ANNEX K to Exercise Winter Storm Olaf March 2016 Communications and Information Systems

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Aileen Franklin
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1 ANNEX K to Exercise Winter Storm Olaf March 2016 Communications and Information Systems 1. General. This annex provides guidance for employing communication assets to execute a joint exercise planned by the Virginia Defense Force and the Virginia EmComm Association. 2. Situation. A major winter storm will strike the Commonwealth moving from the southwest to northeast. Commencing on 04 March 1900 in Gate City, 2000 in Roanoke/Danville, 2100 in Winchester/Va Beach, and 2130 in Fairfax area heavy wet snow will blanket the state with accumulations from 18 to 44 inches in areas north and 1/2 to 1 of ice in southside including Martinsville, Danville, and east to Hampton Roads. Widespread power outages are expected. 3. Mission. Units of the Virginia Defense Force (VDF) and Emergency Communications (EmComm) amateur radio operators will activate emergency communications nets as needed to augment local agencies and communities in anticipation of infrastructure failures to ensure communications with the Joint Operations Center in Richmond. 4. Execution. a. Commander s intent. To vigorously exercise the HF assets of the VDF, especially the MCPs, to test all equipment and operators for durability and functionality. To develop working relationships with EmComm amateur radio operators and exercise our interoperability with them. The emphasis will be on digital transmission of documents to the Exercise Controller (ExCon). b. Tasks and Responsibilities. (1) MCPs (Mobile Communications Platforms): Establish VDF HF directed voice nets for the duration of the exercise to coordinate teams and gather information locally and statewide. Net control duties will rotate per timeline. Compile data and submit SITREPs and PERSTATs (S&P) to ExCon at least hourly 1

2 using fillable PDF forms as applicable and attaching to HF s. REGTs with multiple FCC General Class licensed operators will attempt to have at least one such licensed operator per shift. At a minimum, those units who have at least one General class licensed operator will also monitor the amateur nets (frequencies and modes per ICS 205 attached) and receive situation reports for digital transmission and respond to other requests for information or status of responses to messages. (2) HFRRs (High Frequency Radio Resources): Within their AOR, one team per REGT should locate in a distant site that has emergency power capability (or simulate it) and report conditions and problems consistent with the scenario as they occur to their respective MCPs for inclusion in the hourly reports. (3) EmComm MCUs (Mobile Communications Units): Establish statewide HF voice net for all amateur participants and act as regional focal points for area volunteers to gather voice reports from outlying amateur stations and compile and transmit SITREPs, PERSTATs and other pertinent ICS forms as needed to ExCon. (4) EmComm volunteers: Location should have emergency power (or simulate it) whether it be your home station or other site. Those stations that have WinLink capability will transmit their hourly data directly to ExCon. Those who do not have WinLink should use the current HF voice net (per attached ICS 205) to relay conditions and problems to the VDF MCP most readable to you for transmission to ExCon. In the event you are unable to reach an MCP, call the EmComm MCU. (5) IMAR (Incident Management Assistance Resources): Not operational for this exercise. (6) STARS: Two units to be assigned to each MCP for coordination. 5. Administration and Logistics. Per Unit SOP. 6. Command and Signal. a. Exercise Control (ExCon). ExCon has overall command and control of the exercise; receives all incoming messages from all stations and acknowledges receipt to sender; monitors all HF nets and records all problems or deficiencies for further action. ExCon may inject mission orders or additional problems based on the scenario to stretch participants. 2

3 b. Reports. CDs containing all fillable forms will be sent out to all commands prior to the exercise. SITREP (Situation Report): Utilizing exercise scenario, use ICS 213 fillable form (or other). Information desired: Status of station and equipment. Air temperature, snow accumulations & type, ice accretion amounts, highway reports, if blocked give a safe route to your location. Power outages, if using emergency power how long can you operate? Assistance requests, generators, rescue teams for stranded motorists, etc. Submit hourly. PERSTAT (Personnel Status Report): Use ICS 213 fillable form (or other). Submit hourly. ICS 205: Lists all frequencies, modes, and bands for VDF and amateur stations. These will be provided to all participants before the exercise begins. ICS 205A: Stations, names, WinLink addresses, addresses, and other contact information. Provided to all participants before the exercise begins. ICS 214: Activity log of events at your location. Submit at the end of exercise to your REGT S-6. ICS 309: Station log sheet. Print out copies and document all calls and messages. Submit at end of exercise to your REGT S-6. c. After Action Reports (AARs). Each regiment will complete and forward to the VDF G-6 to arrive no later than 3 weeks after the exercise. Appendices: 1. VDF Radio Guard Chart 2. Exercise Timeline R. Lilly CPT VDF WS OLAF ExCON 3

4 Appendix 2 to ANNEX K Winter Storm Olaf Exercise Timeline TIME VDF Units Amateur Stations 1700 VD4M (CP) calls net for signal reports. All available stations set up and ready. VD4M will be net control until ExCon opens Exercise. CPT Lilly calls ham net. Asks for status & reports. HOURLY RYTHYM for MCPs with General class amateurs HF Radio 1 HF Radio ECOM Voice check in to net VDF Voice check in to net DATA TX & RX VDF Voice net 1830 ECOM Voice recheck with net VDF ALE net 1845 ECOM Voice monitor VDF Voice recheck with net 1900 ECOM Voice monitor VDF Voice net Rythym for MCPs without amateur operators. HF Radio 1 HF Radio VDF Voice check in to net VDF ALE 1815 DATA TX & RX VDF Voice net monitor 1830 VDF Voice recheck with net VDF ALE net 1845 VDF Voice net VDF ALE 1900 VDF Voice net VDF ALE 1900 Snowfall commences in Gate City Snow starts in Roanoke/Danville. CPT Lilly checks into ongoing VDF voice net. NOTE: ExCon reserves the right to insert problems / situations that require actions on the part of various stations. Be alert Snow starts in Winchester/Richmond/Va Beach 2130 Snow starts in Fairfax. Periodic calls to MCPs through night SITREPs and PERSTATs (S&P) 2300 Power out in Gate City rd Regt takes over net control. CPT Lilly checks in to VDF voice net S & P 0200 Power out in Danville due to ice Power out in Roanoke & NRV. Amateurs advise power status S & P st Regt takes over net control. CPT Lilly checks in to VDF voice net. Power out in Winchester S & P Renewed net call for ham stations. S & P resume S & P S & P NOTE: Stations should generate simulated emergencies and requests for assistance from state agencies as the storm ends. These will be forwarded to the JOC/VDEM and they should respond appropriately Snow ends in Gate City. Total 42. S & P 1000 Snow ends in Roanoke/Danville. Total 36 / ice Snow ends in Winchester/VaBeach Total 44 / ice Snow ends in NVa. Total 48. S & P 4

5 4 th Pulaski takes over net control. CPT Lilly checks in to VDF voice net Reports and requests continue until end of exercise ExCon announces END EXERCISE 5

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Section 6-Communications Annex Blank Intentionally 2 CEMP Annex 6 5 Communications Annex I. PURPOSE II. POLICY The purpose of this annex is to describe the communications