Eastern Massachusetts ARES 2004-2006 Recap Emergency Communications Workshop Mar 29, 2003 Eastern Massachusetts ARES 2004-2006 Recap Rob Macedo, KD1CY Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership. August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

ARES Exists in almost every state, but is not a national organization Is a component program of most ARRL Sections Most states contain one section, but more populous states contain two or more Examples: NY, NJ, PA, CA, FL, and MA Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) heads the ARES program in each Section August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

ARES (cont’d) Organization Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Heads ARES program in section On SM staff District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) Leads ARES activities in large area, usually county or similar regional designation On SEC staff Emergency Coordinator (EC) Heads ARES program in local area Can represent town, city, or even county Official Emergency Station (OES) Designated by ARES leadership Meets certain eligibility and training requirements ARES member August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

ARES Recap August 2004-Present Added a new ARES District Emergency Coordinator to Cover the North Shore Eric Horwitz-KA1NCF North Shore ARES has rapidly risen to one of our more organized ARES groups in Eastern Massachusetts. Were instrumental in facilitating numerous significant SKYWARN Activations in their region including the May Floods of 2006. North Shore ARES also had an ARES mobilization that spanned 3 days, 2 of which were weekdays during the May Floods of 2006. Eric has already found a strong Emergency Coordinator who acts as his second-in-command and backup, Jim Palmer-KB1KQW. A model for building a strong group in a short period of time and leveraged their heavy experience in Public Service Events for the benefit of ARES and SKYWARN. August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

ARES Mobilizations December 26th-27th Major Snowstorm On Cape Cod ARES mobilized to Red Cross Hyannis and shelters for several days due to Heavy Wet Snow and Winds causing significant tree and power line damage and power outages for 2+ days. Hams mobilized to cover shelter operations and the Red Cross Hyannis HQ. Blizzard of January 2005 ARES Mobilization Entire section went to ARES stand-by status. Cape Cod ARES was mobilized for 2-3 days due to the amount of snow and infrastructure damage caused by the snow and hurricane force wind gusts. December 2005 “Severe Thunderstorm” with Heavy Snow ARES Mobilization Cape Cod ARES mobilized due to rapidly deepening storm that caused hurricane force wind gusts that downed many trees and power lines and resulted in power outages and shelter operations for roughly a 36 hour period. August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

ARES Mobilizations Cont’d North Shore ARES Mobilization for the May Floods of 2006 Largest ARES Mobilization for an actual disaster in over 10 years. 15-20 Amateurs mobilized for Red Cross operations for disaster damage assessment and the distribution of care and relief kits in the North Shore of Massachusetts ARES mobilization lasted 3 days and SKYWARN mobilization lasted 3 days formally and an additional 2 days in self-activation mode. 15-20 different Amateurs utilized for RACES Operations at MEMA Region 1 and the State EOC with many of those Amateurs also having membership in ARES. MARS supported write-up of EEI’s during the Floods of 2006. Over 100 Amateurs total participated in the ARES-RACES-SKYWARN activation across the Eastern Massachusetts for the May Floods of 2006 labeled the worst in the region in 70 years! August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

Exercises Eastern Massachusetts runs 3 exercises per year with the following exercises conducted from August 2004-August 2006 Department of Homeland Security Operation Atlas—Boston Logan Airport Drill (June 2005) Deployments for this exercise to Logan Airport and the Boston and Waltham Red Cross chapters Net Control Center setup at the town of Bridgewater EOC which serves as the Eastern Massachusetts ARES ICP (Incident Command Post). MEMA ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Statewide Annual Hurricane Exercises (June 2005 and June 2006) Practices Communications statewide and is an exercise done yearly by the MEMA RACES Program. Has had participation from Amateurs at the National Hurricane Center-WX4NHC station using VoIP and utilized WinLink at various locations in 2006. ARES limited ARES SET Drill for Major Storm Causing Widespread Power Outages (October 2004) Operation Home Station Support Exercises for Power Outage and Mock “Infectious Disease” Scenarios (October 2005 and February 2006) August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

Training and Workshops Have done several Basic Emergency Communication Workshop sessions while encouraging members to take ARECC. Home-grown Basic Emergency Communications Workshop provides hands-on training and information on what is expected locally and in the Eastern Massachusetts section while ARECC provides national background and certification. Have created an Advanced Emergency Communications Workshop on Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Digital modes, Advanced NTS and Go Kits Still a work in progress with improvements needed to the digital modes presentation Have done the workshop classes either in one full day apiece for the Basic and advanced workshop or over 6 weeks of weeknight sessions lasting 2-2.5 hours per segment. August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Online Database Through the fantastic effort of Phil McNamara-N1XTB, Eastern Massachusetts has an ARES Online Database that was created over the past 9 months and rolled out to ARES personnel in late April 2006. Has the following features: Online Registration Form. Online Database for leadership access Gives the ARES member a username and password to keep their information current versus having the leadership keep the data current. Gives our ARES leadership a detailed profile on our people with all information required for any ARES mobilization or exercise. How current the data is kept by the member allows us to gauge the individual’s commitment to the ARES program. Can run queries to see what people have had what forms of training and run queries based on town/city, county, etc. to identify areas that have people versus areas that do not have personnel. Has propelled Eastern Massachusetts ARES into the 21st Century!! August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

Eastern Massachusetts ARES ICP (Incident Command Post) Through the efforts of Carl Aveni-N1FY, Assistant Section Manager Chief of Staff and South Shore ARES DEC, Eastern Massachusetts ARES has a Communications and Net Control Center at the Bridgewater EOC providing the following capabilities: Access to 5 VHF/UHF radios Access to HF, Packet and EchoLink Capability Is near the middle of the Eastern Massachusetts section allowing for command and control across much of the section and access to almost any repeater in the Eastern Massachusetts section and beyond. Has been utilized in exercises such as the Operation Atlas-Boston Logan Airport Drill and exercises conducted at the section level. Has been used in ARES mobilizations for the Blizzard of 2005 and the Floods of 2006. Was first utilized as a Net Control Center for the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. Location where most Eastern Massachusetts ARES Staff Meetings and other assorted meetings can be held. All work done with the cooperation of Herb Lemon-KC1ZW, town of Bridgewater Emergency Management Director and head of the Board of Selectmen. August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum

EMA ARES Organization SM W1MPN STATE RACES N1CPE WMA SEC N2YHK SEC/SKYWARN KD1CY South Shore DEC N1FY Pub. Safety DEC KB1EKN Field Ops DEC N1VSJ R1 RACES KA8SCP R2 RACES WA1OEZ Field Ops DEC W3EVE Boston DEC K1BTH NS DEC KA1NCF Midlsex DEC N1BDA CC/ISL DEC WQ1O August 26th, 2006 Boxboro ARES SEC Forum