Simulated Emergency Test 2006 after action report
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HAM PARTICIPATING
- WB9USI
- KC9EOW †
- N9TRI
- N9RGX
- KA9QMM
- K9RI
- K9EC
- KA9KJE
- KC9IPZ †
- KC9ILZ †
† licensed before 2002
Contents |
Agencies
- Racine Emergency Management
- Volunteer Center of Racine
- Red Cross
- Salvation Army
- Kenosha Emergency Management
- Kenosha Hospital
- Western Racine Health Department
- Mount Pleasant Health Department
- City of Racine Police
- Racine County Sheriff
- Sturtevant Police Dept
- Racine Fire Belles
- Caledonia Heath Department
- Sturtevant Fire Department
- City of Racine Police
Localities involved with co-ordination
- Sturtevant
- City of Kenosha
- City of Racine
- City of Burlington
- Town of Burlington
- Caledonia
- Mount Pleasant
- Pleasant Prairie
- Wind Point
- Village of Elmwood Park
Summary
A special thanks to those hams that participated.
We ran a good tactical net, for again 3 hours.
We communicated on VHF/ UHF/ HF/ Repeaters, Simplex, Digital (Winlink).
We ran multiple local scenarios, my log showed 4, some I even didn't know about!
2 EOC, 2 health dept, 1 hospital, Volunteer Center, 3 remote volunteer locations, 3 liaisons: digital, HF, and District. 2 EM, 2 ECs. Sent messages multiple counties, and at state level.
I think this exercises shows the capability ham radio does bring to the table, and how we can help as the glue.
Simulated, killing a repeater.
Proved activation plans, cannot just have a calling tree.
After about a half a hour people got comfortable with the structure, and were coming up with ideas on their own.
I think everyone had fun, and learned things doing it.
This really helped proving all the work, training, and plans we have done over the past year
I also wanted to thank everyone personally effort, with served agencies.
They really made this possible, and realistic.
Also, i would like to hold a debrief net next Wednesday. October 11th 147.27
This is for anyone who listened or participated.
We will announce that on the usual channels, and meetings.
We even simulated internet failure at two Winlink sites. (this happened both due to Murphy's law and computer reboots) one Paclink, which due to RF backups messages still went Through!
It also proved that system is scalable for small and large scopes, utilizing ICS and planned structure.
I look forward to reviewing the after action plans, with agencies, and ARES both. Lots more later. I had a blast. --KB9MMA 21:26, 8 October 2006 (CDT)Jim
COMMENTS SECTION
CONSTRUCTIVE ONES ONLY PLEASE These can be good or needing improvement.
Sections below:
Went well
Winlink for a point in time, only reliable communications link with other counties and state. --KB9MMA 21:36, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
HF- until conditions tanked, we were one of TWO Winlink to hf liaisons. --KB9MMA 21:36, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
This was a very good exercise. We were able to test a variety of modes and frequencies. This was a great departure from last year's test. It was hard to get acknowledged for formal traffic via voice last year. This year the messages were flying through digitally and made for much smoother and more efficient flow. --WB9USI 20:56, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
Needs improvement
NEED non ham loggers for liaisons and NCS --KB9MMA 21:36, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
On the FAX message, I noticed that the fax number and office number for Racine County Emergency Management was transposed. That should be brought to the attention of the issuing agency so they can correct their form. I faxed it out properly only because I happened to know the correct numbers. --WB9USI 20:56, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
I found that my Winlink station was set to check messages every 20 minutes. This should be shortened during an event. What would a reasonable time be that would not interfere with other comunications? Too often would probably clutter up the frequency. --WB9USI 20:56, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
actually you must have been the only one on 20 min NCS announce this on voice to update this. I think an improvement is to add that to the dig net script. (still in development)--KB9MMA 13:43, 9 October 2006 (CDT) packet freq has those standards to keep collisions down, we also have multiple freq on our digitalplan written july 2005 .this has proven time and time again to be a plus --KB9MMA 13:43, 9 October 2006 (CDT)
Equipment
Training
Train non hams with logging and message formats. or hold ham classes for agencies.--KB9MMA 21:36, 8 October 2006 (CDT)
Activation
I need your input / ideas on this one.
I have been going over some of the post mortem, "needs improvement" aspects of our Bio-terrorism activation plans, and also following up with heath organizations. This falls under the short comings of a calling tree.
By the way I drafted a Ham 101 presentation attached, that seemed to work well in meetings.
I see one common theme has been coming up,
We have phone numbers as a primary means of contact.
This is all well and good, but what if the health organizations phone line, cell, and sat phones are down?
This was simulated at one of our health agencies during the SET, and they failed to be able to contact the EM or Sherrif because the phones were down.
Brainstorming with the agencies in a department meeting this morning, we came up with a couple solutions, i think.
The first (possible plan b) being, the organization can optionally choose to have a licensed operator on staff or two. (similar to salvation army).
If Heath organizations have A radio HT or Mobile at their office technically any Ham could relay that message right?
Secondly (possible Plan C), if Emergency Management is aware of a Bio-terrorism event, attempting to contact them to see if they need assistance?
I seriously think this needs to be looked at, and probably augmented in the state and local plans.
The health organizations seemed to think this was a good idea, while not locked in stone. Would try and contact ARES/RACES on our already designated local frequencies.
I think a Simple instructions could be drafted for this, to either: One get a message out to someone who could relay it to EM or sheriff and follow procedure from there. OR two they contact the calling tree members on the radio, being a ham themselves.
Another additional technical solution, one could go as far to have a Paging tone set on a radio over a repeater, or simplex, or priority simplex frequency like 146.520. This would put the radio into paging alert code determined by ARES.
Thoughts?
Categories: Reports | ARES | RCARES
