METERS Newsletter - October 2006

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 4th Tuesday every month. Our October 24th meeting will be at the Tennessee Technology Center, 1100 Liberty Street, Knoxville, TN 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.
Members’ submissions are invited for this newsletter, in plain text formats, subject to space available and editing. Editor: John Randle K9RSQ; e-mail to john.randle (at) tds.net; Phone (865) 675-1293, or mail to: John Randle, 10625 Summit Mtn Ct, Knoxville, TN 37922.

President's Statement for October 2006

The activity level of METERS always increases with the beginning of autumn. We have had a flurry of activities in the past month - the Ten Tec and Oak Ridge Hamfests, the Big South Fork Trail Race, the EmComm testing session, and the TN HS District 2 Regional Hospital Exercise. The days are already getting noticeably shorter and the cooler weather is upon us. Now is the time to start on those FEMA online courses so we can get everyone certified in IS100, IS200, and IS700 over the coming months. Please remember to turn copies of those certifications over to Larry W8JYQ our secretary. We are looking for new members who are committed to public service through amateur radio emergency communications. We need more volunteers for our hospital radio teams and our bio-incident response plan. Keep an eye out for operators you think might be interested in helping the community and invite them to a METERS meeting. The next meeting is at 7PM on Tuesday October 24, 2006 at the TN Technology Center of Knoxville. Our speaker will be Joe Oliver, Engineer Environmental Operations of Norfolk Southern Railway Corp., and his topic will be Hazmat By Rail. This will be building upon our knowledge from The Initial Response to Hazardous Materials incidents course we attended at TEMA in Alcoa. Thank you one and all for your participation and support of METERS in all of our recent activities. While not everyone can attend all of the events, each one of us by contributing when & where we can adds to the team effort and teamwork is what it's all about. With sincere appreciation & 7 3 de AI4KG,

-- Tyra Buczkowski AI4KG METERS President

Vice President's Statement for October 2006

Thank you all once again for placing your trust in me to be an officer of METERS, Inc. We have come a long way together. The best is yet to come. METERS is on the threshold of new growth because of our increased roll in our community. We couldn't have done it without you. Our successful exercise Friday, October 13, 2006 for TN Homeland Security District 2 demonstrates our capability and reach as an organization. We coordinated ham teams, from many organizations who deployed to 18 hospitals over 16 counties. But our commitment doesn't begin and end there. The exercise occurred during business hours, yet the ham radio community, including METERS members, deployed a total of 39 operators during the course of the exercise. Many After Action Reports are coming in--thank you!--but more are needed. The deadline is Saturday, October 28, 2006, so please write one and send it in soon. All we need are the following: your name and FCC call sign your tactical call sign number of operators at your station what went well what went poorly remarks, comments, suggestions, etc.

-- Gary Buczkowski AG4XO METERS VP

Secretary's Notes

--Larry W8JYQ

Treasurer Talk!

At the October meeting, the annual membership dues were increased. Dues for the 2007 calendar year for METERS are now $15... and as a result, each dues paying member will receive a full color METERS Identification badge, as described in detail during the September meeting. We have already had 11 members pay their full 2007 dues and we have already begun the process of getting ID photos from the group. I have about 16 photos which we took during a break in the last METERS meeting. If anyone would like to forward their dues to me directly, that is OK for renewals. Just make sure their contact information is current.

Also, if they have a photo of themselves which would be appropriate for an ID photo, and can attach it to an email, they can send that as well.

My address:
Dave Ogle - KE4YBZ
3010 Birchwood Road
Knoxville, TN 7921
email at: ke4ybz ( at ) metersinc ( dot ) org

Thanks -

Dave KE4YBZ

Net Notes!

TN Homeland Security District 2 Regional Hospital Exercise

On Friday October 13, 2006 from 10:00AM until approximately 1:30PM EDT, METERS coordinated the amateur radio communications portion of the TN Homeland Security District 2 Regional Hospital Exercise. The scenario for the emergency exercise for the hospitals was a bio-incident involving an act of terrorism. The amateur radio operators were to provide emergency communications as directed.

TN HS District 2 consists of sixteen (16) middle east TN counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union. There are 21 regional hospitals serving District 2.

The newly created Regional Medical Communications Center (RMCC) is located at UT Hospital in Knoxville. The RMCC was created to aid hospitals in managing medical resources in a man-made or natural mass casualty incident. The RMCC tracks information such as bed counts by type, expected bed counts for given time periods, and surgical and radiological services availability, as well as other critical resources.

There were 39 amateur radio operators located at 19 tactical locations throughout TN HS District 2. Eighteen (18) hospital radio stations were manned by operators from various groups: METERS, Blount County Emergency Communications Service, Big South Fork Amateur Radio Club, Cocke County ARES/RACES, Lakeway Amateur Radio Club, Hamblen County ARES, Loudon County ARES, Monroe County RACES, Monroe Amateur Radio Club, Roane County ARES, and Sevier County Emergency Radio Service.

Eighty-six percent (86%) of the regional hospital amateur radio stations participated in the SET and all passed traffic. The RMCC asked for information about bed availability classified by priority, type, and time available. There were also improvised messages created by amateur operators during the exercise.

There were many lessons learned particularly about the content and format of the information which will be required by the RMCC. We should wait to discuss the exercise in detail since there are more After Action Reports still coming in. Everyone did a fine job in challenging circumstances and is to be commended.

Recent and Up Coming Public Service Events:

Knoxville Track Club Big South Fork Race: Saturday 7 October 2006

Aka It was a perfect day for a race… well, almost

Dawn brought the October 7th sun to burn off the morning fog; the sky was blue through the clouds; and there was no rain. A perfect day for the Knoxville Track Club’s "Big South Fork Trail Race," a foot race through the woods and over the trails. Except… well, the temperature could have been 10 degrees warmer. At race time, it was still only 47 degrees. Most contestants wore layered clothing. Jerry Moore AF1P, Net Director, organized the METERS Amateur Radio communications for the 17.5-mile event, and picked his all-star support team: David Hoffman KE4FGW, alternate NCS, at the 2.5 mile aid station and portable simplex repeater; William McKeehan KI4HDU, at the backup and finish line; Jerry Strong KB4VEL, at the 5 mile aid station; Jordan Webb K4AVG, at the 8½ mile far loop aid station; and Dick Wolf WI8X, at the NCS. Jerry decided on a simplex net, using the ARES 147.42 MHz frequency. David’s KE4FGW simplex repeater (70 cm in, 147.42 out) proved very useful for the net.

One of the Knoxville Track Club (KTC) members, Tracy, was close to my NCS site. Tracy is part of a group of female runners who call themselves the "Quick Chicks." This day, however, Tracy was an enthusiastic cheerleader for the returning runners, and she was indefatigable. She clapped, jumped up and down, shouted "Way to go!" among other encouragements, and hooted "Woo-woo-woo!" to the runners. It was quite a performance.

The race began about 8:31, and the first runner showed up about 15 minutes later. Then they came through in bunches: in all, 142 of them. The weather was cloudy, but later turned to sunshine. And the sun was somewhat deceptive. In the shade, I felt cold. In the sun, it was pleasant. Fog, present all around the Big South Fork site prior to the race, was never a factor during the race, and burned off by around 10 o’clock.

The communications went smoothly, although some of the handhelds were occasionally noisy at my station. David’s simplex repeater worked well. I logged 54 communications, which is a relatively low number for a 17.5-mile, 3½-hour event. None of the runners came to grief (as the Brits say) during the event. I don’t think there were any falls, even. I didn’t hear any reports of falls.

After the race, the KTC invited all of us communicators to their bar-b-que, which was tasty. There, it was warm enough if you were in the sun, but chilly under the covered picnic areas. The lead runner finished in a little under two hours, which is really hauling. I ran cross-country in high school, and can appreciate the low times.

Overall, our communications effort was a success, and Jerry Moore AF1P thanks everyone who turned out. The communications sounded professional, and the track club thanked our METERS group at the b-b-q. For as large a site as the Big South Fork race represented, simplex worked well. Not only that, it was fun! I encourage all METERS members to come out to future events.

de Dick Wolf, WI8X

Notes from The ARES E-Letter from ARRL

When telephone and Internet service in Kentucky went out due to flooding over the September 22-24 weekend, ARES filled the gap. Kentucky SEC Ron Dodson, KA4MAP, says rain in Kentucky and southern Indiana resulted in states of emergency in 19 Kentucky counties and 12 cities, including Frankfort, the capital. Emergency managers contacted Dodson to activate the Kentucky Emergency Net on 3.993.5 MHz to provide support communication between the EOC and Kentucky's 120 counties.

Shelby Ennis, W8WN, in Hardin County reported via the K4ULW 146.625 repeater that all telephone service, including the Hardin County E-911 facility, had gone down, Dodson said. "Cell phones soon overloaded and also shut down, basically stranding the whole county without outside contact except via Amateur Radio."

Communication between the state EOC and Hardin County took place via the Bullitt Amateur Radio Society's KY4KY 146.700 repeater in Brooks. The American Red Cross headquarters in Louisville also used this machine to communicate with their shelter and Hardin County emergency management, Dodson said.

Communications Supervisor Bob Stephens, WA4CMO, of the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs said the Kentucky Emergency Management command vehicle was positioned adjacent to the state EOC to provide communication on both Amateur Radio and MARS frequencies. Pat Compton, KF4FMZ, and Bill Uschan, K4MIS, staffed the Amateur Radio side, while Richard Howe, KB5WCH, represented the Civil Air Patrol during the Saturday operation, which continued for several hours. "We operated all systems during the afternoon and provided critical communication between the EOC and Hardin and Meade counties," Stephens reported.

The American Red Cross summoned members of ARES District 6 - the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro area -- to assist with damage assessments and to maintain communication with the Hardin County shelter operation. Jefferson County EC John Hesse, KF4IZS, reported operations continued on Sunday as additional damage assessment details deployed in Louisville and in Fisherville in Spencer County.

The Franklin County Chapter of the American Red Cross contacted Woodford County EC Jerry Mueller, KC4WZO, Sunday morning seeking Amateur Radio volunteers to support communication in the flooded Millville area. "The Red Cross had three disaster relief teams in the Millville area, and cell phone communication was not reliable," Dodson said. Paul Harrington, KB4ENQ, Rob Hutchinson, KI4ODT, and Mueller responded, joined by Compton from the Capitol Amateur Radio Society.

Kentucky Adjutant General Lt Gen Donald Storm and Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Director Maj Gen Maxwell Bailey "were pleased with the way Amateur Radio functioned in providing communication when all else failed. They extend their thanks to those amateurs who gave of themselves in this effort."

- excerpted from the ARRL Letter

Measure Makes Amateur Radio Part of Emergency Communications Community

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 4, 2006 -- A section of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2007 Appropriations Act, HR 5441, formally includes Amateur Radio operators as a part of the emergency communications community. Congress approved the measure before adjourning for its pre-election break. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law today.

Amateur Radio is included within the legislation's Subtitle D, Section 671, known as the "21st Century Emergency Communications Act." Radio amateurs are among the entities with which a Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECC Working Group) must coordinate its activities. Included within the DHS's Office of Emergency Communications -- which the measure also creates -- RECC Working Groups attached to each regional DHS office will advise federal and state homeland security officials. House Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairman Rep Harold Rogers (R-KY) sponsored HR 5441. The final version of the legislation incorporates language from both House and Senate bills and was hammered out in a conference committee.

An earlier version of the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act, HR 5852, sponsored by Rep David G. Reichert (R-WA), included Amateur Radio operators among the members of the RECC Working Groups.

In addition to Amateur Radio operators, RECC Working Groups also will coordinate with communications equipment manufacturers and vendors -- including broadband data service providers, local exchange carriers, local broadcast media, wireless carriers, satellite communications services, cable operators, hospitals, public utility services, emergency evacuation transit services, ambulance services, and representatives from other private sector entities and nongovernmental organizations.

According to the bill, the RECC Working Groups will assess the survivability, sustainability and interoperability of local emergency communication systems to meet the goals of the National Emergency Communications Report. That report would recommend how the US could "accelerate the deployment of interoperable emergency communications nationwide."

RECC Working Groups also will be tasked with ensuring a process to coordinate the establishment of "effective multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency emergency communications networks" that could be brought into play following acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other emergencies.

At the state and local level, RECC Working Groups will include state officials; local government officials; law enforcement; local fire departments; 911 centers; state emergency managers, homeland security directors or representatives of state administrative agencies; local emergency managers or homeland security directors, and other emergency response providers.

At the federal level, RECC Working Group members will include representatives of the DHS, the FCC and other federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating interoperable emergency communication with or providing emergency support services to state, local and tribal governments.

In the wake of the bill's passage, the ARRL plans to follow up to determine how it can interact with the DHS and its Office of Emergency Communications.