M.E.T.E.R.S. Newsletter - November 2005

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.) 

Meetings are held at 7 PM, the 4th Tuesday every month. Our NEW meeting location, until further notice, will be at Cumberland Estates Recreation Center off Western Ave.  Address is 4529 Silverhill Dr. Knoxville, TN 37921. (See website for directions). Licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to join METERS and assist in meeting the needs of our served agencies.  Club call sign is KG4NLF. Website: www.metersinc.org 

Members' submissions are invited for this newsletter, in .rtf, .doc, and plain text formats, subject to space available and editing. Editor: Larry Osterman, W8JYQ, e-mail to w8jyq (at) arrl (dot) net.         

 

 

Presidents Statement for November 2005

By Alan Sims KG4MMG,

 

Hello Group

 

Well all the crops are put up; all the hay is done; the barns are full; I have my beef up being fed, so let mother nature have her way. Sure hope everyone has most of your pre-winter projects done. It is that time of year so don't get caught in bad shape yourself.

 

Our Hospital teams are coming together; radio tests are going well, but we do need to stay on track with our testing and drills to keep our group and the community prepared and at their best.

 

We'll be having some workshops start soon, and I hope all will be a part of these classes. I will be having one on the farm for a hands-on tower/antenna/repeater installation coming up. This will be hands-on from the ground up, and should be useful and educational for all. (Please watch the weekly Net Reminder for date and time of this event.)

 

I hope you all have enjoyed, and taken something useful with you, from the CERT training. (This is good stuff, even for an old farm-boy.)

 

I need to go do some chores now but hope you-all are well. Hear you on the Nets!

 

73. -- Alan KG4MMG

 

 

Treasurer Talk!

By Dave Ogle KE4YBZ

 

Reminder #2: it's time for your 2006 METERS Membership Dues!  Only TEN Bucks!  (What a deal!)  If you haven't yet paid, I will be taking Cash and/or checks at the next METERS meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 22. Also, please bring your Christmas Party donation, to keep the good food coming at our big annual December event, only $5 each. Bring your wife and/or buddy.

 

 

Don't forget - we still have a few METERS T-Shirts available!  In our own little department store we currently have: 4 XL size shirts; 7 Large Shirts; 2 Medium Shirts, and only 1 Small.  They are still $10 each, so get them while they last!  If demand dictates, we will order more. But we have no plans to place a new order unless and until we get enough requests for new shirts.

 

Thanks folks!  C U at the next meeting!  -Dave

 

 

Notes and Observations 

By Tyra Buczkowski, AI4KG, Vice President

 

1.     METERS is sponsoring an EmComm testing session on Saturday November 19, 2005 at 10:00AM at Grace Lutheran Church, 9076 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN. (See the Net Reminder or METERS' website: www.metersinc.org for directions.)  Participants need to bring: 

a)     The exam fee of $10/exam payable in cash at the testing session,

b)     Photo ID, (such as your driver license!)

c)     A copy of your FCC amateur radio license for visual inspection but will not be kept by the examiners and,

d)     Proof of successful completion of previous EmComm Level if testing above Level I.

 

2.     NEW LOCATION! The next general METERS meeting is on Tuesday November 22, 2005 at 7:00PM at Knoxville's Cumberland Estates Recreation Center, 4529 Silverhill Dr, Knoxville, TN. Follow the signs off Western Ave. (At about 5200 Western go north on Palmetto and follow the signs to the Rec Center. (See the Net Reminder or METERS' website www.metersinc.org for map and directions.)

 

3. The METERS Christmas party is Tuesday December 20, 2005 at 7:00PM at the Northshore Village Clubhouse. (South on Morrell Road near Northshore, look for signs, or see your Net Reminder, or METERS' website, www.metersinc.org for details & directions.)

 

4. We now have a Hospital Response Team Administrator: Fred Koenig KI4EOJ. Hospital Team Leaders should coordinate reports with Fred. Fred will be responsible for administration of the monthly radio station testing program and maintenance of the testing records. (Thanks Fred!)

Chertoff: Preparedness Depends on People

(via Gary Buczkowski AG4XO) Monday Oct 31, 2005.

 

Stockpiling supplies and developing family response plans in case disaster strikes not only might save lives -- it's also a civic duty, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Monday in a press interview.

 

Two months of hurricanes ravaging the Gulf Coast should prove that people need to make preparations so emergency officials can focus on those who are poor, elderly or otherwise can't help themselves, Chertoff said. "For those people who say, 'Well, I can take care of myself no matter what, I don't have to prepare,' there is an altruistic element -- that to the extent that they are a burden on government services, that takes away from what's available to help those who can't help themselves," Chertoff said. "That is a matter of civic virtue."

 

Chertoff's comments mark a new stage in Homeland Security's "Ready" campaign -- which was widely ridiculed two years ago for urging homeowners to stock up on duct tape and plastic sheeting to safeguard their homes against a chemical or biological attack. Now, Chertoff said, the department plans to reach out to school students to carry the preparedness messages home to their parents. Additionally,

Homeland Security and the Ad Council launched a newspaper and radio campaign Monday pitched at small businesses to develop disaster plans for workplaces. Whether the public will listen, however, is another matter.

 

Even with a week's notice of Hurricane Wilma, many Floridians failed to evacuate areas the storm flooded or to stock up on food, water and other essentials. This attitude prompted Gov. Jeb Bush to scold constituents, noting that, "people who sought relief from Wilma had ample time to prepare." -- "It isn't that hard to get 72 hours' worth of food and water," Bush said last week.

Michael A. Wermuth, homeland security director at the RAND Corp. in Arlington, Va., said getting the public to participate will be a struggle lasting years. "Even something like Katrina -- where everybody watched that unfold and understood what those poor folks were going through -- as compelling as that we're all busy people. And how long does it stick if you don't get reminded again and again and again?" Wermuth said. Pitching the preparedness campaign to schoolchildren could be successful, he said, noting the fire prevention and anti-smoking programs that targeted students. But Dr. Vincent Ferrandino, executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, cautioned against using the schools as messenger except "when it's absolutely necessary, and we consider it an issue of national importance." -- "Schools need to be a place where important issues are discussed," Ferrandino said. "But we need to be careful that we don't use the schools constantly for everybody's latest and greatest new idea."

 

Chertoff's plans are an optimistic and pragmatic mix. If gas stations keep power generators on hand, Chertoff argues: they can pump fuel for commuters to drive to work. If utility company employees can get to work, they can provide power to grocery stores. Once grocery stores are open, households can restock food, water and first aid needs while emergency responders focus on people who can't get their own. "The great lesson of all of these events is interdependence," Chertoff said. "We're all dependent on everybody else. Everybody has their role to play, and if people fail in their role, it's going to have a cascading effect."

 

 

 

Invite a Ham Radio Friend to METERS

By Dick Wolf WI8X, METERS PIO

 

Do you know how METERS membership could double? Easy! Invite a ham radio friend, whom you think would be a good emergency communicator, to the next METERS meeting. As you have heard, METERS could be hard-pressed to supply enough communicators during a large-scale emergency. If all METERS members could add even one member each to METERS, it could double membership, and the available communicators available for emergencies.

 

We encourage every member, new or old, to become EmComm Level 1 certified, so that s/he can be activated and deployed to a site for emergency communications. The office of Homeland Security also demands incident comment system (ICS) certification, for emergency deployment. The reason: Homeland Security only wants qualified communicators Ð ICS, or EmComm Level 1, which has ICS as a component, or higher certifications -- admitted to communications sites. You will find that local served agencies will be requiring these certifications as well.

 

If you want to obtain EmComm Level 1 certification, please study your EmComm book and plan to attend the EmComm VE session Saturday, November 19 (see AI4KG's announcement above!).  Please visit the METERS Web site (www.metersinc.org) for location and time.  -- C U there?

 

 

 

Reflections from our Immediate Past President:

Gary Buczkowski, AG4XO

 

Why has there been a decline in net participation and meeting attendance? I don't know the answer, but I do know that this trend is not good. At first we thought that it was just the summer doldrums, but now it is obvious that a trend has developed. It concerns me because we all need practice and training. METERS provides a wealth of training opportunities. Certainly more than any one person needs, but enough to provide plenty of opportunities for all to participate on a regular basis.

 

I can think of a few reasons for the decline. I'll frame them in the form of questions to ask yourself.  Do you feel like you are well trained for any contingency? Are you bored with the way we are training or with the topics? Are you tired of training for something that may or may not happen? Do you stay away from interactive on-air training because you are afraid of making a mistake or of not knowing the answer?

 

Those that have been participating in the traffic training net run by Dick Wolf, WI8X, know first hand how much fun it is to participate. More importantly, and more seriously, we are all learning how much practice we all really need. We're also learning how to work as a team.

 

Recent events should have awoken us all to the range of natural and man-made disasters that might befall us at any moment. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, bird flu, terrorism...the list goes on and on. I read an article the other day that pointed out that there really is nowhere in the USA to "hide" from natural disasters. I think I can state with some authority that there is nowhere on earth that is not susceptible to deadly natural disasters. Not to mention the ever-present danger from terrorists and violent radicals. Just turn on TV or cable news. Even countries that opposed the Iraq war are not immune from violent Muslim extremists, communists, or anarchists.

 

What to do? You can help. Let us know why you don't participate like you used to. You can tell me, or you can tell another board member. Thanks for your support of METERS and of emergency communications.

 

 

 

 

Community Emergency Response Team

By Tyra Buczkowski, AI4KG

 

On November 10th approximately 20 CERT members and two coordinators/instructors assembled at the EOC to review current CERT status and plan the future for Knox County CERT's. METERS was represented by Fred KI4EOJ, Gary AG4XO, and Tyra AI4KG

 

The Knox County CERT group now has a "leadership" committee consisting of John Lacava, Ruben Pelot, and Bill Lawhon, who jointly chaired this meeting. The 4th CERT class, consisting primarily of METERS members, is underway. About 75 people will be certified CERT members upon graduation of CERT #4 in December. Three additional classes are programmed after CERT #4 graduates.  (If interested, please contact Tyra.)

 

Additional meeting topics:

 

Follow Up Items:

 

 

Editorial Notes

 

1) Parade Magazine ran a reminder note on October 23rd telling us about the shift in television broadcasting coming up in 2009, just a few years out. No more analog broadcasts, only digital, and that means beware of any purchases of new television sets (and VCR's, etc.) that are not digitally compatible. The alternative will be to buy a little digital converter box, as you may have already done for cable. For those of us not using cable, get ready to buy (or build) the box. (Yard sale anyone!?)

 

2) As you noticed, our November meeting is at the Cumberland Estates Rec. Center and must thank Dick WI8X for this location. Tyra reports that the Red Cross folks needed their small meeting room for other purposes (storage) so our other recourse was the big room, which unfortunately has priority use for Red Cross training activities, so could not be committed to our functions. Alan KG4MMG is hunting for a new committed site for our meetings, hopefully at a central easily-findable location. (Fingers crossed!) 

 

 

3) Have you been checking out the METERS website? Jim KG4TSE, has been the website administrator and idea generator for a few years but has recently turned over website duties to Connie K9GWB. Please check the site frequently, and if you like something, or have some fixes or suggestions, please send Connie a note. She will appreciate it, and we all benefit. (As a side note, due to other time demands, Jim has resigned his Member at Large post, and along with the vacant Secretary job, and Membership Committee chairman post, we will ask for your nominations and/or suggestions, for these positions at the next meeting.)

 

 

 

WANTED:

 

Net Control Operators and Alternate Net Control Operators -

All METERS Members Can Qualify!  Requirements: 

* Amateur Radio License:  Any level. 

* Radio:  Anything that can reliably communicate through our local repeaters. 

* Time Involved:  As little as 30 minutes a month. 

* Skills Needed:  Ability to follow a net script and log check-ins

* Benefits:  Develop your skills for use during emergencies and enjoy communicating with your fellow METERS members and area hams.

 

We will provide a net script and net logging sheet.  All you need is the desire to become an NCS!  We need net control stations and alternate net control stations for the Monday evening 75 Meter Relay Net and for the

Wednesday night METERS training net.  Please let me know if you are interested and we will get you started!   Thanks!  Connie Harrison K9GWB, METERS Net Manager, (k9gwb(AT)metersinc(DOT)org)

 

Also Wanted - Attendees for the METERS Christmas Party: 

The METERS Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at 7:00 PM at the Northshore Village Clubhouse. The cost is $5.00 per member, which includes family members. Directions are as follows:

 

 

Northshore Village Clubhouse

1308 Covington Dr

Knoxville TN

37919-4709

 

From Morrell Road, turn west on Village Drive into Northshore Village.  The second street you come to will be Covington Drive; turn left onto Covington, and the clubhouse is on the left.  There are approximately eight parking spaces in front of the clubhouse.  Please carpool if possible.  If you have to, you can park along the street near the clubhouse, but please do not park in private driveways.

 

If you get lost or have any problems, Connie K9GWB will be monitoring the 146.625 repeater, or call her cell phone at 865-300-9014.

 

 

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From ARRL/ARES Newsletter of Nov. 16, 2005

 

When Telephones Fail

 

A telephone outage in southern California on October 11 left at least 150,000 customers without telephone and Internet service for up to twelve hours. Many cell phones were cut off from service as well. The outage also disabled 911 services in communities along the coast and through parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties.

 

The Long Beach EOC, which serves both police and fire, declared a communication failure protocol, and local radio amateurs stepped in to provide emergency communication. Amateurs worked alongside the police chief and fire chief to support the departments with auxiliary communication. Radio amateurs were also stationed at 17 of the largest nursing homes. The emergency net successfully relayed traffic through the EOC to the nursing homes, hospitals and ambulances services.  Radio amateurs provided communications when all else failed, and they ensured that patients had access to 911, medical and ambulance services.

 

The City of Long Beach built a new EOC three years ago. Casey Chel, KD6DOV, Emergency Services Coordinator, who had the foresight to include a complete Amateur Radio room for the times when all other communications might fail, headed the project. That foresight paid off on October 11. -- Carina Lister, KF6ZYY

 

 

When Hospital Communications Fail

 

[The famous Orange County (California) Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS) was nominated for the ARRL International Humanitarian Award in 2001 and subsequently won a National Certificate of Merit from the ARRL Board of Directors for its work in providing back-up communications to a vast number of hospitals in the area. - ed.]

 

HDSCS communicators were requested by St. Jude Medical Center on the night of July 27 for an "emergency standby" while phone technicians tried to troubleshoot problems with the new phone system. The timing was not good with many HDSCS communicators set to participate early the next morning in a terrorism drill in Anaheim. But true to our mission, we supported the request.

 

The standby was set for 9 PM to midnight but as many of these events go, midnight came and went. Our coverage continued in hospital key areas and the shadowing of the administrative nurse.

 

At 8:30AM and during the next five hours HDSCS communicators were activated to the participating hospitals, including St. Jude, to provide backup communications related to the scenario of a sarin gas terrorist attack at the Anaheim Convention Center. In the midafternoon, after all 21 communicators had secured and were recharging batteries, the disaster/safety coordinator from St. Jude once again contacted HDSCS to request standby communications for that night. The work was scheduled for 9 PM to midnight. 

 

Another three-hour event not only went past midnight, but during the phone work a major alarm failure occurred.  Not only were phones down but the hospital's various back-up systems failed also. Good thing we were there. Critical tactical communications were handled between the emergency department and other units during that time. By 6AM on Friday, July 29, HDSCS communicators could finally secure. 

 

I share this event to point out the value and importance of the following: be integrated into the hospital disaster plans, and have activation plans so hospitals can contact Amateur Radio teams directly.  Have portability and flexibility; we used no installed equipment. And have depth in your group: We were stretched throughout the event and we have a pretty big group from which we can draw. -- April Moell, WA6OPS, Emergency Coordinator, Hospital Disaster Support

Communications System, Orange County, California