The 2008 The 2008 Simulated Simulated

Emergency TestEmergency Test

Activate … Activate ... Activate !Activate … Activate ... Activate !11

October 4, 2008

9am to 12n !

September is “Readiness Month” September is “Readiness Month” (see (see http://www.ready.gov/)http://www.ready.gov/)

The SET demonstrates Amateur Radio’s The SET demonstrates Amateur Radio’s ReadinessReadiness

““Readiness Month” raises awareness of Readiness Month” raises awareness of citizen preparednesscitizen preparedness Are YOU Ready ?Are YOU Ready ?

http://www.ready.gov

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And now: A short message about family readiness ...

• Get a kit. Water & Food First Aid Kit Radio & Flashlight Simple tools

• Make a plan. Family rally point Local & out of town contacts

• Be involved ! http://www.ready.gov/

( Ok … back to the SET )( Ok … back to the SET )

The Simulated Emergency Test …The Simulated Emergency Test …

Identifies strengths and weaknesses of ARES/ Identifies strengths and weaknesses of ARES/ RACES, the NTS, and other groups.RACES, the NTS, and other groups.

Demonstrates the value of Amateur Radio to our Demonstrates the value of Amateur Radio to our served agencies and the public.served agencies and the public.

Helps Radio Amateurs gain experience in Helps Radio Amateurs gain experience in standard message procedures on variety of standard message procedures on variety of modes.modes.

SEE SET guidelines on the ARRL web site: SEE SET guidelines on the ARRL web site: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.htmlhttp://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.html

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SET 2008SET 2008The Scenario: A Check of Our County & District The Scenario: A Check of Our County & District

Activation PlansActivation Plans

The primary emphasis for this year’s SET The primary emphasis for this year’s SET is to test our county and district activation is to test our county and district activation plans.plans.

If you have them:If you have them:Update telephone trees and recall rosters.Update telephone trees and recall rosters.Test repeater emergency tones.Test repeater emergency tones.Reinforce check-in repeater and simplex Reinforce check-in repeater and simplex

frequencies and procedures.frequencies and procedures.

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SET 2008SET 2008What We Hope To AccomplishWhat We Hope To Accomplish

Maximize Participation By Maximize Participation By AllAll Amateurs Amateurs Activate as many stations as possibleActivate as many stations as possible Operate on emergency power if it’s availableOperate on emergency power if it’s available

Exercise county and district activation plans.Exercise county and district activation plans. Do they work as designed? Do they work as designed?

Test The Statewide Communications InfrastructureTest The Statewide Communications Infrastructure Activate County & District NetsActivate County & District Nets Activate State ARES/RACES HF Net (3977.5KHz LSB)Activate State ARES/RACES HF Net (3977.5KHz LSB) and Badger Emergency Net (3985KHz LSB)and Badger Emergency Net (3985KHz LSB)

Alternate Dates & DrillsAlternate Dates & Drills Some counties will conduct their SET exercise on other dates. Some counties will conduct their SET exercise on other dates.

But, PLEASE participate during the statewide exercise on October But, PLEASE participate during the statewide exercise on October 44thth..

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SET 2008SET 2008What We Hope To AccomplishWhat We Hope To Accomplish

Generate Messages:Generate Messages:Practice sending formal messages. Practice sending formal messages.

Practice with the “QForms” computer program. Practice with the “QForms” computer program.

Practice sending tactical messagesPractice sending tactical messagesUnwritten messages where message context trumps message Unwritten messages where message context trumps message

content.content.

Include the proword “Test” before the Include the proword “Test” before the precedence in formal messages and include the precedence in formal messages and include the word “Test” in tactical messages.word “Test” in tactical messages.

Use As Many Modes As Possible:Use As Many Modes As Possible:Digital: WinLink 2000, Packet, PSK63, APRSDigital: WinLink 2000, Packet, PSK63, APRS

Send NTS bound WinLink messages to a station with access to the Send NTS bound WinLink messages to a station with access to the Badger Emergency Net (use ARRL Radiogram format for these)Badger Emergency Net (use ARRL Radiogram format for these) 77

QFormsQForms is a computer program that is a computer program that automatically generates messages in automatically generates messages in XML.XML.

The The QFormsQForms program creates: program creates: ICS-213 forms for messages to or from ICS-213 forms for messages to or from

served agencies.served agencies. ARRL Radiogram forms for messages to ARRL Radiogram forms for messages to

be sent via the National Traffic System.be sent via the National Traffic System.

QformsQforms can be downloaded free at can be downloaded free at www.activeham.com www.activeham.com

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The The QFormsQForms Computer Program Computer Program

QF

Preparation is Important!Preparation is Important!Steps for Individual HamsSteps for Individual Hams

Have Some Fun! Have Some Fun! Try new modesTry new modes.. Winlink digital net meets Tuesday evenings.Winlink digital net meets Tuesday evenings. Badger Emergency Net (BEN) meets daily.Badger Emergency Net (BEN) meets daily. WI ARES/RACES HF Net meets Sunday evenings.WI ARES/RACES HF Net meets Sunday evenings.

Check in on local net.Check in on local net. What is the frequency of your county net?What is the frequency of your county net?

Deploy to an EOC or served agency if Deploy to an EOC or served agency if you’re asked.you’re asked.

Send and receive SET messages.Send and receive SET messages. Formal messages: Use proper format & begin each Formal messages: Use proper format & begin each

message with “Test” before the message precedence.message with “Test” before the message precedence. Tactical messages: Use “Test” or “Test Message” in Tactical messages: Use “Test” or “Test Message” in

the message text.the message text.

Log and report your activities to your EC.Log and report your activities to your EC. 99

Preparation is Important!Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECsSteps for DECs and ECs

Before the SET:Before the SET:Encourage Encourage all hams all hams to participate.to participate.

Review/update activationReview/update activation plans. plans.Activate at least one EOC or Activate at least one EOC or served agency.served agency.Encourage served agencies to generate Encourage served agencies to generate

message traffic.message traffic.Publicize!Publicize! Send a press release to the Send a press release to the

newspapers and radio & TV stations in your newspapers and radio & TV stations in your area.area.

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Preparation is Important!Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECsSteps for DECs and ECs

During the SET:During the SET:Activate local and district nets and Activate local and district nets and

announce SET and local scenario.announce SET and local scenario.Send formal messages Send formal messages

announcing activation and announcing activation and deactivation of nets.deactivation of nets.

Activate an Emergency Operations Activate an Emergency Operations Center and/or a served agency.Center and/or a served agency.

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Preparation is Important!Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECsSteps for DECs and ECs

During the During the SET:SET:

Have stations Have stations send messages send messages on behalf of on behalf of served agencies.served agencies.

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Preparation is Important!Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECsSteps for DECs and ECs

During the SET:During the SET:

Monitor the exercise for Monitor the exercise for points of excellence and points of excellence and areas for improvement.areas for improvement.

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Simulated Emergency TestSimulated Emergency TestTraffic FlowTraffic Flow

ARES/RACESHF Net

DistrictNet

LiaisonStation

BadgerEmergency

Net

LiaisonStation

LiaisonStation

LocalNet

NTS

Traffic Should Flow

Through District N

ets

Unless There Is No

District N

et.

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Simulated Emergency TestSimulated Emergency TestRole of the National Traffic SystemRole of the National Traffic System

The NTS ties section The NTS ties section nets together by nets together by systematically systematically relaying message relaying message traffic between traffic between sections or regions.sections or regions.

NTS interfaces with NTS interfaces with section & local nets section & local nets through liaison through liaison stations.stations.

ARES/RACESHF Net

DistrictNet

LiaisonStation

BadgerEmergency

Net

LiaisonStation

LiaisonStation

LocalNet

NTSARES/RACES

HF Net

DistrictNet

LiaisonStation

BadgerEmergency

Net

LiaisonStation

LiaisonStation

LocalNet

NTS

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SET 2008SET 2008Post Exercise ActivitiesPost Exercise Activities

After the SET:After the SET:ECs should conduct a ECs should conduct a

“Hotwash” after-action “Hotwash” after-action critique.critique.

Individual Stations:Individual Stations:

Send your EC Send your EC information from logs information from logs and notes he/she needs and notes he/she needs to complete reports.to complete reports.

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SET 2008SET 2008Post Exercise ActivitiesPost Exercise Activities

ECs and DECs: report ECs and DECs: report SET results to ARRL HQ.SET results to ARRL HQ. ARRL SET report packets are ARRL SET report packets are

available from the SEC or on available from the SEC or on the internet at: the internet at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/fieldhttp://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms//forms/

Send report to: sewald@arrl.org Send report to: sewald@arrl.org or by mail to the address on the or by mail to the address on the form.form.

Send a copy of your report to: Send a copy of your report to: Skip Sharpe, ASEC Training. Skip Sharpe, ASEC Training. Email: W9REL@ARRL.net Email: W9REL@ARRL.net or by or by US Mail to: Skip Sharpe W9REL, US Mail to: Skip Sharpe W9REL, 1205 Woodview Dr. Waukesha, WI. 1205 Woodview Dr. Waukesha, WI. 5318953189

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SET 2008SET 2008Your Role: What Should You Do?Your Role: What Should You Do?

Have some Have some fun fun ! ! After all this After all this isis a hobby! a hobby!

Check in on your local ARES net.Check in on your local ARES net. If your local network isn’t activated, follow your local emergency If your local network isn’t activated, follow your local emergency

communications plan’s procedures.communications plan’s procedures. Check in on a nearby local net, if necessary.Check in on a nearby local net, if necessary.

Keep logs of contacts and messages sent and Keep logs of contacts and messages sent and received.received.

Keep notes of good points and items for Keep notes of good points and items for improvement.improvement.

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SET 2008SET 2008Your Role: What Should You Do?Your Role: What Should You Do?

Utilize and experiment with different Utilize and experiment with different communications modes.communications modes.

Originate and copy formal messages.Originate and copy formal messages.Include “Test Message” at the beginning of your Include “Test Message” at the beginning of your

messagesmessagesConsider using the “QForms” computer program.Consider using the “QForms” computer program.Available Training Aids:Available Training Aids:

““Nets, Messages, and the NTS ’07” by K9LGU Nets, Messages, and the NTS ’07” by K9LGU PowerPoint.PowerPoint.

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SET 2008SET 2008Your Role: What Should You Do?Your Role: What Should You Do?

Have Fun Have Fun (but with a sense of urgency)(but with a sense of urgency) ! !Operate as though this was an actual emergency!Operate as though this was an actual emergency!Contact some new stations.Contact some new stations.Try out some new skills.Try out some new skills.

Any Any ?? Questions … Questions …

Thanks for ComingThanks for Coming

Drive Carefully On The Way Drive Carefully On The Way Home !!Home !!

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