2017 Maryland DC Section Simulated Emergency Test Maryland - District of Columbia Section ARES Simulated Emergency Test Final Report October 27, 2017 Jim Montgomery WB3KAS ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Maryland - DC Section wb3kas@arrl.net
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Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................................. 5 1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................. 7 2.0 References................................................................................................ 7 3.0 SET Date and Time......................................................................................... 7 4.0 Purpose.................................................................................................. 7 5.0 Objectives................................................................................................ 7 6.0 SET Planning............................................................................................. 7 7.0 Scenario................................................................................................. 8 7.1 Scenario, Hospital Drill..................................................................................... 8 7.2 Scenario, 2017 MDC Section SET............................................................................. 8 7.3 Scenario Time Line......................................................................................... 9 8.0 Operations............................................................................................... 13 8.1 APRS Tracking........................................................................................... 13 8.1.1 APRS Tracker Assignments................................................................................. 13 8.2 Setup Locations.......................................................................................... 14 8.3 SET Communications Plan ICS-205........................................................................... 16 9.0 SET Analysis and Results................................................................................... 17 9.1 SET Hospital Drill Portion.................................................................................. 17 9.1.1 SET Hospital Drill Results.................................................................................. 18 9.2 SET Fox Hunt Operations................................................................................... 19 9.3 Worcester County EOC Operations........................................................................... 20 9.3.1 WORC EOC Data Transfer Results........................................................................... 21 9.3.2 WORC EOC Failed Data Transfers........................................................................... 21 9.3.3 WORC Health Department Operations......................................................................... 22 9.4 SET Command Center Operations, Berlin...................................................................... 23 10.0 Additional Activity During the SET........................................................................... 25 10.1 Addendum to the fox Hunt Operations......................................................................... 25 12.0 Acknowledgments......................................................................................... 26 13.0 Cost Avoidance to Federal, State and Local Governments.......................................................... 27 14.0 Score Computation........................................................................................ 28 15.0 Lessons Learned.......................................................................................... 29 Appendix and Reference Files........................................................................................ 30 3
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Executive Summary The 2017 Maryland - DC Section Simulated Emergency Test commenced from 1930L Thursday night October 5 through 1500L Saturday October 7. This 2017 SET was conducted in two separate but related events. With Hurricane Elmer forecasted to impact the coastal areas of the Delmarva Atlantic coastline, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, on Thursday asked the Amateur Radio community to inspect, check out, and perform operational test on designated health care facility back up Amateur Radio systems prior to storm arrival. Radio operators then deployed to Worcester County, MD Saturday morning and conducted various tasks including a search support to a lost child strayed from the shelter, replenishing a health department power supply and passing traffic to and from MEMA in a timely fashion. Amateur Radio operators from five Maryland counties participated resulting in 35 call signs across the region. Cost avoidance to federal, state and local government by providing backup emergency communications via the Amateur Radio volunteer community versus the commercial sector is on the order of $142,100. This document is formatted for double sided printing 5
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1.0 Introduction This report is the results of the 2017 Maryland - DC (MDC) Section ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Exercise conducted from October 5-7, 2017. All times noted in the report are local times. Abbreviation explanations may be found at the end of this document. 2.0 References A. QST September 2017 edition, page 78, 2017 Simulated Emergency Test B. 2017 MDC Section Emergency Plan ver 2.0 dated October 4, 2017 3.0 SET Date and Time The Section SET was split into two phases; the Fourth Quarter Hospital Drill portion started at 1930L on Thursday October 5, 2017 and terminated at 2100 on the same day; the second portion, the SET, started Saturday October 7 at 0900 to 1500. 4.0 Purpose This simulated emergency test exercise plan is based on the premise that preparations and periodic emergency drills enhances the ability of emergency communicator s skills to perform in actual emergencies and, as such, improves and promotes problem solving. 5.0 Objectives 6.1 Demonstrate the response to pre-storm request in preparation for the impending Hurricane Elmer s arrival later in the week. 6.2 Demonstrate the capability to track volunteer radio operators deployed to the affected areas via APRS. 6.3 Demonstrate the ability to locate a separated child from his parents in a storm shelter using Fox Hunting techniques. 6.4 Demonstrate the ability to send the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Form from the local hospital up the chain of command to its final recipient. 6.5 Demonstrate the ability to respond to requests from the Maryland Emergency Management (MEMA) and provide status of conditions on the ground as a result of the storm. 6.0 SET Planning Two Planning meetings were held to zero in on the agreed scenarios and SET particulars. The first was on September 9 at the Anne Arundel County Emergency Operations Center 7
Glen Burnie, MD hosted by ANAR EC Frank Winner, N3SEO. Twenty-nine ARES members from nine Maryland counties were represented. The second one was September 30 at the Fire Services Building, Hyattsville, MD to iron out any outstanding differences and to assign the APRS tracking call signs to those in attendance. It was agreed that those driving to Worcester County to depart no later than 0400L Saturday morning. Keeping in contact with one another en route would be conducted on the Salisbury, MD repeater, K3DCR, 146.82MHz (-) 156.7Hz tone. 7.0 Scenario As explained earlier, the 2017 MDC Section SET was conducted in two phases. The Quarterly Prince George s County Hospital Drill coincidentally fell on the Thursday just prior to the scheduled SET. It was decided to make use of it and provide a play for those radio operators. The second phase commenced Saturday morning in Worcester County, MD. 7.1 Scenario, Hospital Drill October 3: Maryland Dept. of Health required all health facilities in MD with Amateur Radio systems to have them tested and functionally operational prior to the storm s arrival. Radio operators sent and received messages among themselves and to selected government recipients. ASM for the Health Care EmComm Program, KA3AHI, sent out the above request for health facility operators planning on supporting the request. 7.2 Scenario, 2017 MDC Section SET Off the coast of Delaware, North of Bermuda, sits Hurricane Elmer...been sitting for days doing donuts awaiting further direction. The local radio and tv outlets are having fits as to what to do next. The National Weather Service (NWS) has not and cannot offer any informative updates to the people along the northeast Atlantic coast because...they just don t know, do they. MDC Section Storm Preparation Announcements (SPAs) have been issued to the Section advising ARES of suggested actions. Following the destruction of Hurricane Elmer s near or direct hit, on Ocean City, MD, the city is without power, cell and land line phone service and no Internet connectivity. Eastern Shore roads are becoming impassable with downed trees and power lines. Local rivers and streams are beginning to swell. The local hospital is running low on medical and pharmaceutical supplies and need to restock. Sheltered families are isolated from their homes, loved ones and an ADD child separated from his vacationing Pueblo, CO family is lost in the aftermath. MEMA has asked the Amateur Radio community to assess and report status awareness back to the state emergency planners. Specific MEMA 8
information requested are, but not necessarily limited to road closures, hospital services, bed counts and pharmaceutical resupply status. The Maryland State government has determined to move forward and make a decision. MEMA was tasked by the Governor s office to ensure that county Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) throughout the State are able to communication with MEMA after the storm has passed. MEMA issues a request to the MDC Section ARRL appointed Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) to come up with a method to canvass the Maryland volunteer radio operators to be on station for the purpose of being continuously in contact with MEMA and other counties. 7.3 Scenario Time Line 05 October: MEMA released a request to the MDC Section SEC at 0522 for assistance to survey hospital radio systems. The SEC received email from MEMA Rep soliciting assistance to find all available volunteer radio operators throughout the state willing to be their county focal point during the storm. 05 October: At 1930L, PRGE ARES commenced the local County Training Net on 145.23MHz (-) pl 110.9 in preparation for the 2000 L Drill to carry out MEMA s request. 07 October: At 0400L, MDC ARES operators from CALV, CHAR, FRED, PRGE and TALB counties converged on WORC County to commence the start of the 2017 MDC Section SET to carry out the MEMA request. MEMA ICS-213 message Request for EmComm Support with reply follows: 9
From: John AAR3CK <aar3ck@comcast.net> To: Jim Montgomery <wb3kas@aol.com> Subject: MEMA Request for Amateur Radio Assistance - THIS IS A DRILL THIS IS A DRILL THIS IS A DRILL Date: Thu, Oct 5, 2017 5:22 am --------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS IS A DRILL THIS IS A DRILL THIS IS A DRILL John Ohm, Auxiliary Communications Lead State Emergency Operations Center Maryland Emergency Management Agency 5401 Rue Saint Lo Drive Reisterstown, MD 21136 Jim Montgomery ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Maryland / D.C. Sir: Extensive damage to the communications infrastructure is widespread as a result of Hurricane Elmer. The area within and surrounding Worcester County, Maryland is particularly hard hit. We are aware of the ability of amateur radio operators to successfully mitigate communications deficiencies during the initial hours of such an emergency. We call upon you and your multiple resources, and hereby request your assistance in the establishment of first line communications until additional state and local resources can be put in place. In particular, we request information regarding the following topics, if known. Do not risk personal injury to make these determinations. Supply only that information that can be obtained safely, and only when time permits. Items below are listed in order of priority: 1. Name, location and capacity of each open shelter 10
2. Census of personnel currently housed in each shelter 3. Requirements of each shelter for immediate medical care and other life support functions. 4. General medical condition of the shelter occupants. 5. Other supplies needed at the shelters: By location, type of supply and quantity 6. Hospital Status Name, Location, Bed Count, Census, Pharmaceutical resupply status 7. Status of electrical grid power on / power off / where, if known 8. Listing of road closures 9. Contact county for location(s) of water gauge measuring instruments. 10. Communications capabilities at each shelter 11. List by call sign of all volunteer amateur radio operators and their location. 12. Summary report of operations when complete, to be furnished as soon as possible after the event is over, via email. Thank you for your valuable assistance! Please acknowledge receipt via email to: aar3ck@comcast.net Signed: John Ohm, Auxiliary Communications Service Lead State Emergency Operations Center Maryland Emergency Management Agency THIS IS ONLY A DRILL! =================== 11
The response back to Mr. John Ohm is contained in an ICS-213 message that follows: 12
General Message Form 1. Incident Name 2017 MDC Section SET 2. Date and Time of Message 05 OCT 2017: 1650 General Message ICS 213-PRGE ARES 3. TO: John Ohm Position: MEMA Auxiliary Comm Service Lead 4. FROM: Jim Montgomery Position: MDC Section SEC 5. Subject: MEMA Request for Comms Support to Worcester County, MD Agencies 6. Message: This a Drill...This is a Drill...This is a Drill Your message of 05 Oct 2017: 0522L received. Meeting this morning with ARES Staff resulted in a commitment to support and provide status on items 1-12 in your para 4, page 1. Tonight PRGE hospitals (all six) are running pre-deployment checks at 2000 on the C.M.R.G. 440 Repeater Linking System. Please join if your schedule permits. Deployment will commence 0400 Saturday to Ocean City, Berlin and Snow Hill, MD. Periodic updates will commence via Winlink 2000 at approximately 0900 on the hour to the email address provided. This a Drill...This is a Drill...This is a Drill 7. Reply 8. Signature / Position (person replying) 9. Date/Time of Reply GENERAL MESSAGE ICS 213- PRGEARES 13
8.0 Operations 8.1 APRS Tracking The 2017 MDC Section SET deployed radio operators into unfamiliar Section territory. It was important that their locations en route be tracked for safety reasons as well as making sure they reach their destination in a timely manner. Enter APRS Tracking. The drivers were outfitted with APRS tracking devices, either of their own or borrowed units. The radio operators used tactical call signs in lieu of their FCC call sign for tracking purposes. First four letters were MDST followed by the two letter initials of their name. To stay in good graces of the FCC, their FCC call sign was placed in the status field, along with other passenger radio operator s FCC call sign. The table below shows the details of the motor vehicles tracked to Worcester County, MD. Known SET APRS Capable Drivers Worcester County Bound FCC Call F-name, L-name County of Origin APRS Tracking Call Destination K3DO Mike Myers Frederick MDSTMM Ocean City KB3RAN Dave Hardy Calvert MDSTDH Snow Hill KB3SPH Jeff Humbert Charles MDSTJH Ocean City KB3YQK Tim Nagle Prince George s MDSTTN Ocean City KC3DSO Steven Keller Prince George s MDSTSK Snow Hill N3XKJ Jim Baker Prince George s MDSTJB Berlin WB2IFS Jesse Alexander Prince George s MDSTJA Berlin WB3KAS Jim Montgomery Prince George s MDSTJM Berlin Table 1 8.1.1 APRS Tracker Assignments Part of the SET Planning was to solicit Section ARES members to track the team heading to Worcester County. The mobile radio operators listed in Table 1 were tracked by the trackers shown in Figure 1. Trackers sent periodic position and routing reports to wb3kas@winlink.org. Trackers ceased sending traffic when radio operators arrived on site. It was assumed that the Trackers were located in non-affected storm areas and had Internet connectivity available to them. They would call up an APRS map such as aprs.fi, enter MDST* into the search field, and only those with this special tactical call sign arrangement would appear for easy tracking. 14
8.2 Setup Locations Figure 1 Ocean City Operations: Ocean City Operations was the setting for the Fox Hunt. Located at the American Legion Post 166 parking lot at 2308 Philadelphia Avenue, it was just South of the shelter operations at the Convention Center. It was termed the Fox Hunt Command Post and was assigned Fox Control as its designated Tactical Callsign. Communications included VHF/UHF voice and Winlink Packet into a J-Pole antenna at 15 feet. The station was battery powered from a hybrid vehicle. Solar and commercial power alternatives were available, but not used. Berlin Operations: Atlantic General Hospital, Tac Call, Atlantic General was located at the James G. Barrett Medical Office Building, 9714 Healthway Drive, Berlin, MD. This location severed both as the hospital entity for the SET and as the SET Command Center, Tac Call, Command Center. Housed on the second floor of the lobby rotunda, it had a 270 degree of the parking lot where dipoles and vertical antennas were set up. A five-band serial HF dipole was erected on a metal mast 24 feet high with 150 feet of coax to the command Center. Two J-Pole antennas on separate masts were used to communicate with Fox Control to the North and Snow Hill to the south on two separate VHF repeaters. Snow Hill Operations: Snow Hill Operations was located at both the Worcester County Emergency Operations Center at 1 West Market Street, Snow Hill and the county Health Dept at 6040 Public Landing Rd, Snow Hill. The EOC operations was conducted inside the county s Communications Trailer brought on site by EOC personnel while the Health Dept 15
operations was conducted from a personal RV parked on the Health Dept grounds. Tac Calls respectively were EOC and Health. The Figures 2 and 3 show relative location among the three operating stations. Figure 2 Figure 3 16
8.3 SET Communications Plan ICS-205 SET Incident Radio Communications Plan in ICS 205 format is included herein. Repeater operations was kept to a strict minimum keeping with the intent of the purpose and objectives, simplex was the order of the day. However, simplex communications between Ocean City and Berlin were hampered, perhaps by the many buildings standing in the way. The default, of course was the Ocean Pines, Ocean City Repeater, N3RCC. Berlin operations to the EOC operations was too far (17 miles) for simplex and communications was conducted on the Salisbury Repeater, K3DCR. Berlin operations used two separate radios to keep Ocean City and Snow Hill up to date with all the events. SET Incident Radio Communications Plan (ICS 205) 1. Incident Name 2017 MDC Section SET in WORC County, MD 4. Basic Radio use: 2. Date /Time Prepared: 09-26-17/0010 3. Operating Period: From: 10-07-17/0900 To: 10-07-17/1500L Function Channel Name Assignment Rec Freq MHz Split & Tone Mode Notes In Route Repeater VHF-1 Directions 146.820 (-) 156.7 FM Salisbury, MD Local Repeater VHF-2 Directions 145.190 (-) 179.9 FM WORC EOC O-City <=>Berlin VHF -3 Comm Post 145.550 n/a FM Voice & Digi South Hill <=>Berlin VHF-4 Comm Post 145.570 n/a FM Voice & Digi Outbound - HF P2P HF-1 Comm Center 3.575 n/a USB To MEMA Outbound - HF P2P HF-2 Comm Center 7.075 n/a USB Gateway & Alternate Inbound - HF P2P HF-1 Comm Center 3.575 n/a USB Weather SKYWARN Net?? FM None noted Conference Echolink Link to Rptrs D Wash-DC Node: 6154 5. Prepared by: (Communications Unit) Date/Time: INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN ICS-205 17
9.0 SET Analysis and Results 9.1 SET Hospital Drill Portion The weekly PRGE ARES Training Net commenced at 1930 on their K3ERA repeater. W9WNH, Hugh, assumed the NCS position, KA3AHI, Wanda ANCS. Thirteen radio operators checked in. At 2000, the Fourth Quarter PRGE Hospital Drill commenced on the CMRG 440 Linking System. KA3AHI acted as Incident Commander. Twenty-four radio operators checked in. She read the order from MEMA via the Health Dept. to activate ham radio operators to test availability and capabilities of Hospital emergency backup radio systems. Results are summarized below Table 1. PRGE Hospital Drill assignments were made and summarized in Table 2. Hospital Call Sign Name Tactical Call BHC KC3DSO Steven Bowie DCH FWMC LRH MSMHC PGHC KD3JA WA3YTK, KB3LIB KB3SPH KB3SWS KA3POX, K3GDM N3XKJ WI3N AA3WS WB2IFS AB3NA KB3YQK N3ADF Jim Richard Kato Jeff Pam Ken Gary Jim B Jim C Charles Jesse Chuck Tim Jim Additional Section County Check-ins Doctors Ft. Washington Laurel So. Maryland Prince George s County Call Sign Name QTH ANAR N3SEO Frank Baltimore Wash Med Ctr CALV HARF N3AE N3XMZ K3UGA KB3HWM KB3LFG KC3BPM W3YR W7IGC Shawn Bill Jim Dave Jeff Pat Ted Eric Health Dept. HARF EOC Hosp 1 Hosp 2 EOC Hosp 2 MONT K3RYR Ben Home Table 2 18
9.1.1 SET Hospital Drill Results For the first time in years, all six PRGE Hospitals were staffed and on the air for the Hospital Drill. This was due to two years of extensive BHC renovations in various stages. Hospital BHC DCH FWMC LRH MSMHC PGHC Equipment Status/Disposition Report All Radios, antennas, power supplies are 100% Fully Functional; No Known issues; no medical battery back up status reported. Voice and data operational. No short jumper cables to attach the radios to antennas; need to be replaced Cables retrieved from personal vehicle, back on the air wit voice and data. Tested backup battery performance. Result: 14 volts. Nurse on duty demanded an explanation of our presence. Satisfied. Explanation satisfied. Hospital cart radios and Kenwood D710G operational; Personal antennas used. No hospital antennas available; Battery on cart was checked and is operational despite not having been charged for months. No report received. Voice comms only, no data operations. Ops need Winlink refresher. Battery Charged; All Mikes and Radios are Complete; Antennas, Radios and Data. Voice and data operational. The radio cart does not have a battery; Both antennas to the roof test bad both on 2m and 70cm. No voice or data with hospital equipment. Voice comms via the repeater done with personal hand held radios. No data operations. Table 3 A. SNS resupply form sent from BHC to CALV health department successfully. B. The drill employed the C.M.R.G. 440 Linking System for the benefit of outlying counties to join the Drill, namely HARF county operating from their EOC and CALV operating from their Health Dept (HD). C. Winlink Packet were used for digital traffic among the Prince George s County hospital radio operators. D. WB3KAS in Brandywine and KA3POX in Ft. Washington provided Winmor outbound email traffic to CALV HD and HARF EOC respectively. E. HARF EOC ops reported on the success of their two hospitals now onboard with newly acquired backup amateur radio systems. F. Problems identified during the Drill will be scheduled for priority work parties. 19
9.2 SET Fox Hunt Operations Fox Hunt assignments were made and summarized in Table 4. Call Sign Name Assignment Tactical Call N3ADF Jim Fox command Post Fox Control KB3YQK Tim Fox command Post Fox Control KB3YUZ Baron The Fox Johnny B. Lostt KB3SPH Jeff Fox Hunter Fox 1 KB3SWS Pam Fox Hunter Fox 2 K3DO Mike Fox Hunter Fox 3 AA3WS Charles Fox Hunter Fox 4 Table 4 The Fox Hunt: A Pueblo, CO family vacationing in Ocean City had become separated from their ADD son, Johnny B. Lostt, in the aftermath of Hurricane Elmer. The Ocean City Convention Center shelter manager contacted the Berlin Command Center seeking help in locating the boy. The boy, wearing a VHF ankle bracelet-beacon, was believed to be wandering the boardwalk as boys his age would do. Four Fox Hunters, Fox Hunter 1 through 4 were called in from CHAR, FRED and PRGE counties to assist in the effort. They relayed their efforts and updates to the Fox Control at their local Command Post. Updates were relayed to Command Center Berlin Operations by Winlink Packet P2P, then forwarded to the State Emergency Operations Center at MEMA by Winlink Winmor P2P. See Figure 4. An excerpt from SET Fox Hunter Mike, K3DO of Frederick county: The toe is getting better. I thought it was ok to walk on but I guess it was not quite ready for the long walk. The first time I found him I was adding some attenuators and while nothing was connected, I was still getting a strong signal. That told me he was really close. I started looking around for someone with a skateboard and saw him sitting at a table eating. K3DO Figure 4 20
A variety of radio direction techniques were used by the fox Hunters including the use of a tape measure yagi antenna, body fade techniques and switching between high (500mW) and low (15mW) transmitting fox beacons. Triangulation calculations were conducted with bearing relay updated on a table back at Fox Control. The Fox was found once at about 1000 and 1100 the second time. 9.3 Worcester County EOC Operations County EOC assignments were made and summarized in Table 5. Call Sign Name Assignment Tactical Call KC3DSO Steven EOC Command Post EOC KD3JA Jim EOC Command Post EOC KA3RAN Dave WORC HD Health Table 5 Radio operators arrived at approx. 0815 hours to setup. Upon arrival found Mr. James Hamilton, N3RZCC, Worcester County Assistant Director of Emergency Services had the WORC EOC s SPLOPS-13 (Special Operations) setup ready for use. The trailer had several public service radios along with one installed Kenwood V71a Amateur Radio for our use. The trailer had a 7000w Honda Generator running to supply power to all radio equipment and the air conditioning unit. Two antenna systems were setup. First was an 80-10m Endfed Antenna for both HF data and voice and a dual band beam for both 2m/70cm voice & data. The Endfed antenna was placed over soil/sand mix using one 20 foot mast holding the matching network end with the far end on a 10 foot mast at approximately 120 feet. Two 100 foot coax cables were run to the SPLOPS-13 trailer running the cables into the rear cargo door to the front of the trailer. At the front of the trailer my Go Box was setup with both cables run into the back of the box. The Go Box had a Yaesu FT-857D which was used for HF Winmor and a Kenwood TM-D710G dual band radio for both 2m digital using Winlink and 2m voice. Steven, KC3DSO operated both HF & 2m digital operations and some voice. Jim Tilton, KD3JA operated some 2m digital and voice and logistics. Several digital HF contacts were made with several messages being successfully transferred. Many HF contacts were made with a positive connections however, they were not good enough for any data transfer. Both 80m (3.575MHz) and 40m (7.080MHz) were used for HF data. Often the listening stations were asked via 2m voice to switch frequencies as band conditions changed. 21
Dave, KB3RAN at WORC HD, Snow Hill held a simplex voice link to the EOC on 145.570 Mhz. Initial attempts for data were unsuccessful. KB3RAN came by the WORC EOC for assistance. KC3DSO assisted KB3RAN with software settings and thereafter, several inbound & outbound transfers were done throughout the day. 9.3.1 WORC EOC Data Transfer Results WB3KAS (AGH, Berlin) 3.575MHz. Successful outbound connections & data transfer. KA3POX (home, PRGE Co) 3.575MHz. Successful outbound connection on 80m but no data transfers. Good connections were made on 7.080MHz with successful data transfers. One message for MEMA relating to WORC EOC Staffing. This message was successfully transferred via Telnet to MEMA. Confirmation of it s delivery was not received by the WORC EOC however, KA3POX provided voice confirmation the message was delivered. N3AE (home, CALV Co) 3.575MHz. Successful outbound connection on 80m and message transfer. KB3IIE (PRGE EOC, Landover) 3.575MHz. Successful inbound connection with message transfer. N3YUG (home, STMA) 3.575MHz. Successful outbound traffic sent reference WORC EOC Staffing for MEMA. N3YUG later attempted to reconnect to send confirmation but was unable to connect due to band conditions changing. 9.3.2 WORC EOC Failed Data Transfers WB2IFS (AGH, Berlin) 145.57Mhz & 145.55Mhz. Successful connections were made but were not of sufficient quality for data transfer. Voice comms were easily done. W3CBW (MEMA, Reisterstown, MD) 3.575NHz. No connection at all. N3ADF, (Ocean City Fox Control) 147.55MHz and 147.57MHz. No connection at all. 22
9.3.3 WORC Health Department Operations At approximately 1033, Dave, KA3RAN, reported a health department 12vdc power supply failure and requested a replacement from the WORC EOC operations. Having none on hand, WORC EOC sent a Winlink packet message to Command Center Berlin for assistance. WB3KAS sent a Winlink Winmor text message to Bob s, NW3M, cell phone in Waldorf, MD requesting a replacement power supply be flown in at his earliest convenience. With a replacement power supply in hand, a flight plan from Potomac Airfield (KVKX) to Ocean City Municipal Airport (KOXB) was filed with TSA as shown below in Figure 5. Figure 5 Bob was instructed to have APRS capability enabled while in flight to let Berlin operations know when to head to the Ocean City airport. He was tracked briefly by Shawn, N3AE CALV as he crossed the Patuxent River. Inbound and Outbound Tracks may be seen in Figure 6. Figure 6 Wanda, KA3AHI, out of the Berlin operations was on hand at the airport to pick up the replacement power supply. See Figure 7. Bob saved the day and Dave was happy to be back on the air! Had this not been carried out, WORC HD s, capability would have been severely hampered in providing the ability to send the HD s request for resupply materials. 23
Figure 7 9.4 SET Command Center Operations, Berlin Atlantic General Hospital assignments were made and summarized in Table 6. Call Sign Name Assignment Tac Call KA3AHI Wanda Hospital Incident Commander Atlantic KC3COD Ben Antenna Installer Atlantic KC3FFZ Arianne Antenna Installer Atlantic N3XKJ Jim Repeater Ops Atlantic WB2IFS Jesse Winlink Packet Atlantic WB3KAS Jim Winlink Winmor Atlantic Table 6 Jesse, WB2IFS/3 and Jim, N3XKJ were the first of the Atlantic Crew to arrive on the scene. As prearranged, Hospital Security Officer Bobby, opened the doors of the rotunda lobby and suggested the second floor with better amenities. 24
Antennas Structures - A six band serial dipole was constructed, configured for 80m, and two VHF/UHF verticals rounded out the mix. Three 150 foot cables were run into the building and up to the second floor. Radios included a IC-706MkIIG for Winmor operations, a TM- D710G for voice and packet between Ocean City and Snow Hill. Not knowing how well the HF propagation would treat us, Winmor Relay Stations around the Section volunteered to support the SET on 40 and 80m. If peer-to-peer propagation to MEMA was not cooperative, these stations might have been abled to at least get the message closer and ultimately to its final destination. The map in Figure 8 shows these stations and their locations. Figure 8 All Winmor Relay counties were contacted providing support at one time or another throughout the SET. 25
10.0 Additional Activity During the SET Caroline County: Cathy, KB3TVF, RO of Caroline County supported the SET operations from the Caroline County EOC. Later she also set up a portable VHF station at the Talbot County Community Center simulating shelter operations if Ocean City needed additional resources. She kept in contact with the Command Center Berlin on the K3DCR repeater on 146.82MHz (-) 156.7. Water Level Gauge Survey: MEMA requested selected water gauge measuring instruments be reviewed to determine flood threats. Ben, KC3COD and his wife Arianne, KC3FFZ, in simplex communications with Berlin Command Center, were dispatched from Berlin to survey NOAA gauge identifier, NSWM2 on Rt 113 a few mile north of Rt 90. Photos were taken and brought back to Berlin for processing. Atlantic General Medical Center, Ocean City Radio Check: KC3COD and KC3FFZ were detailed to the Ocean City Medical Center parking lot for a 144MHz simplex radio check back to the Atlantic General Hospital Berlin. The Medical Center is a satellite facility of Atlantic General Hospital. Results: Simplex comms were very scratchy, however very readable through the 145.19MHz repeater. 10.1 Addendum to the fox Hunt Operations At a critical time during the SET, the lack of HF propagation prevented P2P connections with MEMA. Many tries but no connections. The plan was to have MEMA make the phone call request to Dan, W0OJW, Johnny s Grandpa Dan, in Pueblo, CO for a photograph of the boy. The next option was to send the request from Berlin via an HF Gateway. Replies from Dan were received from HF Gateway KQ4ET, Virginia Beach, VA. However, we were running out of SET time at the Berlin Command Center, and opted to receive the picture on a cell phone to complete the inject. The picture received is shown below in Figure 9. Figure 9 26
12.0 Acknowledgments This SET could not have taken place without the support from the following Bryan Dorbert, N3ST and CMRG: The Central Maryland Repeater Group consists of five UHF repeaters linked together to provide coverage to a majority of the State of Maryland. It was used during the Quarterly Hospital Drill Thursday night as part the SET. Many thanks Bryan. Fourth Quarter PRGE Hospital Drill Check-ins: Normally contained within Prince George s County, radio operators from ANAR EOC, CALV HD and HARF EOC joined in and supported the effort. Many thanks. Worcester County, MD Emergency Services Department, MD: Fred Webster, James Hamilton, N3RCC, and Tom Kane for providing operating space on the agency grounds and for the use of the Special Operations vehicle for the SET Snow Hill Operations. Thank you. Laurie Gutberlet, Safety, Security & Emergency Preparedness, AGH, Berlin: for proving excellent indoor radio operating spaces for the SET Command center. And to Raymond Knauer of Security for arranging Bobby to be available to let in the building on a weekend day. Many thanks. Sussex Winlink Packet Node WS3ARA-10 145.050MHz: Permission had been obtained from Bill, KB3KYH, Delaware Section Manager for the use of their Node through the duration of the SET. The Node is located SW of Milford, DE. Thanks Bill. Gordon Davids, WJ3K: for his APRS knowledge is assisting our mobile operators setting up their mobile APRS units for position tracking en route to the SET operating sites. Thank you. SET Planning Meeting Attendees: for taking the time and effort to attend the SET Planning session(s) and for their recommendations and suggestions for a successful MDC Section SET. Much appreciated, thanks. APRS Trackers: for rising early at 0-dark hundred in the morning to capture those tracks on their way to the SET operating sites in Worcester County, MD. A service to be well commended. Seventeen ARES Operators: who came together supporting the Section SET in Worcester County, MD at Ocean City, Berlin and Snow Hill Operations. Thankless dedication at its best. Thank you so much. Dan Wantuck, W0OJW: my very good blind ham friend in Pueblo, CO who played the role of Johnny B. Lostt s Grandpa in the SET. Outstanding Gramps, you played the role so well. Thanks....last but not least John Ohm, AAR3CK and W8IS: our official MEMA representative contact during the SET operations. Without him and his dedicated staff, the MDC Section ARES would not have had the opportunity to demonstrate 2-way communications support capability for distant county communities. Thanks for working with me on this and for your continuing support to your Section SET over the years. mny tnx es 73 27
13.0 Cost Avoidance to Federal, State and Local Governments Monetary Value of Service Provided by ARES To Served Agencies and Local Government The national rate for volunteer hours is estimated to be $20.00 per hour. Estimated costs of the equipment used (personal radios, computers, repeaters, etc.) will vary with each exercise, length of exercise and location. For this exercise the monetary value of the service of trained radio operators and the equipment they provide is on the order of $142,100. The equipment used, operator hours spent and travel to and from the facilities is provided gratis to county served agencies by the Maryland - DC Section ARES organization. If these gratis services were not available, and assuming that the county, state or federal government could even duplicate it with private contractors, it is likely that the cost would be greatly in excess of the estimate provided. Each hospital s radio system is about $2500.00 each Each repeater system is about $10,000.00 ea Each personal VHF/UHF radio is about $300.00 ea Each personal HF radio system will average about $3500 ea Item Each Cost Number Total Costs Hospital Equipment (medical carts) 2500 6 15000 Repeaters used 10000 6 60000 Personal VHF/UHF Radios used 300 30 9000 Personal Computers (for Winlink operations) 1000 10 10000 RMS Packet Nodes (all that were used) 1000 0 Planning and writing @ $20/hr 20 80 1600 Travel and operating time @ $20/hr 20 50 1000 Personal HF Radio System 3500 13 45500 Total 142100 28
14.0 Score Computation 2017 MDC Section ARES Score Computation Attribute Qty Multiplier Points A Number of Amateurs who participated 36 X 2 72 B Number of new Amateurs licensed since 2007 participating 7 X3 21 C D Number of formal 3 rd party written messages originated or delivered during SET on behalf of served agencies Were TACTICAL communications conducted on behalf of served agencies (1 hour or more, score 20 points; ½ hour to 1 hour score 10; less that ½ hour, score 5). 0 X1 1 n/a 20 E Number of stations on emergency power during the test 3 X 2 6 F G H I J K L Number of emergency-powered repeaters used during the test. Give call signs of repeaters: K3ERA, WA3GPC, N3ST(2), N3ARN, N3RCC, K3DCR Is dual membership in ARES and RACES actively encouraged? If YES, score 10 points Was liaison maintained during SET with an NTS section or local net? If YES, score 10 points. Give call signs of stations(s) performing liaison: W3CB Were digital modes utilized at any time during the exercise? If YES, score 10 points. Name the digital modes utilized: Winlink 2000 Number of different agencies for which communications were handled? Number of communities in which agencies were contacted. (If none, score MINUS 10). Names the communities served: Snow Hill, Ocean City, Berlin, Bel Air, Havre de Grace, Forest Hill, Prince Frederick, Bowie, Lanham, Ft Washington, Laurel, Cheverly, Clinton, Annapolis, Glen Bernie, Reisterstown, Landover Was press release submitted? If YES score 10 points and attach copy. 7 X 10 70 Y n/a 10 Y n/a 10 10 n/a 10 20 X 5 100 17 X 10 170 0 0 Total score: 489 29
15.0 Lessons Learned HF Winmor Frequencies (A): On the matter of the frequency selected for the SET, there were some minor issues dealing with interference from the JT-65 folks operating on 3576 and 7076kHz. Future drills and exercise will take this into advisement and perhaps move down 6kHz (each band) to avoid any possible conflict. HF Winmor Frequencies (B): In the early afternoon, it was noted in Berlin and reported from Snow Hill that Winmor P2P 80m propagation to and from MEMA might have retired to the ozone...lost. Switching to the alternate 40m frequency proved fruitless and it was not known if MEMA had the propagation issue as well. The solution here would have been to send a message to a Winlink HF Internet gateway stating our intentions. This is the P2P propagation-loss-solution. The Call to Support the 2017 MDC Section Deployment: It was weak and a bit disappointing. The Chesapeake Bay Community is very vulnerable when it comes to the threat of hurricanes...the main purpose of this year s SET. Two Section Newsletters and a personal plea should have produced a better turnout. The shortage was in the Winlink Winmor area where at least two more operators would have helped tremendously. Hope for better times next year. Reports Submitted: Part of the reporting process required included three ICS forms; ICS-213, General Message; ICS- 214, The Activity Log; and the Communications Log, ICS-309, and the RMS Express Logs. It s important to understand the extreme worth of these logs together when supporting a served agency. These logs may be called in as exhibits in a court of law. So, the accuracy of the information and data contained therein is paramount. While logs were received by most, the quality contained needs to be improved and kicked up a notch. 30
Appendix and Reference Files 31
List of Abbreviations ADD Attention Deficit Disorder AGH Atlantic General Hospital ANAR Anne Arundel (County) ANCS Alternate Net Control Station APRS Automatic Packet Reporting System ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service ASM Assistant Section Manager ARESMAT ARES Mutual Aid Team ARRL American Radio Relay League BACO BHC CALV CARR CHAR CMRG DCH Baltimore County Bowie Hospital Center Calvert (County) Carroll (County) Charles (County) Central Maryland Repeater Group Doctors Community Hospital LRH Laurel Regional Hospital MDC Maryland - District of Columbia MHz Mega Hertz MONT Montgomery (County) MSMHC MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center NCS NOAA NTS P2P PGCHD PGHC PRGE RF RMS Net Control Station National Oceanic Atmospheric Adminstration National Traffic system Peer-to-Peer Prince George s County Health Department Prince George s Hospital Center Prince George s (County) Radio Frequency Radio Messaging System EC EmComm EOC Emergency Coordinator Emergency Communications Emergency Operations Center FCC Fed eral Communications Commission FRED Frederick (County) FSB Fire Services Building FWMC Fort Washington Medical Center SEC SET SNS SPA SPLOPS STMA TALB Section Emergency Coordinator Simulated Emergency Test Strategic National Stockpile Storm Preparation Announcement Special Operations Saint Mary s (County) Talbot County HARF HD HF HIPAA IC ICS Harford (County) Health Department High Frequency Health Insurance, Portability, and Accountability Act of 1996 Incident Commander Incident Command System UHF VHF Ultra High Frequency Very high Frequency WDC Washington, DC Winmor Winlink Messaging Over Radio WL2K Winlink 2000 WORC Worcester (County) khz kilo Hertz 32
Maryland - DC Section ARES Winlink Radio Operators are unpaid volunteers. Not because they are worthless. Because they are priceless! ~ WB3KAS 33