Southern Crescent Amateur Radio Club

Presents the

SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST (SET) 2010

Clayton Amateur Radio Emergency Services Inc.

SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST (SET)

ALABAMA, GEORGIA, NORTH FLORIDA 2010

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this drill is to test inter and intra-state Amateur Radio communications; foster cooperation and coordination between Amateur Radio communicators in Alabama, Georgia, and North Florida in the event of a large-scale disaster requiring the activation of all available communications assets; and, at the local level, test the ability for ARES to establish communications to support local needs and pass necessary traffic between the local EOC and State Operations Center (SOC).

BACKGROUND:

Hurricane Jay is a very powerful late-season Category 4 storm. After intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, the storm makes landfall in Pensacola, FL, tracks to the north, and weakens over the following 24 hours. (The final track is similar to Hurricane

Ivan, 2004.) In its wake there is wide-scale destruction of property, flooding, power outages, and debris. Numerous roads are damaged. Governors have declared

states of emergency. Locally, your County has declared a state of emergency. All available local assets are being employed in the recovery. Schools are closed.

Numerous houses are damaged; some are uninhabitable. Power is out in about 30 percent of your County. Your EMA has requested ARES activation to assist with

communications needs. The State EOC is in full operation with all ESFs activated. ARES is advised they desire 24/7 staffing at the SOC for the next week. Additional resources are scarce. The respective State Operations Centers will coordinate with

each other and pass necessary traffic to support recovery efforts.

BACKGROUND:

Hurricane Jay is a very powerful late-season Category 4 storm. After intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, the storm makes landfall in Pensacola, FL, tracks to the north, and weakens over the following 24 hours. (The final track is similar to Hurricane

Ivan, 2004.) In its wake there is wide-scale destruction of property, flooding, power outages, and debris. Numerous roads are damaged. Governors have declared

states of emergency. Locally, your County has declared a state of emergency. All available local assets are being employed in the recovery. Schools are closed.

Numerous houses are damaged; some are uninhabitable. Power is out in about 30 percent of your County. Your EMA has requested ARES activation to assist with

communications needs. The State EOC is in full operation with all ESFs activated. ARES is advised they desire 24/7 staffing at the SOC for the next week. Additional resources are scarce. The respective State Operations Centers will coordinate with

each other and pass necessary traffic to support recovery efforts.

Formed - September 2, 2004

Dissipated - September 24, 2004

Highest Winds - 165 mph (270 km/h)(1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure - 910 mbar (hPa; 26.87 inHg)

Fatalities - 91 direct, 32 indirect

Damage - $18 billion (2004 USD)$20.7 billion (2010 USD)

Hurricane Ivan

2004

As the EC, you must come up with a staffing plan to support your EOC, shelter and POD for 72 hours. You may not have the necessary resources to do this.

DISCUSSION:

The Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator have asked for the activation of all ARES assets. DECs have passed the word to Emergency Coordinators. Your EMA has requested ARES help in the following locations: EOC, shelter, and a Point of Distribution (POD). 24/7 staffing is requested. The EMA wants ARES to provide back up communications from the EOC to a local shelter and to the POD. Further, he wants to be able to communicate with the SOC.

1. If you do not have the resources, what are the priorities? 2. Do you have any other source of communicators? 3. Does your community have a POD? Do you know where it will be? 4. Will you be allowed access? 5. Is there an alternate means of distributing commodities to

community members in need? 6. Do you know where your potential shelters are?7. Will you be allowed access?8. Can you set up reliable communications from the shelter to the EOC?

GOALS:

1. Develop on paper a staffing plan to support local operations for 72 hours.

2. Complete a two-way contact between the local EOC and the SOC.

3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate between the EOC, shelter, and POD with and without repeaters.

4. If necessary, identify alternative means to establish communications between these locations (I.E. setting up a relay station, placement of a higher antenna, etc.).

5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and coordinate between respective SOCs.

6. Demonstrate the ability to send a message via the NTS

DRILL:

As reports of Hurricane Jay continue to indicate an increased danger to the Florida Panhandle, it is expected there will be coordination via email and various nets to prepare for this event. Saturday will culminate in the EC demonstrating a local capability of supporting the goals of this drill.

0900 – 1600 EOCs contact SOC. Advise SOC of your status. (SOC will have a check list arranged by County where they can check off Amateur Radio support at the EOC, Shelter, and POD.

1130 The HF radios at the Georgia SOC fail. External antennas are damaged.

1300 A power surge causes computer failure and blows fuses in the power supply and HF transceiver at the Alabama SOC

1600 Drill terminated. The EC has 24 hours to input a formal message to the SEC via the NTS. The message will state which County EOC was activated. (This will be used to verify check ins with the SOC.)

Times are in Central Daylight Savings time (CDT)

0800 Begin Drill.

0800 – 1600 Demonstrate the ability to pass traffic between the local EOC, shelter, and POD. At least two messages between each location should be sent and received. Ensure you have a means of documenting time and status of communications.

•Does your EOC have Amateur Radio Capability? If not, can you set something up?

•How do you document messages sent on behalf of a served agency?

•Can you still pass necessary traffic if the local repeater goes down?

•How will traffic between the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia SOC be passed after HF •radio failure?

•Will the SOC have an off-site back-up net control?

•Does the back up NCS have the capability to communicate with the SOC via VHF, UHF, or digital?

•Can the back up NCS communicate with the other State’s SOC and relay essential •information?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

•How will you activate?

•Are there any local issues operating / commuting during a state of emergency?

COMMENTS:

Please be truthful about your resources and capabilities. Many of you will NOT have enough people to go around.

There WILL be equipment limitations. Do the best you can with these limitations and then document where you need improvement.

We cannot build trust if we exaggerate what we can do.

CHECKLIST FOR 2010 SET COUNTY(S) ___Clayton & Henry TIME YOU ACTIVATED ___________________ NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS _______________ EOC STAFFED YES _____ NO _____ SHELTER STAFFED YES ____ NO ____ POD STAFFED YES ____ NO ____ DON’T HAVE A POD ____ CONTACT WITH SOC YES ____ NO ____ HOW? HF ____ D-STAR ____WINLINK ____ RELAY ____ OTHER ______ FORMAL MESSAGE SENT TO SEC YES _____ NO ____ WAS YOUR EMA INVOLVED IN YOUR PLANS OR DRILL YES ____ NO ____ COMMENTS:

Monday, 1000Z. Tropical Storm Jay has formed 30 miles north of Havana, Cuba. Slight northwesterly movement is expected over the next 24 hours. Conditions are very favorable for rapid intensification of Jay into a Category 1 hurricane over the next 12 – 24 hours.

Tuesday, 1000Z update Hurricane Jay. Hurricane Jay is presently located 75 miles northwest of Havana, Cuba. This Category 1 storm has maximum sustained winds of 80 MPH and is expected to track to the west, northwest then begin a turn to the north and intensify as it encounters favorable conditions for strengthening. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida Keys.

Wednesday, 1000Z update Hurricane Jay. Hurricane Jay has increased overnight to become a powerful Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 126 MPH. The present location is approximately 200 miles northwest of Key West, FL. Further intensification is expected over the next 24 hours. There is a hurricane watch from New Orleans, LA to Cedar Key, FL. The present track and speed indicate landfall somewhere along the Florida panhandle in the vicinity of Pensacola. Interests along the gulf coast are urged to make preparations for this dangerous storm.

ATTACHMENT 1

Sunday, 1000Z. The National Hurricane Center reports a tropical disturbance just north of Cuba. Warm water and favorable winds could lead to a tropical storm in the next 24 hours.

Thursday, 1000Z update Hurricane Jay. Hurricane Jay is a weak Category 4 Hurricane with sustained winds of 135 MPH. Jay is located approximately 250 miles west of Tampa, FL. Further intensification is expected over the next 24 hours. This is a very dangerous storm. This storm has the potential to inflict catastrophic damage from strong winds, rain-wrapped tornados,

and flooding. Take immediate precautions. Landfall is expected early Saturday morning around the Pensacola, FL area. A voluntary evacuation is in effect along the Florida gulf coast.

Friday, 1000Z update Hurricane Jay. Hurricane Jay continues its northerly track and has strengthened overnight into a very powerful Category 4 hurricane with 150 MPH sustained winds. Present location is approximately 90 miles south of Pensacola, FL. A hurricane warning is in effect from Biloxi, MS to Apalachee Bay, FL. There is a mandatory evacuation in effect for the Florida panhandle.

Saturday, 1000Z update. Hurricane Jay is expected to make landfall in the Pensacola area in the next 2-3 hours. Sustained wind speeds of 150 MPH have been reported along the gulf coast with stronger gusts. The storm is expected to track to the north and weaken over the next 24 hours. A tornado watch exists for the north Florida Panhandle, Eastern Alabama and Georgia. A flood watch is effect for Eastern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. Emergency Management reports Interstate 10 is closed along Escambia Bay. The Pensacola Bay Bridge and Avalon Blvd are closed.

VARIOUS DRILL INPUTS:

A tornado in Dougherty County, GA damages a local elementary school

High winds have damaged a span of westbound I-10 over Escambia Bay, FL

Flooding has washed out 2 rail lines in Waycross, GA

ATTACHMENT 2

HOW TO INPUT MESSAGES TO THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS)

ATTACHMENT 3 Passing Formal Traffic in the S.E.T.

In the last analysis, the reason for ham participation in a simulated or actual emergency is to send messages. These messages are called “traffic”, and when

undertaken for a real or simulated served agency it should be “formal”. Why? Because formal traffic requires thinking before transmitting and BECAUSE

FORMAL TRAFFIC DIMINISHES ERRORS. Therefore, let’s review the elements of formal traffic.

We do not need a message blank to pass formal traffic. Let’s look at the parts, what they mean and the reason they are important.

There is Heading, the Address, a Body, and a Signature.

Lets look at the Heading. Regardless of how many stations are involved in routing the message from New York to San Francisco, the heading is never altered.

It consists of 6 or 8 parts

2. Precedence. There are 3 possibilities. “R” means “Routine”. “W” means “Welfare” and concerns messages indicating welfare of individuals. It should be handled before “Routine”. “P” indicates a “Priority” message and should take precedence over all but “Emergency”. There is no “E”, but “Emergency” is spelled out.

3. HX or Handling. For the purposes of the drill, this may usually be omitted, as it concerns whether one will use toll calls or must answer the sender.

4. Station of Origin. Simply the Call of the station originating the message, and may not (occasionally) be the station first sending it.

5. “ARL” or “Check” is a position indicating the number of words in the body (not including the heading, address nor the signature). This is important to ensure accuracy. If operators disagree on the word count they can consult together and resolve it. Some examples: Telephone numbers usually count as 3 words (229 888 1090). “73”, Sincerely or similar do count in the words of the body.

1. Number. This is the sequential number assigned by the sender and could be for the duration of the event. In routine nets the sending station may restart his number sequence each month or year. It identifies the message kept on file for future reference. Sometimes things get lost. (Do keep a record of traffic sent for future reference!)

6. Place of Origin: Usually the city and state. In a formal emergency or drill may indicate the station’s location with the operation.

7. Time Filed (not necessarily time sent). (Sometimes omitted, but not during a formal drill or an emergency!)

8. Date Filed.

The “Address” usually includes the name (and Call Sign if appropriate), street address of the recipient, and telephone number.

The “Body” is the message itself and should be no more than 25 words (some digital formats excepted). Punctuations are avoided, but when a period is needed instead use “XRAY”, for question use “QUERY”. Any salutation, or sign at the ending is included in the Body and the word count.

Signature. This is the person (not necessarily a ham or the “Originator”) who sends the message. In a drill or an actual emergency one might prudently include contact information with the signature (phone number, address, or location). “Col Pitts, Fifth Battalion, 229 888 1090”.

Check List for Originating Formal Traffic

1. Number

2. Precedence

3. Handling

4. Station of Origin

5. Check (Word Count)

6. Place of Origin

7. Time

8. Date

9. Address & Telephone Number

10.BODY

11.Signature

Anyone may accept traffic with the responsibility of delivering it or taking it to someone who will send it along to whoever will deliver it.

If you have traffic for GEMA and come across someone at GEMA or who will take traffic for GEMA, then call that station and list your traffic.

The most certain way to send traffic along is to go to a traffic net. In Georgia on SSB we have the “Georgia Single Sideband Net”

3.975 MHz at 23:00 UTC (7PM summer, and 6PM winter).

The Georgia “Traffic and Emergency Net” at 3.9825 at 7:15PM daily.

The Georgia Traffic Net 3.9875 at 1PM weekdays.

On CW, the net in Georgia is Georgia State Net at 3.549 at 7PM and 10PM daily.

If you happen on some other traffic net out of state they would likely gladly accept your traffic.

That covers the “How?”, now about the

“When?” and “Where?”:

GENERAL MESSAGE

TO: POSITION:

FROM: POSITION:

SUBJECT: DATE:

TIME:

MESSAGE:

SIGNATURE: POSITION:

REPLY:

DATE: TIME: SIGNATURE/POSITION:

ICS 213

KE4FGF: “KE4FGF”

Net Control: “KE4FGF, list your traffic.”

KE4FGF: “I have one for Albany.” (We know this is Albany GA, not Albany NY because he did not list it for 4RN)

Net Control: “Who can take traffic for Albany?”

W5VRV: “W5VRV can take Albany.”

Net Control: “KE4FGF call W5VRV and pass your Albany.”

KE4FGF: “W5VRV, are you ready to copy?”

W5VRV: “W5VRV Ready to copy.”

Listen as KE4FGF enters the GSSB net at 7PM and sends traffic:

Net Control: (Will first read a preamble, then ask for certain responses. One will be “Any traffic for 4RN?”

This refers to the Fourth Region Net for traffic destined out of state. This is not what we want.) Eventually Net Control asks “Is there any formal traffic?”)

KE4FGF: “Please copy my number 46, Routine, KE4FGF, Check 13, Thomasville Georgia, June 23, 1123 PM Going to: Katherine Clark, 1604 Lynwood Lane, Albany

Georgia, 31707. Telephone 555 555 5555. [He reads it slowly as though he were writing it at the same time.]

Break for Text.”

W5VRV: “Ready for Text”

KE4FGF: “I AM WELL XRAY

DO NOT WORRY XRAY WILL BE HOME SUNDAY LOVE

Break for signature”

W5VRV: “Go!”

KE4FGF: “GENE W4AYK - End, no more.”

W5VRV: “Roger your number 46.”

KE4FGF: “Traffic passed, back to net. KE4FGF”

Net Control: “…--

• Spell any unusual words or words which may cause confusion, like “to”, “too”, “two”.

• Use standard phonetics, and say “I spell: tango whiskey oscar”.

• CW is another story, but follows a similar format which transcribes directly into the above message format.

• All digital methods are valid, but the only one I know of currently in use for traffic in Georgia is Winlink, commonly using Pactor with Airmail. This may be

sent to any valid addressee who accepts the traffic.

ATTACHMENT 4 - NET OPERATIONS GEORGIA SECTION - 2010 SET

The following net operation plans are active during the 2010 Simulated Emergency Test (S.E.T.) for the Georgia Section. The Test will be operational October 2, 2010. . BACKGROUND

Various Statewide ARES Nets will be active during the S.E.T. 2010 to support Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators, and local Emergency Management officials to provide medium and long range communications capability. In addition to the below listed nets several local and regional nets may be active during the event. All stations are advised to remain alert for any changes and additions during the Test.

The Georgia ARES Statewide Net will be active every two hours Saturday, October 2.

• The following statewide nets are planned:

• Georgia ARES Net, 3975 KHz (LSB), 9:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M. • Georgia ARES Digital Net, 3583 KHz PSK31 (USB), 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M. • Georgia State Net (GSN), (slow to medium speed CW), 3549 KHz., 2:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M. • Georgia Traffic Net, 3987.5 KHz (LSB), 1:00 P.M. • Georgia Single Sideband Net, 3975 KHz (LSB), 7:00 P.M. • Georgia Traffic and Emergency Net (GTEN), 3982.5 KHz, 7:15 P.M.

OPERATIONSGeorgia Section ARES will be active statewide from 9:00 A.M. until

7:00 P.M. October 2, simulating a strike from a major Hurricane affecting most of the state.

The primary net frequency for operations statewide will be 3975 KHz (LSB) which will be monitored continuously during the daylight hours. The frequency will be monitored full time between scheduled nets.

ALTERNATE NET FREQUENCIES

During operations of the Georgia ARES Net on 3975 KHz, several alternate frequencies may be used as traffic load and radio band propagation conditions warrant. These frequencies may be used only if needed.

Alternate Frequencies:

7275 KHz (LSB) 5330.5 KHz (USB) 1975 KHz (LSB) 3982.5 KHz (LSB) 3987.5 KHz (LSB) 3995 KHz (LSB)

NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS)

The National Traffic System operates 24/7 forwarding messages throughout North America. Several

Georgia Section nets are active members of this system. Operators are encouraged to take advantage

of the resources of NTS during the S.E.T. This years' SET we are cooperating with Florida and Alabama for the event. All operators should take advantage of the long ago established net liaisons and to

take advantage of the training opportunity of using the interstate NTS.

LIAISON WITH OTHER STATES AND AFFILIATES

The Georgia Section will send liaisons to both Florida and Alabama Nets during the operations. Likewise, the two additional states will send liaisons to the Georgia nets. Liaison with other non-amateur radio affiliates such as The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS), and The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) are expected.

MESSAGE FORMATS

The use of recognized message forms are encouraged, including:

ICS-213, ICS-213 (ARES version), ARRL RADIOGRAM, Red

Cross Form DWI, and Military (NATO) ACP 127 protocol.

PARTICIPATION  

All amateurs and ARES members are encouraged to participate in this years Simulated Emergency Test (SET).

Our goal is to learn operations skills and improve participation in the Georgia Section.

D-STAR SUPPORT FOR THE 2010 SETATTACHMENT 5

An extensive D-STAR network has been constructed and continues to grow throughout Alabama, Georgia and North Florida covering major cities and substantial portions of the areas designated during this drill. D-STAR allows flexible linking of two or more repeaters

through reflectors which serve as conference bridges for the linked repeaters. Utilizing these capabilities, the Southeast D-STAR Weather Net has been in operation for almost two years practicing net operations weekly over a regional linked repeater network on Reflector 002A.

D-STAR radios have been installed at each of the State Operations Centers in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. It is suggested that local D-STAR repeaters participate in the SET by connecting to Reflector 002A. This will allow rapid relay of traffic from local areas to their respective SOC. In addition, interstate traffic and communications between SOCs can be conducted on this net.

If there is substantial traffic within the states, a Reflector has been designated by each state and local D-STAR repeaters should

link to the appropriate Reflector.

1. Alabama Reflector 002B

2. Florida Reflector 034A

3. Georgia Reflector 030B

Each state may designate a liaison station to relay traffic to and from their respective state net operating on D-STAR or any other mode to the regional D-STAR net and their SOC via Reflector 002A.

In the absence of a state net, local D-STAR repeaters should link to the regional net on Rflector 002A.

For more information and practice on the Southeast D-STAR Weather Net, connect your local repeater, DV Dongle or DV Access Point (DVAP) to Reflector 002A each Sunday evening at 9:00pm Eastern, 8:00pm Central time.

NORTH FLORIDA (NFL) NET TIMES AND FREQUENCIES

ATTACHMENT 6 

Northern Florida AREC Net 0900 ET       3950 KHZ       ALT 7242 KHZ Northern Florida Phone Net 1930 ET       3950 KHZ       ALT 7242 KHZ The Northern Florida plan calls for those two nets to combine during an emergency and run 24/7. When combined, they are the Northern Florida Emergency Net. All Florida CW Net (QFN) 1900 ET        3547 KHZ       ALT 7105 KHZ

&All Florida CW Net (QFN) 2200 ET        3547 KHZ       ALT 7105 KHZ

ALABAMA NET TIMES AND FREQUENCIES

ATTACHMNET 7 

Alabama Day Net (ADN) 3.965 1000 Daily 

Alabama Traffic Net Mike (ATNM)     3.965 1830 Daily 

Alabama Traffic Net Mike (ATNM)     3.965 0800 Sunday

Alabama D-STAR NetAlabama Repeater Link System, D-STAR 2030 Sunday

Alabama Section CW Net (ASN) 3.575 1900 Daily 

Comments, Discussions, and Game Plan.