To:  Don Moore, KMOR – ARRL Missouri Section Emergency Coordinator
From:  Dale Huffington, AE0S – ARRL Missouri Section Traffic Manager
Date: 9 June 2007
Subject:  After Action Report:  June 2 Communications Exercise
CC:  John Howard, K0VET – Net Control Station
        Bill Hudson, WA0KBZ – Alternate Net Control and logging.

Participation in the June 2 exercise was strong.   A total of 231 HF, VHF, mobile, portable or base check-ins were recorded for the exercise.  205 individual stations participated, of which 122 were HF and 85 were on VHF frequencies. Twenty four stations checked in on one or more combinations of HF/VHF, mobile and/or portable operation.

116 messages were passed, ranging from formal messages with a tracking number to informal status reports.  Delivery methods included voice, pactor, packet and combinations of radio links with the internet.

The high frequency radio net provided state-wide coverage in spite of poor conditions.  The very high frequency nets covered areas that ranged from five miles to several counties.  Many operators served several missions, operating from their home stations, mobile, portable, or from emergency operations stations.  In all, operators checked in with a total of 239 separate locations or modes demonstrating their capability to serve a variety of functions.  The state was well covered, and amateur radio operators could deliver messages to any Missouri community by using a combination of frequencies and modes.

Recruitment for the exercise was done through announcements on the state-wide traffic nets and personal contact with key people throughout the state requesting their assistance to insure that amateur radio.  The weekly MESN nets announements have resulted in people coming up on the 3.963 MHZ frequency during several regional weather emergencies to pass message traffic relating to weather information and supply requests.

In spite of noise and poor propagation net control stations handled a large number of people trying to check in at the same time, and managed to route message traffic on other frequencies or during slower check-in periods.  Traffic handling skills among participants varied widely, with some stations showing letter perfect procedure and message format while others were less concise and skilled in message handling.  Operators praised the Net Control stations for their ability to hear stations and keep the traffic moving.

Exercises are designed to provide opportunities to cope with the unexpected.  The June 2 exercise faced an unexpected equipment failure soon after the net opened.  The net control station’s antenna fell, making it difficult for that station to hear or be heard.  The alternate net control and logging stations had participated fully in planning for the exercise and were able to proceed without delay when the NCS requested they take over.  Their skill and experience made the transfer happen quickly and smoothly. A back-up VF channel between the NCS and ANCS provided for administrative consultation.

Traffic had been requested from SEMA and from the amateur radio operators in counties across the state.  The response was limited for the June 2 exercise.  Those communities with strong ARES training programs or experienced traffic handlers did well: they initiated messages.  There was a response from SATERN, several Red Cross units and several EOC officials.  However, the number of people with the ability and willingness to handle traffic needs to be increased.  More people in public service agencies and amateur radio need an understanding of what is required to prepare a request for information or a request for assistance under NIMS procedures and transmission on back-up communications channels.

In this drill, the ability of stations to handle HF pactor messages, or to relay VHF packet messages to a pactor-capable HF station was limited.  More pactor stations are needed.  The few messages that were sent demonstrated pactor’s ability to get through extremely poor conditions error-free.  EOC stations in the Kansas City area, the St. Louis Area, and MoDOT communications trailers were in contact using pactor.  However, additional practice using the pactor software would be helpful.

For the exercises held on June 19, 20 and 21, HF activity focused on supporting ARES groups working with county Emergency Operations Centers.  Messages flowed into Jefferson City by high frequency and were relayed to SEMA by VHF fm radio. According to the logs, there were fifteen HF stations participating and 40 messages handled.  Message numbers from some ARES stations at county EOC locations indicated more messages were passed (perhaps to local agencies) than is reflected in the HF logs.  Most traffic went to SEMA, but messages also went to other state agencies, the Arkansas EOC and between county EOC offices or amateur radio relay stations. . 

Bill Gerth, W4RK, who with N0SS handled most of the Jefferson City traffic commented in his exercise report on a new working relationship between amateur radio and a served agency:
“. . . the passage of amateur radio message traffic from Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO to the DHSS Dept Situation Room here in Jeff City represents the first time that an exercise order was placed for materials from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) here in Missouri. . . . “

W4RK and N0SS are to be complimented for an excellent job in handling a large volume of traffic.  Special note should be made of N0SS’ ability to tactfully help operators who were new to message handling. 

ARES has been working with hospitals and health departments to establish a working relationship and encourage them to set up a minimal amateur radio station on VHF frequencies for communication with other local agencies and with amateur stations for relaying over greater distances. 

In some districts there are ARES packet stations at hospitals capable of transmitting hospital e-mail messages by packet radio to an ARES regional high frequency radio station where messages can be transferred into one of several ARES “mail box” stations outside the disaster area.  There the e-mail message is automatically put on the internet for normal delivery over e-mail. 

This Pactor – Packet – Internet digital process was successfully used in the Katrina response by Texas and Louisiana ARES operators.  It saved time, improved accuracy, and avoided the need to transcribe voice messages and deliver them by hand at agencies in the disaster area.  The volume of messages that will be delivered to SEMA in emergencies suggests this mode should be considered for development.

W4RK also relayed many favorable comments from ham radio operators at participating EOCs across the state.  They passed along the appreciation of several EMA managers.

Structure for large scale emergency nets must be changed to allow faster check-in.  Additional frequencies or different net times will be needed to spread out the traffic among a number of channels.  The specific design will reflect the anticipated size and duration of the operation, number of operators, frequencies available, and the structure of needs being served.  A check-in net, a resource/assignment net, and nets for the administrative, logistic, and operational aspects of the incident are likely to be necessary for large scale incidents.  It would be helpful to have the ARES leadership work with SEMA to develop call-up protocols and recommended network structure.

Specific suggestions have been made by participants as they saw opportunities to improve our response capabilities. 

Co-locating the MoDOT trailers with State Patrol District Headquarters or County Emergency Operations Centers would be desirable.  When a location is established, liaison and training should be set up so there are pactor–capable amateur radio operators on call who have identification, are familiar with the equipment, and have passed any needed background checks.

Operators at served agencies, county/city Emergency Operations Centers, and the MoDOT trailers should be asked to originate traffic reporting damage, requesting supplies, etc.  Recipients of those messages should send reply messages to acknowledge receipt of message and advise the action that will be taken. 

A map of VHF repeater-to-repeater paths for links across Missouri should be a high priority for development.  The finished result should be made available to ARES groups state-wide so it can be readily used without prior permission during an actual event.


The attached tables show operators, traffic, and geographical coverage.  The first covers the June 2 exercise and is organized by State Highway Patrol district, by county, and operator call signs.  When an operator checked into a net a second or third time from a mobile or portable location or on a different frequency, the additional times are indicated in blue.  Some nets reported only the number of participants without call signs.  In those cases the number of additional participants is highlighted in yellow.  Check-ins from states other than Missouri are indicated in green.

The second table covers amateur radio activity on June 19, 20, and 21 in support of the exercise.  Data for June 19 and 21 was provided by W4RK.  The June 20 data was from AE0S’ log.