Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VI will conduct a communication test on June 3, from 1300 until 2359 UTC. Region VI consists of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The intent of the test is to complete system checks prior to the “Vigilant Guard” exercise that will take place this summer. Set for August 3-6 from 1300 until 2359 UTC each day, Exercise Vigilant Guard is aimed at training and testing interoperable communications (federal/state/local/tribal/amateur) for a major disaster when the telecommunications infrastructure would be significantly damaged or destroyed.

FEMA Region VI will act as net control station, using call sign WGY906. New Mexico State EOC will be acting as alternate net control station, using call sign WGY936. Other stations that may participate in this exercise include, but are not limited to, other FEMA stations, SHARES, Air Force and Army MARS, and Amateur Radio stations. All stations are encouraged to participate.

Both the June communications test and the August exercise will use these suppressed-carrier reference frequencies, also known as “dial” or “window” frequencies as part of the exercise: 5,330.5 kHz, 5,346.5 kHz, 5,357.0 kHz, 5,371.5 kHz, and 5,403.5 kHz. These are the five 60-meter channels where Amateur Radio has secondary status. — Thanks to Dave Adsit, KG4BIR, DHS/FEMA/OCIO, FEMA Spectrum Manager