SEC/IL QST080330 and ILARES HF Net 3/30/08 at 1630L on 3.905 MHz LSB +/-
R. Patrick Ryan
+/-
THIS IS A TEST
MARCH 30 2008
WHO: Local Net Control Stations (NCS) for Skywarn and ARES, and all
available local Skywarn trained weather spotters.
WHAT: Amateur radio test - activate and test local nets, and encourage
and take simulated local reports of damage resulting from a local
simulated severe thunder storm that produced a downburst and/or large
hail. NCS mapping is encouraged in order to classify a reportable, but
simulated Microburst or Macroburst, and may include large hail simulated
reports, too. Mobile stations nearby may be asked to "confirm" simulated
damage and extent.
WHEN: Upon receipt of this, Sunday, March 30th, 2008, QST and anytime
today, with requested early test result information relayed to the ILARES
HF net (beginning at 16:30 local time).
WHERE: Your regional, district/CWA or county local area weather service
nets only.
HOW: Local NCS and alternates test local Skywarn Radio net activation,
net procedures, make contacts, and encourage simulated reportable weather
events and points of contact. Liaison with local ARRL Official Emergency
Stations (OES), and ARRL Emergency Coordinator for your area is strongly
encouraged.
REFERENCE: Non-Tornadic Severe Weather Events, Page 7, Basic Spotters'
Field Guide, a publication of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service (NOAA PA
97050)
DISCUSSION:
The annual special Weather Service Net test will be held today, weather
permitting, on the ILARES HF Net frequency of 3.905 MHz LSB at 4:30 PM
This special Fifth Sunday test is similar to the annual tornado test
weather service net held on the first Tuesday of March, 3/04/08 at 10:00
AM. One important difference from the earlier annual Tornado test -
there is no other local test trigger for this Skywarn//ARES activation,
such as a convenient severe weather event. Also, there is no local siren,
no NOAA Weather Radio/SAME alerts, and no Radio/TV broadcast EAS severe
weather prompts to help. Instead, local Skywarn nets are encouraged to
activate in response to a simulated need for a local alert. This test may
simulate a sudden and "un forecast" non-tornadic Severe Weather events,
such as downbursts (Macroburst or Microburst) and large hail, as
described in the Basic Spotters' Field Guide on page 7, "Because of their
small size and short lifespan, it is difficult to detect and warn for
downbursts."
OBJECT:
Test local Skywarn Weather Service Nets operations, with NCS then to
practice taking reports of simulated damage over the air and poll members
on their qualifications and use of emergency power. Relay of results via
local EC or OES on to HF special net is also encouraged.
SCENARIO -
Assume that a local storm cell has produced damaging downburst and
hail, both events are reportable. Local net controls may activate local
Skywarn/ARES nets by any means to take reports of simulated damage.
DISCLAIMERS:
WARNING, THIS IS ONLY A DRILL - Real weather events may require
rescheduling your local test, as always. This drill should be an amateur
radio test only, with no test results actually called into the local
ESDA/EMA/EOC or the servicing NWS Weather Forecast Office for your area.
Added to this years AMATEUR RADIO ONLY test is a bonus for local
airports knowledge. but in NO CASE SHOULD ANY SERVED AGENCIES BE ACTUALLY
CALLED. Local amateur radio support teams for EOC sponsored by local
ESDA/EMA/OES may actually respond if local self-activation is permitted
by your local emergency manager, and by authorized personal only.
Likewise, any of the five servicing NWS are encouraged to get on the air
and test HF, as well as VHF/UHF, amateur radios today, but only if access
to these government facilities is permitted to authorized NWS team
members. Practice contacts and reports, and polls of local Skywarn nets
frequencies, wherever possible, and all stations should report their
qualifications and any test of their emergency power during these fifth
Sunday nets. NCS should ensure any simulated reports and announcements
are prefaced with the traditional phrase THIS IS A DRILL to ensure the
monitoring public and are served agencies are not alarmed.
NOTICE- Local net controls are encouraged to report TEST results ONLY
VIA THIS SPECIAL HF WEATHER SERVICE NET today. DO NOT CALL LOCAL
ESDA/EMA, NWS or LOCAL AIRPORTS. This is an amateur radio test only!
Note addition of the local airport identifier (e.g. MDW, ORD) and area
code of the telephone number to report such weather to the local airport
operations, as if this was a real event. DO NOT ACTUALLY CALL.
Drill Activation:
Examples of activation are "On The Air" QST or regular amateur radio
contacts throughout the day to ensure maximum amateur radio
participation. Also, use of telephone tree, fax or paging systems is
encouraged to contact as many local stations as possible to get on the
air as possible. Any local method may be used.
Initiate Local Nets:
Special WX or Skywarn Nets may begin, and be announced locally anytime
on Sunday, 3/30/08 after receipt of this QST, and check ins may be taken
locally and continue at least until the end of this HF Net, to be
reported at that time. All simulated damage reports should be prefaced
with: "This is a Drill".
HF Net Liaison -
Local Emergency Coordinators, Official Emergency Stations or their local
WX net liaisons are especially encouraged to maintain local contact with
NCS, and to report the results of their local test conducted today as
liaisons to this special ILARES HF net .
Traditional reports relayed from local nets may include:
Count of stations contacted on local Skywarn amateur radio frequencies;
Count of number of check ins that are current trained WX observers and
that have completed at least the BASIC spotters NWS in the last three
years;
Stations with emergency power (EP), actually on the air not using
commercial mains.
Bonus reports:
Count of number of check ins who have attended annual ADVANCED weather
spotting seminars.
Number of stations checked in that are equipped with at least one other
radio adjuncts, including NOAA WX Radio, CB, FRS, GMRS (FCC Part 95
licensed).
Airport Identifier code and telephone number of airport nearest Net
Control Station location.
FOLLOW ON:
A final summary drill reports with name, callsign and County of all local
weather nets are welcome by email from each Illinois county or
jurisdiction participating in this 2008 annual first quarter drill, use
SEC published email address only.
=====
New to the "fifth Sunday" drills? You are invited to listen in to this
ILARES sponsored HF Net, and better yet, contribute with a check in to
exercise your HF radio and to test communication from your county to the
HF net control. Please note that regular EC reports are discouraged in
this special net, and best practices and net discipline is encouraged to
be used during this and all special nets.
=====
Monthly EC Reports -
A friendly reminder, Emergency Coordinators should send in their
Monthly EC Reports, due 4/02/08. Use the email version for late reports,
or ARRL form FSD-212 .
=====
ARECC -
Registration remains open through Sunday, April 6, 2008, for these
on-line course sessions beginning on Friday, April 18, 2008: Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2);
CALENDAR:
3/30/08 - Special Fifth Sunday drill net
4/02/08 - Monthly EC Reports due to DEC, copy to SEC
4/06/08 - ILARES HF Net, First Sunday regular net
4/07/08 - SEC mails Illinois Section report to HQ, due at ARRL HQ on 10th
monthly.
4/20/08 - ILARES HF Net, Third Sunday regular net
Pat Ryan KC6VVT ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator
SEC/IL ARRL Phone: 815-442-3373
P. O. Box 24 e-mail: kc6...@arrl.net
Tonica, IL 61370-0024 ARES-IL URL:
http://www.qsl.net/ares-il/
Monitor 146.52/446.00 FM APRS KC6VVT-14 on 144.390 PL 100.0 Hz