=================                                            
The ARES E-Letter
December 21, 2005
=================                                          

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

===================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>;
===================================

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DOUBLE ISSUE!

+ Holiday Message from the Alabama Section Manager

During our nation's unprecedented hurricane relief efforts, Amateur
Radio and the ARRL stepped up and delivered a vital public service.
For 37 days, more than 200 radio amateurs from 35 states and Canada
deployed to the field through the American Red Cross processing
center in Montgomery, Alabama.  

The storm surge damaged infrastructure, left people homeless, and
knocked out power, sealing off communications. But as Katrina
subsided, another massive surge took its place: the immense and
sustained recovery activity of the Amateur Radio community to assist
impacted people and relief agencies. 

Amateurs of all kinds voluntarily deployed to Mississippi counties,
communities and towns to set up stations at kitchens, shelters and
operations centers.  They provided critical communications, passing
hundreds of messages in and around the devastated region. Amateurs
selflessly served in many capacities, working long hours, living in
terrible conditions, contending with heat, bugs, ants, and worse.

The Montgomery operation supplied amateurs to The Salvation Army,
American Red Cross, church and religious organizations, emergency
management agencies and emergency operations centers.  

My experiences affirmed that radio amateurs are much more than
hobbyists. They created interoperable emergency communication systems
where there were none and saved lives as a result.  Moreover, they
brought the love of a hobby, and a variety of communications,
contesting, training, and public service skills. Most of all, they
applied the amateur "can do" spirit. 

It was a pleasure meeting hundreds of these amateurs. My appreciation
and admiration extends to all Amateur Radio operators who served in
this massive effort. --73, Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Alabama Section
Manager

+ The View from Flagler County

Our little county is purchasing a new $10 million 800 MHz trunking
system for dispatching emergency personnel and maintaining
communication with the state EOC in the event of a major disaster. I
saw the news item, and immediately thought of the report we published
in this newsletter a few months ago: "The 800 MHz and other trunked
systems commonly used by local and state agencies were the first to
go in the hard hit areas of Katrina. In many cases, we found police
and fire units dispatching from a car or HT. Even after two weeks, we
still had radio amateurs handling all of the EOC and public safety
communications in a number of counties and parishes on the coast."

It occurred to me that Flagler's new system may offer county ARES
operators continued job security.
_________________

A few e-mailers expressed concern over the absence of critical
analysis of the Katrina response in ARRL pubs. They felt that QST and
this newsletter "whitewashed" the problem areas, and presented only
the most glowing accounts of the Amateur Radio response.

The problem with publishing the "analysis" I saw was that it was
destructive: it pinned problems on specific officials, agencies and
radio amateurs who, in the critic's eyes, had failed. It was not
offered in a positive way, and the only outcome of its publication
would be the undermining of important relationships. 

The function of QST and this newsletter should be to recognize
positive aspects and address problem areas constructively to promote
morale of our ARES volunteers and foster relationships with served
agencies. 

The best forum for a lot of the criticism I heard is behind closed
doors with the specific individuals and agencies involved. A perfect
example of that is the meeting held at the state EOC in Tallahassee
recently (see report in this issue). It's in such a forum that
specific successes and failures can be assessed and changes planned
without risking the destruction of individuals' and organizational
pride and morale, key components of motivation for all of us as human
beings.

In this issue, you will find opinions of the Katrina response,
offered in a way that protects the integrity of the individuals and
agencies involved. - K1CE
========================
In This Issue:

+ Holiday Message from the Alabama Section Manager
+ The View from Flagler County
+ Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN Activates for Major
Nor'easter 
+ Northern Florida Reviews Hurricane Season Lessons
+ West Central Florida Section Meets To Promote Interoperability
+ Additional "Ham Aid" Reimbursements Available for Hurricane
Volunteers 
+ Katrina, Rita, and Wilma Photos Still Needed for Coffee Table ARES
Book
+ Wilderness Protocol
+ Radio Amateur Wins Grant for Hospital and EMA Amateur Equipment
+ Opinions: Local ECs Should Trump Outside Officials
+ Feedback on "Break Tags"
+ Signs
+ Responses to Call for Input on ARRL's ARES Web page
+ WINLINK Page Added to ARRL Web site
+ Briefs: Emergency Communication Drills and Events
+ New Books for Emergency Communicators
+ K1CE for a  Final 
========================
+ Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN Activates for Major
Nor'easter

December 9, 2005--Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN activated as
a nor'easter rapidly intensified, causing heavier snowfall and
blizzard conditions in Eastern Massachusetts and hurricane force
winds on Cape Cod. Cape Cod ARES provided support for Red Cross
shelters at the request of the Cape Cod Red Cross chapter. Portions
of Eastern Massachusetts had snowfall rates in the 5-7" per hour
range, resulting in up to 17" of snow in hardest hit areas. 

ARES SEC and SKYWARN coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY activated the
Taunton National Weather Service SKYWARN operation. Reports from Cape
Cod ARES-SKYWARN had numerous trees, power lines, power and telephone
poles blown down. Damage to homes was also reported along with
coastal flooding. Measured wind gusts reported by SKYWARN spotters on
Cape Cod were as high as 96 MPH in Eastham, Massachusetts before the
wind instrument was struck by a falling tree. At the peak of the
storm, 150,000 people were without power. 

A dozen repeaters across Eastern Massachusetts were used in the
operation including EchoLink and IRLP linked machines and stations in
the New England Network.

Cape Cod ARES was active with Red Cross assuring communication paths
between the Cape Cod Red Cross Chapter Headquarters in Hyannis and
shelters established throughout the Cape. Amateurs handled requests
for the shelters including cots, blankets and food. 

The quick hitting nature of the storm tested the ability of Eastern
Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN to react quickly. The organizations
came through by providing timely severe weather reporting to NWS
Taunton for the protection of life and property and support for Cape
Cod Red Cross in shelter operations.

+ Northern Florida Reviews Hurricane Season Lessons

Tallahassee, Florida, December 5, 2005-Florida's state EOC was the
setting for a meeting called by Northern Florida Section Manager Rudy
Hubbard, WA4PUP, of senior ARRL section officials to discuss this
year's hurricane season and cull lessons learned. Many experiences
were new in the environment of the unprecedented catastrophe. The
goal of the meeting was to learn from these experiences and improve
operations for the future.

Also unprecedented was the cooperation of Northern Florida ARES
officials in working with their counterparts in the Alabama and
Mississippi Sections in support of the Katrina response. Affected
ARRL Section officials had participated in a daily telephone
conference conducted by Steve Ewald, WV1X, of the HQ staff. Hubbard
reported that this call served as an outstanding platform for
coordination.

One of the goals of the Florida EOC officials is to work with the
amateur community through a single point of contact for efficiency,
posing a challenge to the three ARRL Sections in the state. The
concept of using the State Government Liaison (SGL) position for this
purpose was floated, as the SGL worked with the three SECs during
Hurricane Wilma. The concept still needs refinement and approval.  

The conferees concluded that the "tracker system" (discussed in the
last issue) worked well. There is room for improvement, however: The
Northern Florida SEC Joe Bushel, W2DWR, was tasked with developing a
database of volunteers for selection and deployment. The process will
involve education of each volunteer on expectations and reporting for
duty. The process will also involve placing registered volunteers
under the state's liability and workman's compensation insurance
policies. 

In other issues, DECs and ECs were encouraged to take National
Incident Management System (NIMS) emergency courses. [Developed by
the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the request
of the President, NIMS integrates practices in emergency preparedness
and response into a comprehensive national framework for Incident
Command System (ICS) management]. SECs are to follow up on this item.

The conferees concluded that the focus of disaster response should
remain with the local EC. The choice of modes to be employed,
including digital modes, is left to the EC's discretion and based
partly on concerns that recruited outside volunteers may not be
familiar with local practices. 

Florida's HF "Gateway System" is still available when needed,
conducted by Capital District ARES officials to the rest of the state
for providing a conduit for HF communications into the state EOC
during drills and disasters. This has been a longstanding component
of the state's ARES capabilities.

A consensus was reached that all formal traffic messages should be
sent in plain language as standard operating procedure. Another
conclusion was that the EC, in order to be viable, must have a good
working relationship with his/her local Emergency Manager. Each DEC
and EC were also mandated to prepare district and local emergency
plans and submit them to the SM and SEC for review. 

The meeting boasted excellent attendance of the section's ARES
leadership as well as many staff members of the state EOC. 

+ West Central Florida Section Meets To Promote Interoperability

Sarasota County, Florida, December 17, 2005--The ARRL West Central
Florida Section Fourth Quarter ARES Emergency Coordinators meeting
was held at the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
All ARES ECs, AECs, and OESs were encouraged to attend. [We plan to
have a complete meeting report in the next issue - ed.]

The WCF Section leadership began a policy this year of holding
rotating quarterly ARES EC meetings at the EOCs of the ten counties
in the section. The objective is to promote interoperability among
the ARES programs in the individual counties and closer ties with
their respective emergency management agencies.

Previous meetings this year have been held at the Pinellas County
EOC, the Desoto County EOC, and the Polk County EOC. The rotation
will continue next year and Hillsborough County ARES/RACES will be
hosting an ARES EC meeting at the county EOC.  -- Gary Sessums,
KC5QCN, RACES Officer/ARES Emergency Coordinator, Hillsborough
County, Florida

+ Additional "Ham Aid" Reimbursements Available for Hurricane
Volunteers

Newington, Connecticut, December 15, 2005--Limited "Ham Aid"
reimbursement funds remain available to help cover out-of-pocket
expenses both for prior and new applicants who provided emergency
communication support in communities devastated by hurricanes
Katrina, Rita and Wilma. 

The Ham Aid funding is due to expire at year's end, and ARRL Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, urges all eligible volunteers
to request a reimbursement as soon as possible. "If you haven't
applied at all previously or even if you've already applied for and
received the maximum $100 reimbursement," Hobart said, "we urge you
to take advantage of the generosity of the Corporation for National
and Community Service (CNCS), which is providing these Ham Aid
funds."

She notes that anyone filing an initial or additional application for
the maximum $25 per day reimbursement still needs to follow the
procedure found on the ARRL Web site. Reimbursement checks will go
out as soon as possible.

Hobart acknowledges that accepting a Ham Aid reimbursement is a
personal decision. Even so, she encourages those who served in the
wake of the three storms to put in for the reimbursement anyway--if
for no other reason than to honor those who have volunteered before
them throughout the history of Amateur Radio.

"These volunteers should consider applying and then donate the
reimbursement to their club or to another emergency
communication-related project," she said. "I'd like to see this money
support ARES and our emergency response capabilities in the field."
Hobart called the CNCS grant "a tangible expression of the value that
the federal government puts on Amateur Radio as an emergency
communication asset."

In addition, Hobart says, CNCS grant funds are still available to
help replace Amateur Radio communication infrastructure damaged or
destroyed by the three devastating storms earlier this year. "We have
seven grant requests totaling approximately $20,000 so far to replace
backbone equipment from the Gulf Coast to Florida," she said. "We'd
like to have all applications by the end of the year."

CNCS has provided the League with $170,000 in grants to support Ham
Aid. Hobart says there's still adequate funding to support the
hundreds of hams who traveled to the US Gulf Coast. The program will
cover per-diem reimbursements incurred between September 1 and
December 31, 2005.

The CNCS grant is an extension of the ARRL's three-year Homeland
Security training grant, which has provided certification in
emergency communication protocols to nearly 5500 Amateur Radio
volunteers over the past three years. 

+ Katrina, Rita, and Wilma Photos Still Needed for Coffee Table ARES
Book

Some good photos have come in, but we're still looking for more--many
more. The ARRL may commission a coffee-table book of color
photographs of radio amateurs performing communication duty during
this year's wild hurricane season. 

*You or your group could be featured in this book!*

We are looking for good quality, good resolution photos of amateurs
in action against these storms. Note: Please avoid sending the usual
"grip and grin" photos of the subject holding a hand-held up in the
air and grinning from ear to ear. We're seeking photos of amateurs
working their radios in the harsh conditions of these storms and
their aftermath. Photos showing the emotional and physical strain of
the rugged radio amateurs are best; they tell the story. You get the
idea.

Send your high quality photos of ARES action during Hurricanes
Katrina, Rita, and Wilma to the editor, either by e-mail
<k1ce@arrl.net>; or to: 

ARES Coffee Table Book
Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor
31 Burning Ember Lane
Palm Coast, FL 32137

+ Wilderness Protocol

Recently, I found a book by fellow Floridian Reid Tillery, KG4YFE. 
An avid hiker and camper, he has a section in his book about radio
use for those traveling in wild areas.  Part of it covered the
"Wilderness Protocol for Amateur Radio."

In February 1994 QST, William Alsup, N6XMW, put forth this idea: a
set of VHF and UHF frequencies and a basic schedule for monitoring
the frequencies for contact from Amateur Radio operators in
wilderness areas.

The primary frequency band proposed was two-meters with secondary
frequencies on six-meters, 1.25-meters, 70-centimeters, and
23-centimeters. I expect by no coincidence, the simplex frequencies
N6XMW suggested are also the National Simplex Calling frequencies or
the Primary Simplex frequency for the bands in his proposal. The
frequencies for the Wilderness Protocol are 52.525 MHz, 146.520 MHz,
223.500 MHz, 446.000 MHz and, 1294.500 MHz.

The proposed schedule for monitoring the frequencies is every three
hours on the hour starting at 7 AM local time until 7 PM local time.
For those radio amateurs with more time or a scanner, monitoring more
often is encouraged. The basic schedule gives someone who is out of
cellular service range and not able to contact a repeater a specific
time when someone should be listening to get word to the proper
authorities in the event of an emergency situation.

The base monitoring time is 5 minutes. I also found suggestions to
start monitoring 5 minutes before the hour every other time so that
minor differences on the clock of monitoring hams and hams in the
woods would not cause them to miss each other.  Making daily contact
with a hiker to know an extended hike is going without incident, or
to pass routine traffic to and from family was another suggested use
for hams with opportunity to monitor the Wilderness Protocol
frequencies regularly.

It occurred to me that having hams following the Wilderness Protocol
can be of use to more than hikers and campers.  Throughout the
country hams are on the road traveling for business and pleasure. 
While cellular phones have become a common belt-looped appliance,
there are many locations where "no signal" is the only message they
will display. Vehicle accidents, mechanical failures, and worse can
happen along any stretch of road.

So whether you are near a national forest, a large wooded park, or on
the outer edge of suburbia, monitoring at least the primary two-meter
frequency of the Amateur Radio Wilderness Protocol may provide needed
assistance to someone in dire straits. I encourage all ARES groups to
include the Wilderness Protocol in their local membership manuals and
to recommend to their membership to monitor the associated
frequencies as regularly as they want their membership to be
monitoring their local ARES repeaters. -- Michael Potaczala, KC4NUS,
Orange County ARES, Florida See also:
<http://www.floridaadventuring.com/>;
<http://www.tcoe.trinity.k12.ca.us/~tcarc/tcproto.html>;
<http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/cumlative_index/wilderness.html>;
ARES Field Resources Manual (Appendix 10, page 87).

+ Radio Amateur Wins Grant for Hospital and EMA Amateur Equipment

Columbus, Georgia, November 17, 2005-More than $28,000 has been
allocated by the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) for
Amateur Radio equipment to be placed in hospitals and emergency
management agencies (EMA) within the MMRS six county, two state area
surrounding Columbus. 

Mary Moore, WX4MM, chairperson of the MMRS Communications Committee,
educated the MMRS organization on the value of Amateur Radio,
documented specific requirements, solicited bids and wrote purchase
orders. Grant funds will provide one VHF/UHF transceiver, power
supply, base antenna, feed line and installation to hospitals and
EMAs in the MMRS region, two suitcase portable VHF/UHF radios with
power supplies, portable masts and antennas to each EMA, and an HF
transceiver for two EMAs. Funding also covers costs of training
materials and licensing for new radio amateurs to be recruited at the
hospitals and EMAs.

Moore served as Information Technology Manager for the West Central
Georgia Health District headquartered in Columbus for 13 years. Her
knowledge and expertise of computers, electronics and communications
led to her appointment to leadership positions on several
multi-organization committees including the Metropolitan Medical
Response System (MMRS) and the Strategic National Stockpile system
(SNS). She led the organization, funding, procurement and
installation of commercial and Amateur Radio equipment at the
Columbus Health Department Emergency Operation Center to support its
expanding role of community support during natural and man-made
disasters.

[Moore is also Vice President of the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL)
and president elect for the 2006-2007 term. During the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, she was instrumental in arranging the air
evacuation of an injured child and her family from a shelter in
southern Louisiana. Moore was Net Manager and NCS of the Alaska
Pacific Net during the late 1970s, which was routinely involved in
communication events from the Iditarod dog sled race to assisting in
mountain rescues, to locating the Governor when he was out of
communication range in the Alaska bush.]

+ Opinions: Local ECs Should Trump Outside Officials

[The following are opinions from two key players in the Katrina
response: Mississippi SM Malcolm Keown, W5XX, and Jim Leist, KB5W -
ed.]

In the wake of the Katrina response, the ARRL should clarify the
Statement of Understanding (SOU) it has with the American Red Cross
to ensure that necessary communication support is obtained and
coordinated with the local ARES EC in the affected area. 

Volunteer radio amateurs who accompany visiting Red Cross workers
should be prepared to work under the direction of the local EC. He or
she is most familiar with the location, availability and capabilities
of assets in the area. The local EC knows the area's geography
better. The local EC has trained communicators who know how to
function in a controlled net environment. The local EC has the "big
picture" that can be of great assistance to any agency requiring
support. It follows that when additional radio equipment is to be
sent in to the disaster area, it should be coordinated through the
local EC who is best able to match it with specific needs. 

ARES assets should not be summarily surrendered to the supported
agencies. I believe we all need to take a hard look at how the Red
Cross can be supported in the future. -- Jim Leist, KB5W, Chairman,
Central Area Staff, National Traffic System
_______________

[Leist's opinions evoked the following response from Mississippi
Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX - ed.]

I support the recommendation with the proviso that the EC coordinates
his/her efforts with his/her emergency management agency (EMA)
director. The local Red Cross Chapters and Service Centers answer
directly to National Headquarters. When there is a regional incident
and National Red Cross assets are deployed, local Red Cross personnel
are absorbed. Some Red Cross officials and incoming hams thought ARES
would also be subjects of the Red Cross. This is not the intent of
the ARRL/Red Cross SOU.  In the "Purpose" section of the document the
word "coordinate" is used-- not "commandeer."

In most Mississippi counties the Board of Supervisors pays an
individual to serve as the county EMA Director.  In cooperation with
the state emergency management agency (MEMA), the county Director
coordinates emergency operations in his/her county.  When
communication support is needed, the Director will ideally contact
the ARES/RACES EC with his/her requirements. The EC will then gather
his/her resources and meet the requirements to the best of his/her
ability.

The Director should know the location and purpose of each relief
organization operating in the jurisdiction, and have a roster of
supporting volunteers.  When an organization enters a county, the
leader should immediately inform the Director. The Director should
then receive regular reports to help him assess needs and to identify
problems. Such reporting did not always happen during Katrina. The
result was confusion and inefficiency.

Mississippi certainly needed assistance during Katrina, but the Red
Cross, Salvation Army, the Baptist Men's Kitchen, among others,
should have coordinated their plans better with MEMA so that their
resources could have been more efficiently employed. MEMA, in turn,
should have better coordinated this information with the county EMAs.
Disaster relief elements suddenly appeared in the county without
prior coordination.

The ARRL cannot tell MEMA how to do its job, but it can make the
volunteer relief organizations aware that ARES assets are not
available to them unless proper coordination has been effected.

Another problem cropped up with some operators coming in with
ballooning egos and a lack of prior emergency operations training.
ARRL HQ should host a database of qualified volunteers credentialed
through recommendations by SMs and SECs and who have completed at
least the ARRL ECC-001 emergency communication training course. 

The ARRL needs to consider its own national emergency response plan
in the wake of Katrina to deal with regional disaster areas that
transcend section boundaries. - Malcolm Keown, W5XX

+ Feedback on "Break Tags"

The use of "Break Tags" [see last issue] has met with resistance in
Colorado because some ECs believe it is just one more thing that
operators will need to be schooled in. I disagree that a small amount
of additional training is a problem.

I also suggest using break tags when a station initiates an exchange
with the net. For example: "Aid3, Info" would tell NCS that the
station at Aid3 had a call with information that multiple stations
will find informative, yet can be held for a short time if there is
more pressing traffic. Or "Aid3, priority" would indicate priority
traffic from Aid3. A third example is "Aid3, traffic for Truck1."
This clearly indicates what the calling station needs, in one short
statement. This process also gently encourages the stations on a net
to make sure they have all necessary information for a given call
before they key the microphone and have that information organized.

I fully support the use of these "tags" as they are worthwhile. I
hope that with the League behind such an effort we can get more
people to accept the concept. - Pat Lambert, W0IPL, Colorado ARES
Training Manager

+ Signs

To support and publicize our activities, I would like to see ARRL
make available 3' x 5' vinyl signs with the "When All Else Fails" and
ARES logos along with a simple message such as "Amateur Radio
Emergency Communication Services." Signs cost about $100 (one color)
but could be made less expensive through mass production by the ARRL.
I would expect served agencies to buy them if their agency names
could be appended. 
 
When we operate public service events, served agency open houses or
field day activities, the media that show up use these signs as
background. I was the operator assigned to work with the National
Guard for the two days of a recent event and rode in the back of
their Humvee providing communications. It would have been great to
have had an ARES sign to display. -- John Core, KX7YT, Washington
County ARES, Oregon 
 
+ Responses to Call for Input on ARRL's ARES Web page

[Thoughtful, stimulating feedback came in from our call in the last
issue for input to ARRL's ARES Web page.- ed.]

Since shortly after 9/11, when I unsuccessfully tried to volunteer
for duty in Manhattan, I have been lobbying the ARRL to take a
national leadership role in ARES.  One of the most simple, effective,
and beneficial projects they could undertake would be to develop and
host a national database of ARES member registration including
contact information, skills, capabilities, training, equipment, and
readiness--or at least names and call signs! The purpose would be to
prevent the chaos after the WTC collapse or the Katrina-related
flooding, for two examples. It is evident that local ARES units are
not frequently overwhelmed, but when they are, there must be a
national support mechanism in place.  

I am an experienced and qualified project manager and consultant who
specializes in such projects.  I would be happy to volunteer my
services part-time to lead such an effort.  Honestly, if there is
time and inclination for the  "Logbook of the World," there must be
equal consideration given to a life-or-death proposition such as
this. There should also be national oversight of credentialing and
organizational integrity. -- Joe Ames, Jr., W3JY, OES/AEC ARES/RACES,
Delaware County, Pennsylvania <www.delcoares.org>
_____________

Put a big, red click-through at the top of the ARRL home page that
reads "ARES - Emergency Communications." The ARES page could then be
organized to route viewers to pages about ongoing operations,
resources for ARES members, resources for field volunteers, signing
up for ARES, general ARES information, and MOUs and working with
local governments. -- Ward Silver, N0AX
_____________

The biggest issue on my horizon is the integration of NIMS/ICS with
ARES. There is no mention of NIMS/ICS in the ARRL ARES online
documentation. As an ARES/RACES group, we are already employing
NIMS/ICS forms, training, and terminology. The DHS Resource Typing
designator for Amateur Radio is ARCT (Amateur Radio Communication
Team).  I would like to see immediate activity from ARRL on updating
ARES with NIMS/ICS. -- Dennis Wells Sr., K1DRW, AEC, Chester County,
Pennsylvania ARES/RACES
_____________

Put an ARES Organizational Chart on the ARRL Web site. - Doug
Johnson, KD4SQ, Miami, Florida

+ WINLINK Page Added to ARRL Web site

ARRL Web site offers Winlink 2000 page: The ARRL now has a Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/winlink.html> devoted to Winlink 2000
<http://www.winlink.org/>, the software and hardware system that links
Amateur Radio to the Internet and allows sending and receiving e-mail
messages via Amateur Radio. The League's new Winlink 2000 resource
page contains general information about Winlink 2000, including
articles, reprints, links and other useful information. A worldwide
radio digital messaging system, Winlink 2000 also offers position
reporting, weather bulletins and graphics, and emergency
communication capabilities. It's already being used extensively by
radio amateurs in the sailing and cruising communities as well as by
recreational vehicle travelers, missionaries, scientists and
explorers. The ARRL Board of Directors in 2004 encouraged the
deployment within the ARES of e-mail via Amateur Radio "as
exemplified by Winlink 2000" to meet the needs of served agencies and
others involved in providing disaster communications. Amateur Radio
volunteers responding to help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina used
Winlink 2000 with great success.

+ Briefs: Emergency Communication Drills and Events

Towns County, Georgia--Workers continue construction of an Amateur
Radio communications emergency system with the erection of a
two-meter beam at Fire Station # 5 in the east end of the county.
This activity resulted in a total of three operational fixed stations
with two-meter capability spread throughout the county. Next, an
antenna will be installed at the hospital, and both a mobile truck
and emergency communications kit will be prepared.  

Red Cross volunteers have responded to the new system. Monthly drills
(nets) will be held with radio amateurs assigned to either a Red
Cross shelter or a fixed station. The Red Cross is also sponsoring a
class (with the local EC as instructor) to prepare members to obtain
their Technician license. -- Alton Higgins, W4VFZ, Towns County EC
for Red Cross, RACES and ARES <manmtn@brmemc.net>; 
_____________

Madison County, Illinois, November 19, 2005--ARES participated in a
combined airport/hospital/fire protection disaster drill. The
scenario was the crash of a light aircraft into a hanger/warehouse
with scattering of hazardous material and injuries. Agencies
involved: Civic Memorial Regional Airport, Bethalto Fire Protection
District, Bethalto Police Department, Madison County Haz-Mat Team,
St. Anthony Hospital, Alton Memorial Hospital, Alton EMS, Madison
County EMA, Alton Volunteer Emergency Corp, and Madison County ARES.
Mock victims were transported to the hospitals after being triaged on
site by EMS personnel. ARES operators informed the hospitals'
Emergency Rooms of incoming victims. ARES also provided
communications for airport officials and Fire, Police and EMS crews
at the airport. The local ARES has participated in a number of drills
involving Civic Memorial Airport over the past years. ARES is an
integrated part of many community disaster plans. -- Harold Mathis,
KD9SG
________________

Reynolds county, Missouri, December 14, 2005-- When water breached
the wall of a mountaintop hydroelectric reservoir in this rural
county, an ARES emergency net was quickly established on the Van
Buren repeater. The deluge washed down the mountainside, sweeping
away homes and vehicles and flooding the valley below. A dwelling
occupied by a park superintendent, his wife and three children was
among those washed away. The family was found a half-mile away.
Lesterville was under a voluntary evacuation order. ARRL District G
Emergency Coordinator Dave Hannigan, KN0D, said stations checked into
the net from Poplar Bluff, Piedmont, Eminence, Elsinore, Van Buren,
Redford and Koshkonong. The net also heard from mobile stations near
Leper, Piedmont, Van Buren and Ironton. "KC0SEH checked in from radio
station FM 91.3 in Van Buren and KC0SWU from radio 106.7 in
Ellington," Hannigan said. HF and VHF stations activated at emergency
operations centers in Shannon and Carter counties. "I was contacted
by the Shannon County sheriffs dispatcher through the NPS [National
Park Service] dispatch," Hannigan said. "The various net controllers
kept me updated. No emergency traffic was passed but it was a good
exercise, and I was really proud of the rapid wide-area VHF radio
coverage." In all, 16 stations responded to the emergency call
up.--Missouri SM Don Moore, KM0R

+ New Books for Emergency Communicators

My new book "Two-Way Radios and Scanners for Dummies" is getting good
reviews by the emcomm community. The book deals with common civilian
radio services, how to set up and use scanners, and has a technical
section on installation, and batteries. Yes, there's a chapter on
Amateur Radio. The book is available from the ARRL bookstore -
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/> or call toll-free 888-277-5289 -- Ward
Silver, N0AX
___________________

When all else fails, how will you power your communication equipment?
The ARRL's new Emergency Power for Radio Communications by Michael
Bryce, WB8VGE, can provide the answer, with information on emergency
or back-up power, energy independence, portable power and more.
Emergency Power for Radio Communications explores the various means
of electric power generation and shows you how to plan ahead to stay
on the air when weather or other circumstances knock out conventional
power--short-term or longer. It also examines how to go "off the
grid" by employing alternative power-generation methods such as
solar, wind and water power. There's a selection of emergency power
projects and information from the pages of QST too. Emergency Power
for Radio Communications is $19.95 plus shipping and handling. Order
from the ARRL on-line catalog
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=&words=Emergency+9531> or call
toll-free 888-277-5289.

+ K1CE for a  Final

Remember, served agencies are the platform for our public service.
Without them, there is no basis for ARES. Don't diss them, especially
in public forums. Are they perfect? No. Are we perfect? No. Work with
them to overcome problem areas in a positive, constructive manner in
a way that preserves their organizational pride, and ours, too.

And finally, Happy Holidays from the entire family of staff employees
here at the ARES E-Letter Editorial Headquarters Palm Plaza Office
Complex in sunny Palm Coast, Florida! See you next year! - 73, Rick,
K1CE, AEC, Flagler County ARES