The Simulated Emergency Test for the Western Massachusetts Section ran from 0830 to 1200 local (1330-1700 Zulu) Sunday, 10 November 2024. We developed a scenario based upon Hurricane Helene and its impact in the mountainous terrain of western North Carolina. In our scenario heavy rainfall over the Western Massachusetts area began to fall on soil already saturated from prior storms. Over the course of 24 hours rainfall totals across the area ranged from 11 to 31 inches. The resulting damage to infrastructure left many areas isolated. Cellular, landline, roads and power were destroyed in many areas. Water systems were damaged or contaminated in many areas.

Amateur radio operators checked in to our regular ARES Nets and reported damage in their immediate area using a simplified reporting system that accounts for building damage, flooding and transportation status. Net Control Stations collected reports from their check-in stations and forwarded this data out of the affected area via WinLink or email, in the same manner as was done in Hurricane Helene.

Participating stations were given 90 minutes to send damage reports and could use any one of multiple channels ranging from VHF and UHF FM to HF single sideband voice. Repeaters on Mount Greylock, Mount Tom and other locations provided wide-area coverage. Net Control Stations were given 2 hours to move information out of affected areas. We demonstrated our unique capabilities in several ways:

I am pleased to report that 30 stations participated in our SET.  Reports were received from almost every corner of the WMA Section.

After Action Review

Thing that went well –

• Participants reported being well prepared for the exercise. Extensive pre-exercise publicity led to informed participants.
• Reporting nets went smoothly, participants understood the situation, what they needed to do, and what info was requested
• Franklin County was able to find a location to set up in the field after finding out Greenfield was lacking an EOC
• County-level collaboration worked well between ARES leadership and gave a sense of the simulated magnitude of the event

Areas we could improve –

• Some voice traffic was passed too quickly for accurate copy, requiring time-consuming repeats.
• Backhaul needs more resiliency. Internet-based email can work when net control is outside the affected area but WinLink, NBEMS, DMR or other options should be improved.
• More ARES members should be capable of setting up in the field in case of damage to home stations or other need.
• More county/community level leadership to triage reports when the traffic level is larger.

I would like to thank every participant who helped to make the SET a success, in particular the Net Control Stations who were key in making this work as well as it did. As we saw in North Carolina, the work of the NCS is a critical component in these efforts.

I hope to see you all again next year for SET 2025!

73,
Charles Chandler WS1L
WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

The following is the Simulated Emergency Test for the Western Massachusetts Section for the calendar year 2024.  The test period will run from 0830 to 1200 local (1230-1700 Zulu) Sunday, 10 November 2024. 

SITUATION (What is happening?)

Tropical Storm Hiram formed in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and rapidly intensified before making landfall as Hurricane Hiram on the west coast of Florida.  Weakening again to Tropical Storm strength it moved rapidly northeastward towards New England. 

As it approached the area Canadian high pressure blocked its further movement and heavy rainfall over the Western Massachusetts area began to fall on soil already saturated from prior storms. 

Over the course of 24 hours rainfall totals across the area range from 11 to 31 inches.  The resulting damage to infrastructure has left many areas isolated.  Cellular, landline, roads and power are destroyed in many areas.  Water systems are damaged or contaminated in many areas.

MISSION (What are we going to do about it?)

Amateur radio operators will check in to our regular Sunday ARES Nets and report damage in their immediate area using a simplified reporting system that accounts for building damage, flooding and transportation status.  An example of a report might be:

“This is a drill. K1FFK, Berkshire County, North Adams, Notch Road. Two buildings severely damaged.  One building moderately damaged.  Three buildings with basement flooding.  No buildings with first floor flooding.  Our road is passable.  This is a drill”

Net Control Stations will collect reports from their check-in stations and forward this data out of the affected area.  This can be done via email over WinLink or Telnet, internet email, a web reporting tool, via HF or DMR, or any other method that moves traffic out of the impacted area.

EXECUTION (How are we going to do it?)

Amateur operators may generate a simulated damage report using the table below.  This table is based upon the primary color of houses on your street or block.  If you live in an apartment or development with the same color scheme, you may use the colors of vehicles parked to right and left of your own.  The goal is to generate simulated numbers to represent damage for this exercise reporting.

For example, your street has ten homes on it.  Three are mostly red, four are mostly blue, two are mostly brown and one is green.  None are yellow.  You would check in to your local ARES net and your report for the SET would be:

“This is a drill. WS1L, Berkshire County, North Adams, Church Street. Three buildings severely damaged.  One building moderately damaged.  Four buildings with basement flooding.  Two buildings with first floor flooding.  Our road is passable.  This is a drill”

For another example, you live in a condo where all the buildings are a shade of grey.  When you park your vehicle the vehicles around it include one red vehicle, three green vehicles, two blue vehicles and three yellow vehicles.  You would check in to your local ARES net and your report for the SET would be:

“This is a drill.  W1AW, Franklin County, Charlemont, Main Street. One building severely damaged.  Three buildings moderately damaged.  Two buildings with basement flooding.  Our road is blocked with debris.  This is a drill.”

If you are able, please consider operating on emergency or backup power, or operating from a portable set up, or from a location away from home.  Any of these adds realistic challenges to overcome. 

Sunday ARES Nets

• 3.944 Western MA Emergency Net Sundays at 0830
• 0845 Mt Tom 146.940 127.3 Hamden/Hampshire County ARES Net
• 0850 Worcester 147.210 88.5 SW Worcester ARES Net
• 0900 Fitchburg, MA 145.450- 74.4 W1GZ repeater. Montachusett Amateur Radio Association ARES Net  (Linked with Gardner 145.37 pl 136.5 and IRLP9127)
• 0900 Greylock, MA 146.910- 162.2 Western Massachusetts ARES Net
• 0915 Paxton, MA 146.970- 114.8 Worcester County ARES Net
• 0915 Mt Tom 443.200 127.3 Hamden/Hampshire UHF ARES Net
• 0930 Greylock, MA 53.23-/162.2 Western Massachusetts ARES Net
• 0945 Greylock, MA 449.425-/162.2 Western Massachusetts ARES Net
• 1000 Greylock, MA 224.10 out, 222.5 in, PL 162.2 Western Massachusetts ARES Net

A PDF of these instructions is also available here.

Please join us on Sunday, November 10^th on your local ARES net!

73 de Chuck, WS1L
Amateur Radio Emergency Service ®
Section Emergency Coordinator
Western Massachusetts