JULY 2009
NTS traffic continues to be a fun part of the hobby and is important to ARES. Indiana has hundreds of hams active in the National Traffic System. If you would like to learn more about passing traffic on the Indiana Traffic Net, contact Jim
Baughn, K9EOH (k9eoh@arrl.net) he is the Section Traffic Manager for Indiana or check out the NTS at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
Effective handling of Radio Grams keeps us prepared for when an emergency arises. Plus, if you send any traffic the people on the other end are always pleased when they get one. I would like to ask all of you to participate in the Indiana Traffic Net and send someone a Hello greeting or a Happy Holiday wish or to just checkin, its fun and your participation will be appreciated The times for ITN are 1330Z and 2130Z on or around 3.910 kHz. The CW net is on 3.535 kHz at 1430 and 2400.
Don't forget that the 4th Sunday of each month there is 2 ARES net on or about 3.910 kHz. Please participate!!
If you are interested in ARES and serious about EMCOMM in Indiana, you are going to have to train, upgrade and start doing DRILLS. The time has come to move ARES here in Indiana to the 21st century. All DEC and EC should be upgrading to General http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9965 or Extra Class http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=Licensing+and+Upgrading!+Manuals,+software+and+more...&words=+Extra+Class+License+Manual&SearchWords.x=5&SearchWords.y=10 , so you can have HF access on all the bands.
Also for your training you will need to complete the Incident Command System
courses. All state and local agencies now require these if you are going to
work with them.
NIMS
This requires the completion of the appropriate NIMS courses. Despite some of the comments in some forums, hams need to understand that we have to provide service in the fashion that the Served Agencies want to be served. That means an understanding of Unified Command to FEMA's requirements. The days are long gone when we can just show up and expect people to recognize our talents. We need to serve our customers (Served Agencies) their way.
IS-22 - Are You Ready? http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS22.asp
IS100 - Introduction to the Incident Command System http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/Is/is100a.asp
IS200 - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200a.asp
IS700- National Incident Management System (NIMS) http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp
IS800- National Response Plan (NRP), Introduction http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is800b.asp
All of these are available free and online from FEMA.
The ARRL recommends that DEC/EC take the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course (ARECC) too. http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html
EMCOMM Basic, http://www.w0ipl.net/ECom/EComBas.pdf
EMCOMM Intro, http://www.w0ipl.net/ECom/EComIntro.pdf
ARLINGTON CO, http://www.w4ava.org/races/auxcomm01.htm
NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/pdf/index.html
The Skywarn spotter training from the NWS, Basic http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/basicspot.pdf
and Advance http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/adv_spotters.pdf
.
These 6 are great resources for you to learn even more about
EmComm.
TIPS
4 THINGS --- PIPE
Preplanning,
I have been to a lot of events and it amazes me how ill prepared some of us are. With a little preplanning we can look like we know what we’re doing, by being prepared. Just like the boy scouts taught us to “be prepared.”
Identification
You know who you are but everyone else has to know. So wear a name tag proudly. Plus, I also make copies of my certificates so I can show them just in case there is a question about my training.
Paper and Pencils
I don’t know about you but I can’t remember anything when I am doing 4 things at the same time. You needed to record everything that you do. Who and why you were asked to do something. It may clear things up later if there is a problem. Even in non emergency situation it’s helpful. Whether your parking cars or in a full scale evacuation.
Extra Batteries
It amazes me when hams show
up at an all day event with one HT and no extra batteries. Even that pink bunnies
batteries aren’t made to last that long. Many HTs can be equipped with AA
battery packs, so check it out.