Accessed on 22 November 2018, 0442 UTC, Post 777.
Source: http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2018-11-21
Editor: Rick Palm (K1CE).
Please click link to read the full article.
Comment: Here are some of the topics discussed in the current edition of “The ARES E-Letter.” Editor Rick Palm (K1CE) provides an excellent summary of Amateur/Ham Radio activities connected with the ongoing California wildfires.
- cane Michael: Northern Florida ARES Groups Begin to File After Action Reports
- Hurricane Michael: American Red Cross Thanks Radio Amateurs
- How to Send E-mail to a Disaster Area via WINLINK
- Southern New Jersey ARES Team Supports Search for Missing Man
- FEMA Releases 2018 National Preparedness Report
- Driver Rescued Thanks to Alert Badger Weather Net Members
- News Media Covers Amateurs’ Hurricane Michael Involvement
- Ham Radio Assists in Rescue of Missing Mariner
- K1CE For a Final: HDSCS, the End of an Era of Extraordinary Service
California Fires Responses
(11/13/18) From Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, ARRL News Desk(summarized) — Amateur Radio volunteers have been active on several fronts as wildfires raged in large sections of California.
Camp Fire
In Butte County, northern California, the Camp Fire caused multiple shelters to be opened to evacuees, with five Sacramento Valley ARESgroups involved in communications support between the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center (DOC) and the shelters.In addition to supporting the shelters, ARES members were also tasked by Red Cross to shadow Red Cross delivery vehicles to provide communications in the mountain areas to the shelters.
ARES voice, WINLINK, and email were used to pass shelter counts and tactical messages between the shelter and the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center and Cal Office of Emergency Services. The Red Cross supported ARES at the shelters with hot spots and backup radios.
Working 12-hour shifts, Sacramento Valley Section District Emergency Coordinator 3 Michael Joseph, KK6GZB, staffed the Red Cross radio station as net control for the DOC, passing messages and tracking ARES personnel. Sacramento ARES members have been pitching in as needed. Joseph also has been coordinating ARES deployments as needed.
Visit the ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Facebook page or Twitter account for more information. — Thanks to Section Emergency Coordinator Greg Kruckewit, KG6SJT
Woolsey Fire
The Woolsey Fire swept through the westernmost portion of Los Angeles County and the easternmost area of Ventura County in the ARRL Santa Barbara Section. “Governmental radio systems used by fire and sheriff held up,” said Los Angeles Section Manager Diana Feinberg, AI6DF. “Evacuees went to areas where cell phone service was generally available.” She said Los Angeles ARES (ARES LAX) was not activated because no county hospitals were in the affected area and no hospital outside the fire zone was in danger of losing communication. A team of ARES LAX operators organized by LAX-Northwest District Emergency Coordinator Roozy Moabery, W1EH, did perform logistics work at a major drop-off site in the San Fernando Valley for evacuee supplies.
On the air for the Woolsey Fire, both the Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service (DCS) — Amateur Radio volunteers overseen by the Sheriff’s Department — and the City of Los Angeles Fire Department Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS) operated nets and monitored their respective frequencies. “The DCS group at Lost Hills Sheriff Station covers most of the Los Angeles County areas affected by the Woolsey Fire and communicated with organized amateurs in the cities of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Westlake Village, and unincorporated mountain areas when not affected by respective mandatory evacuation orders,” Feinberg said. “The City of Los Angeles’ ACS group was involved when the city’s West Hills neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley became the fire’s northeastern front, forcing about half the West Hills community to evacuate.”
Feinberg said ACS members have also been involved with delivering food and water supplies to LAFD firefighters and performing fire patrols. American Red Cross volunteers are reported to be using Amateur Radio in connection with some of their fire response activities, Feinberg reported.
Click here for full story.
And here is an 11/19/18 update: Repeaters, Amateur TV Play Communication Role in California Fire Emergency
Hawaii Island Amateur/Ham Radio notes:
The Big Island International Swap Meet/Hamfest will be held Saturday, 02 February 2019, at the Waimea Community Center, next to the ball field off Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea (Kamuela). The event runs from 0930 HST to 1400 HST. Activities include displays, a swap meet, an EMCOMM forum, and VE testing for new and upgraded Amateur Radio Licenses. For details, contact Steve Miller at wh6n@arrl.net.
For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please check the blog sidebars and links. These news feeds are updated daily and weekly.
Thanks for joining us today.
Aloha es 73 de
Russell Roberts (KH6JRM)
Public Information Coordinator
Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section