Juneau Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
KL7JRC
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Juneau Amateur Radio Club, Inc. |
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Below is an archive of the ARES Monthly EMERGENCY COORDINATOR / DISTRICT EMERGENCY COORDINATOR Report last updated: 01/12/02
Your Emergency CoordinatorSeveral months (around July 2001) ago I made an inquiry to our Section Manager, Kent Petty, as to whether there was an Alaska ARES Emergency Communications plan and who the various Emergency Coordinator’s were. He asked me if my inquiry was because I was interested in filling a role, to which I replied that I have a strong interest in emergency preparedness. I didn’t receive any more emails on the subject, however, a few weeks later I received an unexpected packet in the mail from ARRL Headquarters. I was eager to see what was inside and discovered the Public Service Communications Manual, the ARES Field Guide and some other information on the National Traffic System. I was not, however, prepared for the letter that accompanied it: “Your official appointment as Emergency Coordinator has been entered into our records. Congratulations and welcome.” Also included was a 40 question quiz for Emergency Coordinators, and it was not multiple choice! I’ve been involved in emergency services for over 23 years; as a police officer, a paramedic, a dispatcher, as well as a member of a mass casualty response team. I’ve developed disaster exercises as well as emergency plans. I’ve also completed numerous courses in the field of emergency management. I’ve been working with Jon Newstrom, KL7GT, who maintains the club’s web page and he has done some major updates to the ARES section. This now includes manuals, forms, training information and a whole lot of other information. We will update this as new information is discovered. My goals are:
A final note; please update me with any email or phone number changes to Nick Meacher - I know there are a few emails that I have on the ARES roster that are not correct. 73's Nick Meacher, N3WWE, Emergency Coordinator
2001 ANNUAL EC REPORT ARRL
Section:
ALASKA Based upon your current file of registration cards (FSD-98) for present Amateur Radio Emergency Service members within your jurisdiction, please compile the following information. Information from this form is used to indicate general trends in ARES activity. The more reports returned, the more accurate our analysis will be. Please take a few minutes to complete this report. Mail one copy to ARRL Headquarters, one copy to your SEC/DEC and retain one copy for your own files. 1.
Total number of ARES members in your group
52 Not currently, but plans are being implemented to install a local packet system with a HF gateway to Anchorage and other places which will handle traffic. City and Borough of Juneau (see below) State Division of Emergency Services (see below) National Weather Service Emergency Coordinator’s Annual Report for 2001 When I was appointed EC in June I had some specific goals that I wanted to achieve before the end of the year, the primary one being the completion of a written Communications Plan. This was achieved just before Christmas and is now available on the Juneau Amateur Radio Club’s (JARC) web page. With considerable help from Jon Newstrom, KL7GT, who maintains the club’s web site, we have made some major changes to the site and added a lot of ARES related information and all the forms that may be needed by an operator in an emergency. In addition an email list group has been created from the web server for both Northern SE AK ARES as well as for ARES members throughout the Section. Prior to the events of September 11th I had been working with city officials to get ARES recognized as a resource in the event of an emergency. Over the past months considerable progress has been made and the City’s Emergency Planner is in the process of incorporating ARES into the City’s Emergency Plan and, in addition, assigning ARES space within the City’s new Emergency Operations Center. We have also been discussing ways to identify ARES members so that they are no problems with access to “secure” areas during an emergency. The events of September 11th prompted the evaluation of emergency communications capabilities in Juneau and this resulted in the submission of a report to the City & Borough of Juneau and the Office of the Governor entitled; “Report on Emergency and Disaster Communications in Juneau”. As a result of this report, I have been working with the Alaska Division of Emergency Services (ADES) and the State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) to improve communications into and out of Juneau. This has involved, amongst other things, testing current state HF radio systems in the Office of the Governor. As a result of this ADES is allowing some of their equipment currently in Juneau to be relocated to a more suitable location for ARES use. ADES is also assigning some equipment to create a packet node in Juneau, with two digipeaters which will cover all of Juneau and packet sites at the Office of the Governor, the City’s EOC and the National Weather Service office. I’m also working with City and State officials to obtain some laptop computers and other equipment to set up complete portable packet stations that can be taken to any location when needed. Once completed, the packet system will not only handle traffic around northern SE Alaska but, via an HF gateway, will be able to handle NTS traffic into and out of Juneau. RACES does not exist in Alaska, however as a result of the discussions that I’ve been having with ADES staff they have a goal to enhance the communications infrastructure in Alaska and are looking for ARES operators to fulfill this vital role. The Section Emergency Coordinator, Linda Mullen, AD4BL, is looking into a Section wide agreement/Memorandum of Understanding with ADES. A major challenge was to establish goals for 2002 so that the ARES program has some specific direction. Some of these are based on my experience with disasters in other parts of the county and some are based on the report on emergency communications in Juneau. Overall the goal is to be able to provide a professional response to an emergency or disaster in Juneau, with preplans and agreements that have addressed the needs of the agencies being served. These goals are outlined below: · appoint Assistant Emergency Coordinator’s (see below) · establish a training program to include: · Net Control Station duties and functions · National Traffic System message handling · Public Service Communications · conduct regular Simulated Emergency Tests (at least 4) · establish Official Relay Stations · establish Official Emergency Stations · establish packet node and regular traffic handling · establish HF and 2-meter capability from within the City’s EOC · obtain photographic identification for ARES members · conduct a presentation to all potential served agency’s As you can see some of these goals are already coming close to reality – especially the packet node system and communications capabilities within the City’s EOC. A training program and timetable has already been drafted for 2002 and some material is already in place for “on-the-air” training. The material will also be placed on the JARC web site once the on-the-air session has been conducted. The training is scheduled to start in February. Simulated Emergency Tests (SET) are planned after every training module, thereby giving hams an opportunity to practice what they have just learned. Each successive SET will include all the topics to date, thus will be more involved. Some of these SET’s will be coordinated with the City’s training they are planning for their staff on emergency management. I’m also working with the City’s Emergency Planner to incorporate a session on the role of ARES as part of the training they are providing to their managerial staff. Jerry Prindle, KL7HFI, has accepted a position as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator and Jerry will be assisting and advising me on technical aspects. I’ve extended invitations to two other hams at this time, one of whom I hope will assist as ARES Net Manager and with administration and the other with training and liaison with local government. Once these folks are all on board they, together with myself, will form our ARES Emergency Planning Committee. ARES in Alaska has a major role, unlike other parts of the country where help can drive to you within a few hours, you need a plane to get to most parts of Alaska. ARES has a significant role to play in providing vital communications in an emergency. The members of Northern SE AK ARES are committed to filling this role. I am determined that we will be able to provide highly trained, skilled and experienced operators to work together as a team with local and state agencies and officials in a coordinated response to any emergency or disaster. Nick Meacher N3WWE
DecemberComments: The Northern Southeast Alaska ARES Net (Juneau) meets on the club’s repeaters every Tuesday night and averages about a dozen check-ins with representation from the outlying communities of Haines, Hoonah and Gustavus. Jerry Prindle, KL7HFI, Keith Bettridge, AL4K and Dani Bettridge AL4D went to Angoon and conducted a VE session. The following passed and obtained their Technician license:
James Parkin, KL1GT has already signed up as an ARES member. All the parts have arrived for the repeater for Hoonah. It will be installed early in January and linked to the other 3 repeaters in Juneau. Several members participated in the NWS event and placed the NWS Juneau office on the air for several hours. A list of contacts made is not available at the time of this report. The Communications Plan for Northern SE AK ARES is now complete. It will soon be uploaded onto the Juneau ARC web page. An email list server is now in existence for Northern SE AK ARES all those wishing to be on the list can contact the EC. Nick Meacher N3WWE
November 2001Comments: The Northern Southeast Alaska ARES Net (Juneau) meets on the club’s repeaters every Tuesday night and averages about a dozen check-ins with representation from the outlying communities of Haines, Hoonah and Gustavus. We averaged between 10 and 19 check-ins throughout November. The Juneau Amateur Radio Club applied to the Anchorage ARC for funds to place a 2 meter repeater on Hoonah island. The repeater is currently under construction and we hope to have it installed by the end of the year. It will be linked into the current JARC repeater system, giving coverage from as far north as Haines to Hoonah and in between. An ARES Communications Plan is currently under development. It is almost complete and is available in draft format for comments at the JARC web site at www.www.JuneauARC.org. A report on Emergency and Disaster Communications in Juneau was completed and submitted to City and State officials, state representatives and numerous other interested agencies. This report has prompted numerous meetings with officials with the intent of improving communications, understanding of amateur radio and our role in disaster communications and the development/incorporation of ARES into local plans. Volunteers
are being sought for Official Emergency Stations and Official Relay Stations in
Juneau. We have continued to make major updates to our web page at www.www.JuneauARC.org especially in the area of ARES related information.
October 2001The Northern Southeast Alaska ARES Net (Juneau) meets on the club’s repeaters every Tuesday night and averages about a dozen check-ins with representation from the outlying communities of Haines, Hoonah and Gustavus.We averaged between 10 and 19 check-ins throughout October. We normally expect our numbers to decrease over the winter as several members move south for the winter, however, we have seen an increase in the number of check-ins and another significant increase with new ARES members. We had a record 19 check-ins one week and we hope this new trend will increase. The Juneau Amateur Radio Club applied to the Anchorage ARC for funds to place a 2 meter repeater on Hoonah island. The request was approved and we hope to have the repeater up before winter. We are also now looking at placing a repeater near Baranoff Hot Springs, south of Angoon, to meet the needs of 11 potentially new members in Angoon. An intensive weekend class and 3 VE sessions netted 10 new hams and 1 new Amateur Extra in Juneau. Nick Meacher, N3WWE, will be coordinating a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in Juneau commencing in November. This is a 17.5 hour course with teaches community/neighborhood preparedness and how neighbors can assist their neighbors until professional help is available. For more information on the course go to www.fema.gov/emi/cert or www.www.JuneauARC.org or contact Nick Meacher We are in the process of major updates to our web page at www.www.JuneauARC.org especially in the area of ARES related information. We are also working with local government to develop a MOU for ARES.
September 2001The Northern Southeast Alaska ARES Net (Juneau) meets on the club’s repeaters every Tuesday night and averages about a dozen check-ins with representation from the outlying communities of Haines, Hoonah and Gustavus.We averaged between 9 and 14 check-ins throughout September. The Juneau Amateur Radio Club has applied to the Anchorage ARC for funds to place a 2 meter repeater on Hoonah island, which will be linked into the current 3 repeaters operated by JARC. This will extend coverage to Gustavus, Hoonah and possibly as far out as Elfin Cove. We are waiting to hear the status of our grant request. Nick Meacher, N3WWE, will be coordinating a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in Juneau commencing in November. This is a 17.5 hour course with teaches community/neighborhood preparedness and how neighbors can assist their neighbors until professional help is available. For more information on the course go to www.fema.gov/emi/cert for more information on the course contact Nick Meacher
Since November 1, 2001 you are visitor number
Last Update: 01/12/02 |
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Copyright, 2001,2002, 2003 Juneau Amateur Radio Club, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
