Category Archives: ARES

2024 WMA ARES SET Summary

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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:

Dispersed: Operators are located throughout the Commonwealth
Resilient: Operators are capable of maintaining, repairing and adapting their own stations to meet the needs of the situation or to compensate for damage
Redundant: The only service authorized to use multiple bands and modes of operation, with the experience to choose the method most suitable to the situation

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

Nov 10 2024 WMA ARES SET Instructions

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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.

RedBuilding severely damaged/uninhabitable
GreenBuilding moderately damaged/habitable
BrownBuildings with first floor or greater flooding
BlueBuildings with basement flooding
YellowRoad is blocked with debris

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 10th on your local ARES net!

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

WMA ARES 2024 Simulated Emergency Test Plan

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Introduction

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.

RedBuilding severely damaged/uninhabitable
GreenBuilding moderately damaged/habitable
BrownBuildings with first floor or greater flooding
BlueBuildings with basement flooding
YellowRoad is blocked with debris

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
  • 0915 Paxton 146.970 114.8 Worcester 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

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

2024 WMA ARES Simulated Emergency Test Tentatively Scheduled

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The Western Massachusetts ARES Section will be holding a Simulated Emergency Test next month.  The tentative date is Sunday, 10 November though that is subject to change.  The test will involve stations reporting damage after a severe storm and flooding.

Further information will follow on the WMA ARES email list and on normally scheduled WMA ARES nets.

Thanks and 73,
Chuck Chandler WS1L
WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

EmComm Training Opportunities

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There’s a couple EmComm training opportunities that have come up that might be of interest to everyone.

First is that the training schedule for WX1BOX SKYWARN has recently been published.  First come, first serve on class reservations, and many classes have already been filled.  This training is highly recommended to anyone interested in being a SKYWARN Weather Spotter.  The class is free.

https://wx1box.org/skywarn-training-schedule-2024/

Second is that the ARRL recently started revamping its Basic and Advanced Amateur Radio EmComm courses.  The basic course is now available.  It is recommended to anyone getting involved with ARES, RACES or any other amateur radio emergency service.  It’s also recommended for those that wish to volunteer in public service events like supporting triathlons, parades, etc.  The course is free with your ARRL membership.  You do not need to retake this new course if you’ve previously taken the prior basic course.

https://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog

If you have any questions on these, feel free to send them to your local ARES DEC or EC, SEC WS1L or myself.

Thanks and 73,
Gil Hayes WK1H
Assistant SEC, WMA ARES

Western Massachusetts Amateur Radio Emergency Service to hold annual emergency test

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UPDATE 10/15 08:51 AM: ICS form download updated to version 3.

The Western Massachusetts section of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service will hold their 2023 Simulated Emergency Test from 10:00 AM local time on Saturday, 21 October to 10:00 AM local time on Sunday, 22 October 2023.  This test will involve ARES members attempting to receive and report airport weather information to the Department of Defense via the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System.  

The Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Situation is as follows:

“Repeated patterns of wet weather have been experienced throughout the Western Massachusetts section, leaving soils saturated and incapable of absorbing additional rainfall.  Several instances of flooding have already led to road washouts impacting the transportation sector.
The first arctic cold front of the season approaches with a large pressure differential producing a sudden onset of high winds.  With root systems already weakened in soft soil, large numbers of trees are felled throughout the section.  Multiple roads become impassible.  Wire and cable damage has lead to degradation of the Public Switched Telephone and cellular networks.  Calls placed without GETS/WPS are taking up to one hour to complete.
Resource requests for high priority items are ready to transport via air to local airports but with no ability to receive local weather conditions at those airports ARES has been tasked with reporting local airport weather information.”

The ARES Mission for the SET is as follows:

“WMA ARES members will attempt to receive local airport weather information broadcast on the VHF-AM Aviation Band of 119-136 MHz.  Any weather reports received will be transcribed for later reporting.  WMA ARES members will report the information received during ARES nets to be held within the 24-hour exercise period.  US Army MARS stations will attempt to check in to these nets and receive these reports.  Reports may also be sent via WinLink.”

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.  For more information, visit wma.arrl.org.

Important Exercise Documents for Download

2023-SET-ICS-Forms-V3Download
SET-Ops-OrderDownload

ETO WinLink Exercise – Friday Evening 5/12/23-Early Monday Morning 5/15/23

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Hello to all…

The Emergency Training Organization (ETO) WinLink Exercise begins this Friday Evening 5/12/23 through early Monday Morning 5/15/23 where participants have a wide range of time to send a Winlink message via ETO instructions from 800 PM EDT – Friday Evening 5/12/23 through 259 AM EDT Monday Morning 5/15/23. We encourage all Amateurs in the Eastern Massachusetts and surrounding sections who have Winlink capability to participate in this exercise. Details are available at the following link: https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Semi-Annual-Drill-05-13-2023-ICS-213-v1_6.pdf

Coincident to the WinLink Exercise, Cape Cod and Islands ARES will hold its Cape Cod ARES District Test Exercise – “Spring Comm” Saturday 5/13/23 1000 AM-1200 PM EDT. Amateur Operators outside of the Cape Cod ARES district are welcome to participate. The Cape Cod ARES Exercise plan and supporting documents can be seen at the following links:

Cape Cod ARES Test Exercise – “Spring Comm” Plan:
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ARESdrill77V1.5Doc05-11-23.pdf

Cape Cod ARES Test Exercise – “Spring Comm” Supporting Documents:
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ics309a.pdf
https://ema.arrl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Cape-Cod-ARES-Radiogram-45-Word-Fillable-Form07-27-22.pdf

We hope folks who are available can participate in the ETO Winlink Exercise and Cape Cod ARES District Test Exercise “Spring Comm”. Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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ARES and SKYWARN Activation for March 14 Winter Storm

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SITUATION

As of 1030 on Monday, 13 March 2023 all Western Massachusetts ARES members are notified that a severe winter storm will impact our area during tonight, all day Tuesday, and into Wednesday. We are expecting a large amount of heavy, wet snow and some high winds that are likely to bring about power outages and other storm damage and infrastructure issues.

MISSION

All WMA ARES members who are able to do so are requested to report any known instances of storm damage, failures of infrastructure as well as winter precipitation types and accumulation totals via their local ARES nets. Unless specifically requested to deploy by local emergency officials or other served agencies, all reporting should be done from your present location. ARES nets will begin on or about Monday evening, 13 March 2023 or Tuesday morning, 14 March 2023 and will run until the storm impacts have been fully reported.

EXECUTION

The Western Massachusetts Amateur Radio Emergency Service will establish ARES nets in cooperation with SKYWARN for the National Weather Service Forecast Offices in Albany and Boston. Reports of storm damage, failures of infrastructure and winter precipitation types and accumulation totals will be solicited from spotters and the reports received will be transmitted to the appropriate NWS office.

ARES nets will begin Monday evening, 13 March 2023 on the Mount Tom repeater. They will begin no later than Tuesday morning, 14 March 2023 on the Mount Greylock repeater. Nets will run until the storm impacts have been fully reported. Monitor the channels below for other net times. All nets times are subject to change based upon local conditions and need.

Net Control Stations will request storm damage or infrastructure failure reports containing:

  1. Callsign
  2. Name
  3. City/Town, County, State
  4. Location of damage or infrastructure failure
  5. Type of damage or failure (i.e., power outage, water leak, trees down, roof collapse, etc.)
  6. Time of the observation

Net Control Stations will request SKYWARN reports containing:

  1. Callsign
  2. Name
  3. City/Town, County, State
  4. Location to the nearest street intersection
  5. Elevation if known
  6. Precipitation Type (i.e., snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain)
  7. Total accumulation to the nearest tenth of an inch
  8. Time of the observation

Net Control Stations will record reports and transmit them to their respective Weather Forecast Office using their preferred means of reporting. If NWS Liaison Stations have checked in to the net, the Liaison Station may transmit these reports.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICS

ARES nets will not require travel or deployment. Members should ensure they have essential needs on hand to avoid any need to travel during the impact of severe weather.

SIGNAL

The following VHF analog FM channels will be used for weather spotting nets in the following general areas:

  • Berkshire County – Mount Greylock repeater 146.9100/146.3100 Tone 162.2 Hz
  • Hampden/Hampshire – Mount Tom repeater 146.9400/146.3400 Tone 127.3 Hz
  • Franklin/Worcester – Paxton repeater 146.9700/146.3700 Tone 114.8 Hz

In addition, the following channels may be polled by NWS Boston Liaison Station WX1BOX for any reports:

  • Fitchburg repeater – 145.4500/144.8500 Tone74.4 Hz
  • Gardner repeater – 145.3700/144.7700 Tone 136.5 Hz

The following HF channels are tentatively established as backups in the event of infrastructure
failures impacting the VHF channels above:

  • Western Mass. Emergency Net – 3944 kHz LSB
  • New York Stare Phone Traffic and Emergency Net – 3925 kHz LSB
  • Eastern New York ARES Net – 3993 kHz LSB

73 de Chuck Chandler, WS1L
WMA Section Emergency Coordinator
chandlerusm@gmail.com

Introducing the New WMA ARES Membership Database

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The Western Massachusetts Section has re-started the former Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) membership database.  This database was in use up until 2019 or 2020, and contains records going back to at least 2013.  We are in the process of cleaning up the membership records, and we are urging every ARES member in the WMA section to log in or create a new record and make sure we have your information up to date. 

To update or create a new WMA ARES membership record, on this website, use the menu to navigate to Emergency Communications > ARES Member Registration System.

If you already have a password from prior use, it should still work.  If not, there is a link to reset your password, but it requires that you have access to the email you used when you first registered.  If you cannot access an existing registration, email either Gil, WK1H gilwk1h@gmail.com or myself, Chuck WS1L chandlerusm@gmail.com and we will get you reset.

If you have never registered with this database, you will need to create a new record.  You will find that this database has fields for a lot of data to record your equipment, availability and training.  Please be as thorough as possible as the information provided is a value when we need to match abilities with needs.  

Even if you already have an existing record, please take a few moments to update all your information so that we have the most up to date records possible.  Every ARES member should update their information once a year so that we are able to accurately assign resources to needs. 

Many thanks for being a part of ARES!

73 de Chuck, WS1L
WMA SEC

Western MA Emergency Net Operations for Winter Storm Izzy

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The Western MA Emergency Net will operate tomorrow as a part of the SKYWARN operations form Winter Storm Izzy. This storm system we have coming up is a quick hitting but potent storm system for our area.

For portions of western and northwest Massachusetts, we will see the snow heavy at times with the potential of 5-9″ before a change over to sleet/freezing rain and possibly rain. Wind gusts of 40 MPH coupled with the snow and ice may bring some pockets of tree and wire damage. In Eastern Massachusetts, we are preparing for the potential of damaging winds and heavy rainfall with coastal flooding at the coast. Wind gusts of up to 65 MPH are likely especially in heavy rainfall that can bring the wind down to the surface.

A good chunk of the snowfall will occur overnight and then for a few hours in the early to mid-morning. Snowfall reports would be helpful particularly in locations in northern Worcester and Middlesex counties through Franklin, western Hampshire and western Hampden counties as well as changeover of precipitation type and any storm damage. Higher elevations may see the heaviest snowfall from this event.

In response, above and beyond the normal 2M VHF SKYWARN nets which will run at the top of each hour tomorrow morning, the Western MA Emergency Net will start at 6:30 AM with hourly call ups on the bottom of the hour thereafter until its no longer needed (likely 12:30).

All SKYWARN participants are welcome to check in to either the VHF nets or WMEN on or around 3944 kHz LSB with weather reports that meet reporting criteria. For this particular storm, WX1BOX is particularly interested in the following information on each call up:

  • Measured snowfall
  • Measured ice accretion (if any)
  • Current precipitation
  • Current temperature (if available)
  • Precipitation changeover time (if changes occured since last report)
  • Measured wind gusts of 40 MPH or greater
  • Any storm damage (wind or combo of snow/ice/wind)

The latest SKYWARN storm response messages can be seen on wx1box.org. Applicable reporting criteria can also be reviews on wx1box.org.