before setting up, and they have no authority to commandeer repeaters nor other private equipment for their own use. -- Darryl J. Goldman, KD5CQT, EC, Jackson County, Mississippi + ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration Registration remains open through Sunday, April 22, for ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CEC) program Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> online course beginning on Friday, May 4. + Quick Links Connecticut Rolls Out New ARES Newsletter: <http://TinyURL.com/22ma5f> -- Brian K1BRF SEC, CT Daytona Beach, Florida, tornadoes, resources, opinions: <http://www.dbara.org/emcomm.htm> -- Bob Ledford <wa4idi@cfl.rr.com>; Small radio carriers: <http://www.tac-comm.com/> -- Matt Cassarino, WV1K <http://www.wv1k.com/> Nice SKYWARN page: <http://www.ccraa.net/> click on Skywarn. - George Thurner, W8FWG + K1CE For a Final Hurricane season is around the corner. It's time to trot out those hurricane exercises NOW. If Dr. Gray's forecast is even partially correct, we are in for a wild ride over the next six months. See you next month! 73, Rick K1CE
