A monthly publication of the Middle East Tennessee Emergency Radio Service, Inc.

METERS is a registered non-profit service organization based in Knoxville, serving all the surrounding area.

Club call sign:  KG4NLF        Website: www.metersinc.org

Meetings are held at 7 PM, the 4^th Tuesday every month. Our May meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at Tennessee Technology Center, 1100 Liberty Street, Knoxville 37919. (See the website for directions, or watch the Net Reminder.). Licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to join METERS and assist in meeting the needs of our served agencies.

Presidents Statement for May 2006

By Alan Sims KG4MMG

We have a lot going on in these next few months, folks. Your participation is critical to the functioning and success of your METERS organization. Each and every member is a valuable part of not only METERS, but also the entire disaster relief effort in this area. No matter what your job is, it is appreciated and part of our team effort. Thanks for being there – from all of us in METERS. See you at the meetings, at the Hamfest, at Field Day, and on the METERS Nets.  

- Alan KG4MMG

Vice President's Notes

From Tyra Buczkowski AI4KG

"NIMS" IS ON!  -- 

Our new date for NIMS training (FEMA IS-700) is Tuesday, June 13, 2006 from 6:00PM EDT (1800 hours) at the Alcoa, TN TEMA office. (Address to be supplied.)

Please register with Tyra AI4KG at the upcoming May 23 METERS meeting.

Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 21-27 this year.

The National Hurricane Centeris encouraging everyone to get prepared for the coming hurricane season now. As with all disasters, preparedness is key to survival and minimization of property damage.

According to Ed Rappaport of the National Hurricane Center, more than half of the fatalities associated with hurricanes and tropical storms during the 1970's, 80's, and 90's, were attributable to inland flooding. Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes. Tornadoes are most likely to develop in the right front quadrant of a hurricane, but have also occurred in the rain bands.

We usually have at least several days' warning for a hurricane but no time to about a half hour to prepare for a tornado. Due to the deadly nature of these storms, we need to prepare for flooding and tornadoes in addition to hurricanes for this upcoming hurricane season.  Please take a little time and make sure your family and loved ones are prepared. For more info on the Internet go to: 

www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml  -- Tyra AI4KG

Treasurer Talk! 

By Dave Ogle KE4YBZ

I am pleased to report we're up to 43 paid members (as of May 12th), but we can use a few more good 'ham' volunteers to meet our goals. We all know there are still some local amateurs who are willing to re-up... but just haven't done so for one reason or another... so let's all join in reminding

Everyone to pay their METERS Dues Today! And, please be on the lookout for a few more good members.

Remember, at our next meeting - and for several meetings to come, we will have our New METERS logo patches available. These are Iron-On Patches, (but we suggest you tack them down with needle & thread) suitable for your favorite jacket, vest or even a shirt... to show your affiliation to METERS, and your commitment to emergency communications.  These patches are $3 each, or TWO for $5.  Some folks have already bought their supply... so I am sure they will go quick!  Why not pick up a couple, and either make your own METERS Garment, or add it to something you already have, to show your METERS pride!  Remember, Supplies are Limited, so get yours Today!

Thanks   - Dave KE4YBZ

LEPC Meeting Notes – April

(Provided by Gary Buczkowski AG4XO)

(This local emergency planning committee consists of reps from most Knox County and vicinity agencies having responsibilities that may overlap the other agencies. LEPC encourages mutual cooperation with minimal stepping on the other agencies prerogatives. Check http://knoxtnlepc.com/ for further information. –Ed.)

Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, following which everyone introduced themselves.

Alan Lawson, KEMA, announced that KFD had been recognized by the Knoxville City Council for its accreditation as a CBRNE HAZMAT team. -- A Bio-Detection System drill took place on 4/19/06 at the Post Office facility on Weisgarber Rd. At the exercise "patients" were decontaminated by KFD and bussed to the Health Department to receive medication. -- At the recent meeting of the East Tennessee Homeland Security Council the Homeland Security Information Network was discussed. --  The Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains in a ceremony at KEMA presented a portable restroom facility for use during major incidents. The unit is housed by KFD. --  KEMA will take delivery of the new Command/Communications Unit next month. -- The airport disaster exercise will be held in October this year. -- The DOE exercise will follow a few weeks later. -- Paul Pierpont, Civil Air Patrol, announced that the CAP was looking into equipping aircraft for radiological detection. They are also considering chemical and biological detection. --

Bill Cole, District Two Homeland Security, announced that the District Two disaster exercise would be held on October 14th. -- Charity Menefee, Knox County Health Dept, announced that they have been doing disaster training for nursing homes. Also, the State Pandemic Plan is due in May. -- Thanks was extended to Joe Oliver with Norfolk Southern RR for speaking at the April LEPC.

Editorial Notes –

·        Back in March Hamthreads (B&B) had sent us a sample selection of shirts, vest, jackets, and a cap, which we displayed at the last two meetings. We passed out order forms and are now ready to place our combined order.  Remember, to take advantage of our combined order discount of 20% and Free Shipping, we must order at least 30 items. If you have considered getting a call letter or RACES cap, a jacket or shirt, or one of those bright yellow vests with Emergency Communications on the back, please come to the May meeting and place your order. Your name and call will be placed on the garment front at no charge, according to Dave at Hamthreads (remember there is a $15 charge for putting "Emergency Communications" on the back). Also note that your METERS logo patch can be applied later, unless you want the RACES patch from B&B. Each person ordering is asked to add $1.00 to the total amount due, payable to Meters Inc., so Treasurer Dave KE4YBZ, can send our Meters check to B&B.  If we have enough items to make the discount, we'll send the order in after the May meeting. If not, you'll get your check back, and can order individually if desired. (We'll set up in the back of the room to assemble the orders. -Quietly!?!)

·        Note that our METERS logo on a colorful embroidered iron-on patch is now available from Dave KE4YBZ. He ordered 100 and is offering them at only $3.00 each. (2 for $5.00)  Going fast - .

·        A METERS "Ham Class" is coming up in June for anyone you know who would like to become an amateur radio licensee. METERS' Training Officer, Dick Wolf WI8X, volunteered to devote several Saturday mornings to teaching the basics for new Technician prospects. Classes will be taught at GraceLutheran Church, at 9076 Middlebrook Pike in West Knoxville, on Saturday mornings. (If we have sufficient interest). Cost will only be for the new ARRL Technician Class Manual, which we'll know in May when published by ARRL. Candidates should call Dick WI8X (584-9168) or Larry W8JYQ (690-5096) to register. Volunteer speakers should also call Dick.

·        Field Day is coming up fast, and Connie K9GWB is putting final touches together for manning and equipment, etc. Please keep up with her latest FD info in the weekly Net Reminder.

·        Minutes of the Meetings are available, although we have dispensed with reading them due to the limited meeting time in our meeting venues. If you would like me to e-mail you a copy of the last month's minutes, just e-mail or call me. -  Thanks - Larry W8JYQ

Panic Could Overwhelm Communications in Pandemic

Adapted from an article by Maggie Fox, Reuters, April 27, 2006  (from Gary AG4XO)

Telephone and Internet services could be overwhelmed and shut down in the early stages of a bird flu pandemic as people panic and try to work from home, according to a report released by management consultant, Booz, Allen, & Hamilton. Businesses need to think of other ways to keep going as governments close schools and direct people to stay home, the firm reported. They issued the report based on interviews conducted at the World Economic Forum in January, involving 30 chief executive officers of companies, government ministers, and senior officials of the United Nations.

The scenario assumed a pandemic was already underway in Germany and the participants thought through the consequences. What they found matched what other experts have predicted -- large numbers of people will stay home from work, either because they are sick, caring for family members, because schools are closed, or simply because they are afraid. And many may presume that they can telecommute -- perhaps too many, the officials and business leaders agreed.

"Telecommunications (phone and Internet) will likely be overwhelmed early in a pandemic, with experts predicting shut-downs in two to four days, meaning that telecommuting will not be viable and alternative communications need to be explored. Governments will likely direct the general population to stay in their homes, and minimize social contact," it added.

"Alternate facilities, such as schools and churches will need to become hospitals with the recovered filling vacant essential jobs. This will require individuals to receive a minimal level of training to perform critical functions."

The H5N1 avian influenza has spread to more than 40 countries, from Asia into Europe and across parts of Africa. Experts predict it will become permanently established in the world's bird population.

HUMANS RARELY INFECTED

It rarely infects humans, but has made 204 people ill, killing 113 of them. If the virus mutated so that it could pass easily from person to person, it would set off a global pandemic that would infect hundreds of millions. Depending on its virulence, it could kill tens of millions of people. Businesses and government should start making clear their priorities now for essential services and personnel, the report said. They should list who should get scarce antiviral drugs and vaccines first.

The report also raised several critical questions:

"If you expect everyone to stay at home, how do they get healthcare such as antivirals? What happens when counterfeit Tamiflu and masks hit the black market?"

Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, is one of only two drugs that can treat influenza, if taken early enough after infection. Manufacturer, Roche AG, cannot make the pills fast enough to fill demand for government stockpiles.

The report also asked who would pay for the extra healthcare needed, especially for first responders. It said businesses should look to ways to preserve their capital as markets panic, perhaps by moving to gold.

Business leaders said their first priority would be the protection of their employees and families. They said companies may need to provide essential employees with food and care. They would then have to decide which nonessential operations to shut down for the duration of the pandemic, which could last for more than a year, and how to retrain healthy employees to fill needed posts.

Notes from The ARES E-Letter (ARRL)

=================                                                    

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor, April 19, 2006

(Edited for our METERS Newsletter – Ed.)

+ MIDWEST TORNADOES

ARES was active in Tennesseeand elsewhere on April 2 for tornadoes. Two dozen died and many were injured. Tennessee SEC Jimmy Floyd, NQ4U, stated SKYWARN volunteers relayed reports to the National

Weather Service Office in Memphis. "Several hams were active in the Dyersburg-Newbern area Sunday night passing local traffic for the area folks needing to let relatives know that they were okay," Floyd said.

In Illinois, Lawrence County EC Gary Auerswald, WB9UDJ, found himself in the middle of "a horrendous storm" while returning home with his family from Indiana. "Trees were coming down, and people were getting blown off the road," he told SEC Pat Ryan, KC6VVT. "All electricity in the area went out." Fallen power lines prevented Auerswald from taking his usual route along Illinois Route 1. "We traveled by back

roads and oil field roads and made it home," he said. When he got there, he found his antenna farm gone; it had been taken out by the storms.

The ARES Net on the Starved Rock Radio Club W9MKS repeater in Lenore, IL, yielded to an ongoing weather-spotter net activated earlier by Jim Morris, N9PLM, who served as net control. "Weather Net members monitored for storm activity and, at one point, the LaSalle County EOC was activated," Ryan said. One person died in Illinois.

Kentucky SEC Ron Dodson, KA4MAP, reported nets up and running the evening of April 2. Dodson says the storms decreased in severity by the time they reached his state. "Trees, power and phones lines went

down," he said, "but there were no major structural incidents or injuries." - Rick Lindquist, N1RL, ARRL

+ NIMS COURSE REQUIREMENTS

In Pennsylvania, NIMS [National Incident Management System] training is now a requirement for ALL first responders by decree of the Governor. There is also a requirement from Homeland Security to put NIMS in place (or lose federal funding opportunities). Currently in Pennsylvania the requirements are the IS-100, 200, and 700 courses. IS-800 (National Response Plan Intro) will also be required soon. Pennsylvania's requirements can be found on the PEMA web site http://www.pema.state.pa.us.           It's of note that the  Pennsylvania requirement explicitly applies to volunteers. -- Donald D. Cripe, KE3MM, Western Pennsylvania DEC, New Galilee, Pennsylvania

ARES FAQ 313 now states, in part, "The NIMS Integration Center strongly recommends that volunteers with a direct role in emergency and incident management and response take NIMS and ICS training." For additional history on these FAQs and the updates, see http://ares.rf.org/dist6w/e_letter.htm> -- Ron Breitwisch, KC0OX, ARES District Emergency Coordinator - Iowa District 6 West

+ NEW MEXICO FUNDS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION NETWORK   (How 'bout Tennessee??)

New Mexico has allocated $500,000 to design, construct and install a statewide Amateur Radio emergency communication network. Rep Tom Anderson (R-Bernalillo), KB5YSG, sponsored the funding bill in the

2006 New Mexico legislative session.

"After hurricane Katrina, where hurricanes and tornadoes destroyed communications infrastructure and overwhelmed government infrastructure, we saw firsthand just how valuable Amateur Radio could be in a disaster," Anderson said. "It was Amateur Radio operators who helped to save the day."

The state Department of Public Safety will pay for the equipment for Amateur Radio volunteers to use in disasters and emergencies. All of the equipment will be state-owned. Early plans call for the installation of strategically located, interlinked VHF and UHF repeaters to handle both voice and digital communication.

In New Mexico, the potential exists for disastrous wildfires, tornadoes and floods. This year, when range fires broke out near Hobbs, ARES provided communication support. Over the past several years, radio amateurs in New Mexico have been called upon to support communication during fires, for severe weather spotting (SKYWARN), during public service events and to assist Albuquerque with Hurricane Katrina refugees. - Rick Lindquist, N1RL, ARRL Letter

+ MAYOR THANKS TENNESSEE ARES GROUP

"Please extend my thanks on behalf of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Government to the Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers for their excellent work this Saturday, March 4, 2006. As a part of the drill, I am sending you this message from the Winlink 2000 system. In addition, having witnessed other types of communications support as well from WCARES, it is certainly comforting to know that our County is prepared should any need arise for the use of these volunteers and their communications systems." -- Roger Anderson, Mayor, Williamson County, Tennessee

+ TULSA AMATEURS SUPPORT HOSPITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 11, 2006 - A drill of the Tulsa Area Amateur Radio Hospital net was conducted in partnership with the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA), Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and ARES. The Tulsa Chapter of the Red Cross also participated.

Tulsa area hospitals have dual band VHF/UHF mobile radios permanently installed, and ready for use in a communications emergency. Amateur Radio is an important part of the Tulsa emergency communication plan.  -- Mark D. Conklin, N7XYO, Assistant SEC for Northeastern Oklahoma

+ LETTER OF THE MONTH: A NEW ARES MEMBER'S PERSPECTIVE

I am a new ARES member. I read my first ARES E-letter with interest, especially the section entitled:  "Opinion: Stigma of 'Amateur' ". This in no way is a criticism of the writer, but I have observed the

described phenomenon for years and I believe that we amateurs may have created our own credibility problem.  - I once asked a non-ham coworker to give me his impression of ham radio operators (he was a fellow engineer who went to the Gaithersburg, Maryland hamfest to shop for electronic parts). His answer shocked me deeply. He said that from outward appearances we hams looked like "a bunch of slobs!" He cited the obvious lack of personal grooming that was evident in a large percentage of Hamfest attendees: poor personal hygiene, dirty clothes and soiled baseball caps which presented an exceedingly poor image of ham radio to non-hams. He was also quick to point out the many unusual things that we've all seen at hamfests: the hams who carry four HT's on their belt (each with its own speaker/mike clipped to a t-shirt) or

multiple vertical antennas protruding from a hardhat.  (We call this "character"! - Ed.)

Admittedly, a hamfest may not be the best place to sample the ham radio population. I was quick to remind my friend that most hams were decent family people, and that the eccentric minority was mostly visible at hamfests. 

The point that I'm trying to make is that we need to be cognizant of our appearance when dealing with non-hams, especially those in the media or in positions of governmental authority. The contact should be treated as a business meeting, with appropriate professional appearance (i.e., a tie and jacket). Some time ago, I saw a photo of a ham speaking to a government official (regarding an antenna issue). The official was in a suit; the ham was in shorts and T-shirt. Not good. -- Paul Akimov, W2RIA

+ LETTERS: WORKWEEK AMATEURS

In past newsletters, I've noticed comments about disaster drills being held on weekdays that resulted in various numbers of personnel not being able to get time off from work to respond. Folks need to keep in mind that this factor mimics the number of personnel who might be stranded, injured or even killed in an incident. Teams need to be prepared to function with as little as 25% of their total response capability.

Like the man said: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong! Every team member needs to be cross-trained and ready to do multiple jobs for undetermined periods. -- Jeff Sabatini, KI6BCX, RedlandsEmergency

Communications Group

+ PERSPECTIVE: EMBRACE TRAINING

The responses to recent tornadoes in Alabama, Tennessee and other states are continuing examples of the worth of Amateur Radio. Operators logged hundreds of hours assisting multiple served agencies before, during and after these tragic events.  These localized disasters drive home the need for operators to continually train, prepare, practice and test so we can provide the best and most valuable public service.

Many amateurs are now embracing training, preparing, practicing and testing more than ever before to be better organized, equipped and ready when needed.  I challenge you to take all the training you can, and gain experience by participating in public service and emergency events.  I also challenge amateurs that worked in the Katrina relief effort last year to pass on what you learned and share your experiences: Put on a presentation at your club or teach a class.

June 1 is the start of hurricane season and we must be ready, but we were reminded last week that other threats exist, and are real and constant. We must be prepared for all emergencies large or small. --

Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Alabama Section Manager

+ PERSPECTIVE: EMERGENCIES VERSUS DISASTERS

Tom Cox, VE6TOX, in his Communications Academy paper, recently helped me to a new understanding about the important differences between emergencies and disasters.  Amateur Radio resources are seldom called upon for "emergencies," and nearly always called upon for "disasters."

In emergencies, conventional communications systems remain intact and available, although perhaps overloaded or unable to connect all responders.  In disasters, conventional communications systems are

destroyed.  Emergency services train and respond to "emergencies" every day; it is what they do, and they usually become very good at it.  No one becomes very good at disasters because they are infrequent events and do not repeatedly happen in the same areas (except Florida).  Look at an incident and ask yourself "will

applying more emergency services (fire, police, EMS) to the problem quickly make it better?" If it would, then it is an emergency incident; if not, it is a disaster. All the king's horses and all the king's men could have done little in South Mississippi last season. Disasters are incidents that exceed the ability of emergency services to make an effective response. --Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, South Texas SEC; ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee

+ A FINAL FROM K1CE

A few weeks ago, I handled a radiogram on one of the local VHF nets routed via a major HF net in the Northern Florida section. The message had a simple preamble, address, text, and signature, and yet it was garbled significantly from the original. If there is one thing that we must do right ARES operators, it is to send a message accurately. It is more important than timeliness, or any other feature of message-handling. Take the time to send it right. We hang our hats on that. -- See you next month! – K1CE

RACK Hamfest is coming up June 10^th.

Please check the flyer below and the RACK web site for additional information. METERS plans to have a 'PR' table there, but the rest of the activities should be interesting as well. See you there.