Emergency Communications

Emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®)

Emergency Communications / RI ARES / Situational Awareness / SKYWARN / Weather

RI Skywarn Training a Success

- by Nancy Austin
Providence Radio Association President David Tessitore, K1DT and fellow W1OP club members attended the final Rhode Island in-person NOAA NWS Skywarn Training offered Tuesday April 30, 2024.

Last Tuesday’s in-person Skywarn Training by NOAA-NWS meteorologist Bryce Williams at Newport’s CCRI was a success. This was the final in-person training in RI planned for 2024, and was attended by about 60 motivated people – including at least a dozen radio amateurs from the Providence Radio Association (PRA), Newport County Radio Club (NCRC), Fidelity Amateur Radio Club, Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC), and RI-ARES leadership.

Please note: “NEW FOR 2024: NWS Boston is no longer issuing individual SKYWARN numbers or requiring re-training every 5 years in order to remain a spotter. While we encourage spotters to retrain periodically, it is not required to continue to provide reports.” https://www.weather.gov/box/skywarn

Huge shout-out to Danny Bright, age 18, who drove 2 hours from Boston to attend.  He is a dedicated lifelong weather spotter and was thrilled to be able to meet NOAA-NWS weather officials and be at this in-person training.  Danny will be attending U Mass Lowell’s respected program in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science next fall. He is not yet a licensed radio amateur, and I encourage clubs in the Boston/Lowell area to reach out.

Future meteorologist Danny Bright (left) drove from Boston to attend this NOAA NWS Skywarn training. The final in-person class was conducted at CCRI Newport on April 30, 2024 by Bryce Williams (shown right). Rhode Island thanks you for your commitment and service.

Bryce Williams presentation was fact-filled, used helpful videos, and was engaging with wide-ranging comments. These included:

  • Lightening is the #2 weather-related killer;  #1 is heat.
  • Radar does not provide truth at the ground level, and about 1/3 of  decisions are made based on ground-truth reporting. Being a weather spotter matters!
  • Like many Millenial meterologists, Bryce Williams was first motivated toward this career path after watching the 1996 movie, Twister. A sequel is due out soon, and they can’t wait!
  • New England is overdue for a major hurricane. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 3 days. KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTE ahead of time.  https://riema.ri.gov/planning-mitigation/evacuation

To learn more about emergency preparedness for you, your family and community, as well as the public service mission of amateur radio, please join RI-ARES. This upcoming Wednesday’s RI-ARES monthy meeting will cover some topics raised here, as well as the new ARES course released by ARRL.

The RI ARES  next Zoom meeting will  be this Wednesday May 8, 2024 from 8-9:45pm and will be run by ARRL RI Section Emergency Coordinator, Jeremy Taylor, K1JST.

We hope to meet you there,  or during an ARES or Skywarn net.

For more information, please join us at RIARES.org https://riares.org/ . Or reach out to Teri DiIorio, W1PUP, ARRL RI Assisant Section Emergency Coordinator.

Active FEMA, Red Cross Shelter, CERT, PEMA, and RI-ARES volunteer leader Teri, W1PUP (left) attended from North Providence. Along with Dan Masterson, KC1KXE from Coventry.

ARES / Emergency Communications / Situational Awareness / SKYWARN

Analog Communication in a Digital World

- by Nancy Austin

Is Ham Radio a Dinosaur technology?

Wonderful presentations from today’s lively Amateur Radio Workshop at the 2024 National Hurricane Conference in Orlando reveal the endless ways ham radio operators provide critical ground truth situational awareness “when all else fails”.

Especially check out the keeper stories by Julio Ripoll, WD4R  in the YouTube video link below.  See especially 1:25-1:33.  (And shout out to the wire antenna!)

Many thanks to the conference organizers and videographer Jim Palmer KB1KQW for providing remote access and a YouTube recording to share widely:

The YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/live/-43X6wVrqwA?si=xK5F6F2I6m1Vu1dQ

2024 National Hurricane Conference Presenters and Moderator:
•    Moderator: Rob Macedo, KD1CY, VoIP Hurricane Net
•    John Cangialosi, Senior Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center
•    Special guest speaker Bob Robichaud, VE1MBR, Canadian Hurricane Center
•    Special guest speaker Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, Director of Emergency Management, ARRL HQ
•    Julio Ripoll, WD4R, WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Station Coordinator
•    Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Manager
•    Joe Bassett, W1WCN, SATERN, Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Radio Network
•    Rick Palm, K1CE, ARRL ARES E-Letter Editor/Public Service Columnist
•    Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations, VoIP Hurricane Net & ARRL ARES Eastern Mass SEC
•    Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, VoIP Hurricane Net (Videographer)

YouTube screenshot 1:26:42

Sign up for RHODE  ISLAND SKYWARN Training  April 30, 2024

Tuesday April 30th, 2024 – 530-730 PM:
CCRI Newport Campus
1 John H Chafee Boulevard
Newport, RI 02840
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdruGus86JIOf5u234ZfFdV3PQgIku-3cd8Ci6ZKG9gvpEmcQ/viewform

SKYWARN Training Schedule 2024

ARES / Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

2024 Boston Marathon Still In Need of Amateur Radio Volunteers – Volunteer Registration Extended Until End of Day Sunday 2/11/24

- by Nancy Austin

Rob Macedo, KD1CY & the BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee write:

The 2024 Boston Marathon is still in need of Amateur Radio Volunteers. Therefore, Amateur Radio volunteer registration for the 2024 Boston Marathon has been extended until end-of-day Sunday 2/11/2024. Register now at register.hamradioboston.org! If you are unsure if you can volunteer but are interested in volunteering, please register now and just let us know within a reasonable amount of time if you ultimately can’t volunteer! Thanks to all for their support!

73,  Rob Macedo, KD1CY and the BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee

Clubs / Emergency Communications / Mentoring

2024 Winter Field Day – RI Club Success

- by Nancy Austin

And Winter Field Day 2024 is a wrap.  Please see this event’s RI Club Photo Album Slider posted at: Clubs > Club News > 2024 Winter Field Day – RI Club Photos.

Many thanks to the RI Amateur Radio Clubs both large and small that gathered new and old operators to mentor and practice field operations –  despite the competition for your time.  At least one Tech made a first QSO. At least two Generals were mentored while making their first HF QSOs. And at least one club held a VE session that resulted in a new General and a new Extra. Congrats to all! A positive start to 2024.

Club News

Clubs / Emergency Communications / Field Day

Winter Field Day at RI Clubs wraps at 2pm

- by Nancy Austin

Another 24-hour Winter Field Day wraps this Sunday afternoon at 2pm. So there is still time to reach out to support our RI Amateur Radio clubs.

  • W1MB, Fidelity Amateur Radio Club  – operating with great camaraderie out of the New England Wireless & Steam Museum Visitors are welcome to this indoor East Greenwich location.
  • W1SYE, Newport County Radio Club – operating until 2pm outoors in Portsmouth at the Glen.  WFD Lead is Dave Neal, W2DAN who welcomes visitors to listen in as he brings the WFD operation into the home stretch.
  • W1DD, Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club participated yesterday with photos to follow.
  • KK1PMA, Providence Emergency Management Agency Races is participating Sunday. For more information, contact WFD Lead Barry Noel, W1BSN
  • W1OP, Providence  Radio Association is participating indoors from their club house in Johnston.
  • W1AQ,  Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England is looking to join in from their club house in Rumford.  For more information, contact Doug N2RDF

Meanwhile, any RI licensed amateur can participate solo from their home station operating as 1-Home-Rhode Island. 

The last ISS-satellite pass during WFD will be shortly at 12:38-12:44pm FYI. I’ll be seeing if I can make a QSO there despite the Atlantic SSW > ENE pass that is not great for me. Maybe hear you then?

You can also use this opportunity to send a Winlink message to the RI Section Emergency Coordinator, Jeremy Taylor at [email protected].

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

RI ARES supported EasternMass SET Regional Exercise

- by Nancy Austin

Jeremy Taylor, RI Section Emergency Coordinator,  built on the RI Section Simulated Emergency Tests (conducted in October 2023) to challenge RI-ARES member Winlink skills in support of the Eastern Massachusetts SET conducted last Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 10-Noon.  He wrote:

“As we gave gotten pretty good at collecting airport weather information and sending it, I have a challenge for those who would like to accept it. … You have several options to report the traffic. Our primary method of reporting will be via WINLINK as that is what we are practicing this month. You can report via WINLINK to EMA SEC Rob Macedo KD1CY and cc RI SEC Jeremy Taylor K1JST. VHF or HF WINLINK are preferred, but telnet is also an option. You may collect

Alternatively, You can attempt to join one of their voice nets…”

RI Section Manager, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, passed her ATIS (airport weather) reports via a 60m voice net. New hams may not realize how easy it is to operate on 60m simply by dialing up from their 80m antenna set-up to 5.3305 USB (Channel 1).

The RI ARES HF net, held on the 3rd Tuesday at 7:30pm, might consider offering a 60m voice net.

 

For more information on RI ARES, please see https://RIARES.org

ARES / Emergency Communications / Public Service

MEMA Bunker Birthday Party

- by Nancy Austin

On November 4, 2023 the nearby Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) opened its underground Bunker to the public to commemorate 60 years since its dedication in 1963, a year after the Cuban Missile nuclear war Crisis. Saturday’s Open House included a pop-up exhibit of Civil Defense artifacts from that time. Informative videos throughout helpfully oriented you to the past and present functionality of the Bunker.

 

Much has changed in 60 years, but the need for reliable communication has not. 

The event was a great opportunity to listen and share ideas about the relevance and value of amateur radio operators and ARES to Served Agencies in 2023 at this time of change. 

Chris Grazioso (KB1UTL) – the Director of UAS Operations, Drone Operations Program, Mass DOT, Aeronautics Division put it this way:  In his 30+ year career as a Public Safety professional, almost every After Action Report cites a concern about a breakdown in communications, someplace in the report.  In his experience, being a ham has helped him be a better trained operator, able to adjust and keep vital communication channels going one way or the other, when others couldn’t. 

(Right) Chris Grazioso, KB1UTL – Director of UAS Operations, Drone Operations Program

The dynamic new Director of MEMA, Dawn Brantley (right) was licensed c.2008 when working in Emergency Management in radio-friendly Alaska. Not currently an active ham, it was a welcome conversation to talk about the ease of getting licensed in 2023 using the online, self-study platform, HamStudy.org. Her security detail, Emily, was definitely interested in learning more.   

The Rhode Island Section looks forward to continued conversations with our New England neighbors. Especially now with Jeremy Taylor, K1JST, our new RI Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) in place and a new team coming together to reshape RI ARES. Let’s share lessons learned. Pitch the message why amateur radio literacy adds value. And put together the training path that will get us from here to there – whether six months,  six years,  or a full 60 years on to 2083.  We start here, today. 

73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK

Rhode Island Section Manager

[email protected]

Emergency Communications / Public Service

Maui Disaster Ham Radio | Updates – courtesy of RI ham KC1NFM

- by Nancy Austin

More updates shared courtesy of Newport County Radio Club member BILL CASSIDY, KC1NFM who served in Hawaii for the Department of the Navy.

Maui Disaster Ham Radio | UpdatesWe continue to track the wildfire disaster in Maui, with special attention to emergency communications.

 

The following report from Hawaii ARES provides an excellent overview of what repeaters are working, as well as social media sites providing updates.

We’re unaware of any live feeds at this time.

We do have AmRRON members in Hawaii, but thus far have had no contact from them.  They’re likely focused on the local situation, as they should be.

This file: https://bit.ly/HAM-UPDATE – Send updated to [email protected]

https://bit.ly/Maui-ICS-205-HAM – Updated by KH6ML and KH6UU 

Suggest you download and print – Load into the radio. 

Radio Bulletins RE:  Maui Wildfires have affected phones, internet, and cell services across Maui.

No contact was established with Lahaina or its ham operators due to burned fiber lines and VERY limited hams in the area.

KH6COM Linked Repeater Update As of 9:15 am, operational in Kula, Maui (NH6Y & KH6UU)

Maui Winlink Status:

  • Stations are operational but some face internet disruptions.
  • Can still function as digipeaters.

HF Stations are suggested to monitor 7.088 LSB. Your participation is crucial during this time. SEE 40meter.net  Informal Nets held at 9am, Noon and 4pm.

Normal Weekly HF ARES Net on Wednesday night 18:30 on 7.088 LSB

DMR-Hawaii-  Lost Kula and West Maui repeaters.
Wailuku is still up on 444.9500 + CC3

Mauna Kea Repeater at the top of Big Island  is on the air for EMCOMM purposes, 146.720, Negative Offset, – pl100.0  FM (4:33 PM 8/9/2023

Haleakala Digipeater Protocol:

  • Should KH6COM-10 encounter connectivity problems, it will continue as a Digipeater.
  • KH6ML and digipeat via KH6COM-10 on 441.000.

Change to 441.000 KH6ML Winlink Gateway to service Maui -Station: KH6ML: 441.000 VARA FM Kaneohe, Oahu

  • Status: Operational as a Winlink Gateway with internet
  • Note: Please limit testing to affected areas.

Hawaii Allstar Repeaters on-line on Maui County:

Maui

WH6AV – Wailuku       443.025 (+) PL 103.5 Repeater

WH6CYD – Pukalani   147.000 (+) PL 88.5 Repeater

WH6YF – Lahaina        147.540 PL 100 Simplex (Offline) Fire related

WH6FQM – Lahaina   444.800 (+) PL 88.5 Repeater (Offline) Fire related

WH6FGS – Wailuku   442.525 (+) PL 100 Repeater

WH6FEO – Wailuku   446.175 PL 100 Simplex

AH6MA – Napili    147.495 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6FGX – Waiau 147.510 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

Molokai

WH6IT – Ho’olehua 147.420 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6IT – Kaunakakai 145.370 (-) PL 88.5 Repeater

Lanai

KH6CED – Lanai City 147.435 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6DNN – Lanai City 147.510 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

Please stay vigilant and safe. We extend our gratitude for your amateur radio service.

8/9/2023 10:00am LOCAL AND Visitors that are displaced and do not have accommodations on Oahu can go to Hawaii Convention Center.

Maui wildfires 8/9/2023 Noon 

Impacted areas are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. Check official sources for more information.

Help & information

Shelter information and family reunification hotline

American Red Cross 800-733-2767

Please text for emergencies – Maui 911 back up 2-911

Maui County Emergency Management Agency twitter.com/Maui_EMA

Traffic updates on TwitterHawaii Twitter.com/DOTHawaii

Situation updates on Twitter County of Maui twitter.com/CountyofMaui

Situation updates on FacebookCounty of Maui facebook.com/countyofmaui

 

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

RI Ham shares updates from Hawaii ARES net

- by Nancy Austin

Newport County Radio Club member Bill Cassidy, KC1NFM served in Hawaii for the Department of the Navy, and has been sharing updates on the NCRC nets.

Here is more information to share  with the radio community.

Special Presentation: Maui Wildfire Discussion Hawaii ARES Net 10 Aug 2023

From an emergency communications perspective, the following is very interesting. This is the Hawaii ARES net discussing wildfires, power outages, sirens which didn’t sound, communications outages, refugee status, and other observations from ham operators at the scene and across the state.