SEC's Monthly Report for October 2014

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Field	Value
subject	ARES Form FSD-96
State	Ohio
Month	October
Year	2014
Number_of_ARES_Members	1715
Change_In_Numbers	1
Number_of_DECs_EC_reporting_this_month	10
Number_of_ARES_nets_active	249
Number_of_nets_with_NTS_Liaison	7
DEC_EC_callsigns	WD8PNZ W8UY W8KKY N8TFD KC8PD W8MLL KA8RLC N8SUZ W8FHF N8AUC
Number_of_drills_tests_and_training_this_month	397
Person_Hours_for_drill_tests_training	3499.6
Number_of_Public_Service_events	33
Person_Hours_for_public_service_events	1194.7
Number_of_emergency_operations_this_month	2
Person_Hours_for_emergency_operations	14.5
Number_of_ARES_RACES_Events_this_month	681
Total_Person_Hours	4708.8
Comment	Lots of counties were active with SET going through basic communications activation, setup with served agencies, voice and digital networking including to the Ohio EOC/W8SGT. We're bolstering the Ohio Digital Emergency Net management by building a broader team. There is a lot of interest in MESH across the state. The Red Cross and ARES are forming a much closer alliance. As their territories expand ham radio will become more important to the Red Cross mission. They are actively engaging ARES as a partner. In many counties ARES is well integrated with EMA's to function as technical advisors and build stronger partnerships for emergency response.
Signature	Stan Broadway
mailfrom	broadways@standi.com

 

October Ohio ARES Report


Many thanks to our Ohio Section ARES members! Your enthusiasm for our SET exercise in October is very much appreciated! I hope it gave your group a chance to practice some of the most basic activities - things we all need to get correct when the real call comes!  A wise fire chief once told me, “The first four minutes of a fire dictate how the next four hours are going to go…” so being able to properly organize, activate and set up a communications network is not to be overlooked. Many of our counties used that basic setup to then key off on additional exercises!  Well done, all!


One thing I’m always thinking about is meaningful training!  The cold has already closed in on us- so it’s time to set up some serious study for your meetings! Think about tapping our partners for help with this! ARES is there to help- communications our first concern, but we can do so much more! Consider these topics which could easily be taught by your EMA people, and think about how much more value you will present when activated:  Damage Assessment. Search and Rescue practices (such as those markings on the front of buildings, and the methods teams might use to grid an area).  You work public events? Consider terror awareness- call the Ohio Department of Public Safety / Homeland Security’s SAIC – Strategic Analysis and Information Center. They put on a GREAT evening that will prepare (and scare!) you. How about arranging an IS-300/400 class, or an EOC class to explain how it all works in that room? Take the number one or two damage potential for your county (your EMA Director’s worst nightmares), do a tabletop centered around that. Here at home, number one most devastating potential is a dam inundation- work up a table top to design a communications network around that. Frequencies? Manpower? Locations? Likely duties?  And don’t forget the Red Cross! Almost any of our prospective activations (even a solid winter storm with power out) can involve a Red Cross shelter- but how many of us has actually operated inside a shelter? What do they even do? Makes for a great class, or even a cooperative drill!


The Red Cross (a partner agency with a national MOU of course) is in the midst of re-drawing districts and responsibilities- if you think you have it big with a county, or a district of eight counties, consider the Columbus Chapter now has pretty much everything from Toledo down to Athens!  That means their communications resources are a bit stretched. Couple that with a renewed interest in using ARES and ham radio, and you can have a fresh new relationship that not only can use your help, but can supply resources (not to mention training) for your needs as well!  Muskingum and Delaware counties have recently held meetings with the Disaster Services Technology Team (DST) leaders Nick Riehl and Jim Sage, AC8FR.  (They are only too happy to show of their gee-whiz comm truck!) 


I have enjoyed visiting with some district meetings, and some clubs around Ohio! Thanks for your hospitality! There are so many projects on my desk- time goes really quickly!  Here’s a sample of what’s happening ‘on the backchannel’.


Districts: Still mulling over moving a couple district border lines. Don’t want to do anything rash, still gathering opinion.


OSERP re-write:  After studying the written format of the OSERP, there were several areas that needed to be rewritten. There was some duplication and redundancy. I am a huge fan of the content- that is, the steps described and the operation outlined by the plan, but I hope it can be made to read more easily. In addition, there is no mention of our Ohio Digital Emergency Net, and frequencies need to be revisited. So that has become a winter project. The goal is to enhance and upgrade the contents where needed, make it shorter and easier to read.


OHDEN: The digital net is an important function of ARES in Ohio- one which will be critical in a widespread emergency!  Yet the entire burden of the net has been carried by my friend Marshall, KD8LAV by himself. We have no other program management in the state without assistants and a team to collaborate, so we are boosting the support for the net. Former manager Gary Hollenbaugh, NJ8BB,  has volunteered to resume the PR and email functions of the net.  Marshall and Gary are working on expanding the technical and training aspects of the team as well- interested?


ARESMAT: We’re in a bit of a lull but everyone has been doing homework and we’ll keep marching until we’re there!


March Madness: No, not basketball. We’re already thinking about how to make our annual meeting worth your time and drive!


April Antennas: You should know we’re talking up a statewide NVIS antenna party! Get your antenna wizards together now to try your best!


Stats: There are at least 1,715 ARES members in our section.  Just in October we had 397 drills or training meetings, 33 public service events and 2 emergencies- accounting for 4,709 hours we gave in service to our neighbors. Well done!


Here are the reports this month from our districts!


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District 1

Seneca County-No comment

Huron County- SET was completed on Oct. 4. Followed the State E/C plan. All of the objectives were completed. Established contact with all 22 county Fire, Police, Sheriff, Hospital , Salvation Army and Health Departments.

Sandusky County- Held our monthly ARES meeting and monthly siren checks for the county. We continue work on our communications trailer by adding sound deadening carpet to the walls. We need to establish SOP for radios in the three county hospitals.

Hancock County-  Quiet Month overall. Findlay Halloween Parade included our ARES communications trailer. Digital Net getting a great turnout after starting again from a summer hiatus.

Erie County-  We had a lot of S E T man hours. No major events

Wood County- October was a relatively quiet month but a month that did offer some training opportunities. Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn requested that we once again act as dispatchers for the very popular and widely attended Apple Butter Festival. Steve Ashenfelter, N8XSF and EC, Bob Schumann, W8NYY jumped at the chance and provided the service. Many complements were received for the service we provided. While we lost a member during the month we did pick up two new members. One of those members is Tom Sanderson, KC8IGC, Chief of the Bowling Green Fire Department. This gave us the opportunity to install an emergency back up antenna at the Bowling Green Fire Department. During the month, Tom Sanderson upgraded his license class to Extra. In reward, several of our members held and antenna raising party and installed a dipole at Tom's residence so Tom is now active on HF and making contacts. Fortunately we had no severe weather during the month.

Lucas County-

Ottawa County- No changes

District 2

Williams Co has started NIMS training (NCS:101) Defiance Co. has completed 147.090 club repeater antenna upgrade with new 4 bay 2 meter antenna and 3/4 " hard line erected at 220 feet, and replaced 442.575 antenna at 150 feet.

District 3 

no comments.  (SEC note: Please keep DEC Bob Rhoades in your prayers! Hoping his health improves!)

District 4

Emergency operations time was in support of the National Weather Service at Wilmington. Public Service events were the inaugural Queen Bee Half Marathon in Cincinnati, and the Run Like Hell 5K (I just discovered there is a race of the same name supported by District 8!)

Hamilton and Clinton Counties were very active in the SET this year. Now, cold weather season starts to collide with Public Service Event season. Dress warm, please don't become a liability when you're trying to be an asset!

District 5

Portage - This is the first year for the Robinson Memorial Hospital Hospice 5 K run. We had 6 ARES volunteers provide communications for the race.

Stark - Stark County ARES completed 4 public service training nets for the month of October that totaled 154 check-ins. There were no public service events for the month however we participated in the annual ARRL SET exercise on October 4th with over 20 participants. A complete report was submitted to both the DEC and SEC. We are expected to assist the Massillon ARC

Summit - This month we participated in the State Wide SET by activating all members on our call list and setting up a net for all members to log into, if possible. We also assisted the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club (CFARC) with several stations for JOTA. We also worked, for the second time, an open-house in a 335 acre Girl Scout camp helping with safety and communications on the trails for visitors to the camp. We had a table setup at the net control station with pamphlets about HAM radio and we spoke with many of the visitors about Amateur Radio and how we assist with special events and in emergencies. Pictures of the JOTA and Girl Scout camp setups are attached. The first 6 pictures show the JOTA event including equipment being used including a digital HF station and Broadband Hamnet (MESH) video link setup at the other end of the camp. The last 4 pictures s how the event net control station for the Girl Scout camp.

District 6

Crawford: No EC - Report not filed

Knox:  Report filed – no comment

Marion: SET went well with several tactical groups in action. The Communications trailer team had it set up and ready to go with both vhf and hf antennas deployed and the  generator running. We were able to communicate with the EOC in Columbus via the Marion .47 repeater and on 7240mhz SSB. The digi team were able to communicate via relay from the communications trailer with units located at the Red Cross HQ and a shelter. Great participation on a cold and windy day where all learned new things that went right and how to correct those things that went wrong to be ready when the real thing comes along.

Medina: Report not filed

Richland: Richland County ARES Had 5 Nets and Helped lineup the Halloween Parade in Mansfield. Oct.28th,2014 Was a Cold night had 65 units in parade would like to thank the Richland County ARES Group and IARC Members that helped had 9 volunteers. and Thank Downtown Mansfield Inc. for having us line up parade.

Wayne:  Lights on community Christmas tree are ready.

Wyandot: The main topic at the meeting was repeater and simplex communications. The club is planning their Christmas meeting and dinner party at the Corner Inn in Upper Sandusky again this year. “73”

District 7

Delaware: Participation in the Ohio SET was very good, 14 Delaware ARES members participated and we had a score of 146. Good but we're working to do better. Coming is the signing of the Statement of Cooperation with the Red Cross, Central Ohio group. We are excited about this new relationship with the Red Cross and their desire to incorporate amateur radio into all of their emergency and disaster response efforts. It also helps the Ohio Communications Director for the Red Cross is a fellow ham.

Fairfield: No Comments

Fayette: No EC

Franklin: 10/1/14 Weds night net. 29 check ins, .5 hours = 14.5 10/4/14 SET, 46 check ins, 1 hour = 46 10/8/14 Weds night net, 22 check ins, .6 hours = 13.2 10/9/14 Marathon planning meeting, 7 people, 2 hours = 14 10/12/14 Crop Walk, 5 people, 4 hours, = 20 10/15/14 In Person Meeting, 40 people, 2 hours = 80 10/19/14 Columbus Marathon, 50 people, avg 5 hours = 250 10/22/14 Weds night net, 27 check ins, .6 hours = 16.2 10/25/14 Grandview Pumpkin Run, 9 people, 2.3 hours = 20.7 10/27/14 Leadership Team meeting, 10 people, 2.8 hours = 28 10/29/14 Weds night net, 23 check ins, .5 hours = 11.5 Total Person Hours = 514.1

Hardin: No EC

Licking: October got off to a bang with the SET on October 4. Licking County had a good participation, as summarized in our After Action Report, which is being sent independently. We maintained liaison with our County EMA EOC and the State EMA, even though we did not have HF capabilities in the County EOC at the time. We hope that limitation will be resolved soon. We also were able to establish communications between the County EOC and our local hospital, the Red Cross, and 25 fire stations located around the county. We had fun and learned a lot about some of our strengths and weaknesses. Many thanks to all the folks who helped make this possible

Logan: No EC

Madison: We are on the verge of having a digital setup at the EMA office in London. Next will be working on a new station at the Madison County Hospital.

Perry: PERRY County participated the SET, although a late setup and making contact with 1 surrounding county, it was a good drill on setup of a station at the Perry County EMA facility.

Pickaway: The Pickaway County ARES have a very busy month of October. On October 11, the PCoARES participated in the Ashville Community Appreciation Day put on by the Pickaway County EMA and Box65. There were emergency service groups from around the county there along with an AirLife Helicopter for the townspeople to see. There was also a bean dinner put on to raise money for Box65. On October 14, members from PCoARES helped the Circleville Girls Youth Softball League park cars during the Circleville Pumpkin Show to raise money for the league. Side note: The largest pumpkin this year weighed in at 1964 LBS.!! A new Pumpkin Show record!! On October 28, the PCoARES members walked around downtown Circleville during the Circleville Downtown Business Association Trick-or-Treat. Chief of Police Gray asked if our group would be interested in "being an extra set of eyes" to help keep watch over the trick-or-treaters as the walked around to the busine! sses getting candy. Then on October 30th, the Pickaway County ARES participated in our 5th Annual Goblin Patrol. We had members in different neighborhoods around Circleville walking and driving, helping keep an eye on all the "goblins" that were trick-or-treating throughout the city. We had direct contact with the police dispatcher in the event we seen something that needed to be reported. We have always had great responses from the public, thanking our group for being out and keeping an eye on the kids (especially in the not-so-good neighborhood of the city). I would highly recommend that every ARES group in the state look at doing some type of " Goblin Patrol". I would also be interested in knowing if there are any other ARES group that do this.

Union: No Report

District 8

Counties reporting: Athens, Hocking, Lawrence, Scioto EC Comments:

Athens: Athens County ARA provided comm support for the Annual "Run Like Hell" 5K Fun Run to support cystic fibrosis research. The run was moved from a Saturday night to the Sunday afternoon after the annual Athens Halloween block party which may have contributed to having almost twice the usual number of participants this year. Next event is the Bobcat Trail Marathon on Sunday, November 2 at Burr Oak Lake State Park. Lawrence: We helped Scioto County with there drill Oct 9. We done the JOTA Oct 17&18 we had 8 hams and 10 scouts the boys were able to make many contacts.

Scioto: On 10/9/2014, Scioto County ARES participated in a point-to-point contact drill using our local 2 meter ARES repeater. The purpose of conducting this drill was to test our ability to communicate from various points classified as shelters throughout the county that can and will be used in the event of an emergency. We used this drill to gain knowledge of where in our county we have the most difficulty communicating back to the EOC building through the repeater. We now have a better understanding of where in an emergency situation we can use the repeater with ease, or rather we would need to utilize other nearby repeaters or to activate a simplex relay to pass traffic between the EOC and said shelter(s). This drill was made possible by dedicated, trustworthy individuals within our county that participated as well as ARES members from neighboring counties. This drill was completed successfully despite some local interference is! sues. We look forward to conducting more drills such as this one in the near future.

DEC comments: Only county known to have participated in SET drill was Scioto. ECs were contacted and encouraged to conduct a call out drill sometime soon at their convenience to fulfill the spirit of the SET for this year.

District 9

COSHOCTON CO: The SET was the main event for the month. 16 ARES participated and messages were passed between 6 served agencies. A total of 69 messages on radiograms and 213 forms were completed. Following the OSERP after receiving the call from the DEC we used the calling tree, asked that a NCS be started at an existing station. We also had an OTS at an existing station. The EOC station was on the air soon after activation acting as CCS. Internal traffic was taken to simplex and the 7.045 repeater. The OTS passed traffic to OHDEN and to the OSSBN. The NCS and EOC/EMA were in contact with the state EOC ,W8SGT. We also had fldigi up and running at the EOC and at OTS. Also contact all but one county on our boarders. No answer. All in all a good practice from 09-1330. We are now under way in having a permanent digital station station at the hospital . Thanks to Coshocton Hospital for their support. We also wi! ll be in! stalling an additional 2/440 antenna on the roof of the EMA/EOC. Lessons learned from the exercise. Thanks to AEC N8VV NCS, KD8YTN assisting NC., AEC KL7RF and KC8PUW the OTS ops. Assisting were KC8ZBR and KL7IUC. NF8U and N8TCC and KB8FBN and myself at the EOC. KE8XM and N8MXX at the Sheriff office. WB8SJQ and WN8RGW at the Red Cross. AEC KB8HEA with KC8YXY at the Hospital. I also thank the Coshocton County Health Dept and Coshocton County Career Center for participating. I thank all ARES who volunteered their time and thank our served agencies for there continued support for ARES. AA8BN, Coshocton County EC. Steven Wheatcraft/

MUSKINGUM CO: Muskingum County ARES participated in the Section S.E.T., contacting a few surrounding county and activating the Muskingum County EMA, Muskingum Chapter of the Red Cross and the Muskingum/Zanesville Health Dept. We also pass a few Radiograms to W8SGT via 40 meter SSB. We did have Digital communications setup on 80 meters, but could not hear anything because of line noise. 40 meter digital would have worked fine. We communicated with W8SGT on both HF and VHF direct from our EOC. Muskingum County also had of second S.E.T. PANDEMIC, which is our annual County FLU SHOT CLINIC. 11 ARES members participated ( Kathleen Frederico, KB3RDR, Muskingum County EC, ARRL-VE Liaison ) in this S.E.T.( Brad Newell, KD8QVW, Muskingum County AEC, Liz Nicholes, KC8SIQ, ARRL-VE, Don Parmiter, N8JLF, ARRL-VE, Philip Janke, KJ8N, Alan Day, K8AL, ARRL-VE, Bruce Homer, N8JMK, Guernsey County AEC, Richard Wayt, WD8SDH, Guernsey County EC, Larry Dukes, KD8QYV, ARRL-VE, Sonny Alfman, W8FHF, District 9 DEC, ARRL-VE, Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, PIO, ARRL-VE ), a mix from both Muskingum and Guernsey Counties. We provided a low power FM transmitter ( on 88.5 FM plus Antenna), with messages, to help the County Health Dept. to coordinate and direct the public entering the pandemic S.E.T. area. We also, provided communication help to the partners as needed via 2 meter simplex. Plus, we ate lots of pizza, donuts, ! etc., provided by the Health Dept ( pizza and donuts helped to fight off any infection ) and served by the Muskingum Chapter of the RED CROSS. Muskingum County Amateur Radio Emergency Service ( KB8MCA ), partnered with the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Zanesville Police & Fire, Ohio State Highway Patrol Zanesville Post, Genesis Community Ambulance, Mid-East Career & Technology Center, Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency, Muskingum County Fair Board, Muskingum County Information Services, Muskingum Valley Health Centers, Ohio University Zanesville, Red Cross Muskingum Valley Chapter, Zane State College, and Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, in a PANDEMIC S.E.T. for Muskingum County, OHIO. Muskingum EC, attended an after action meeting with the above partners to discuss pros and cons of the operation. Muskingum EC and partners, present at the after action meeting also sat in on an EBOLA presentation given by the Muskingum County Health Dept to keep us up to date on current pandemic issues. October 22, 2014, Muskingum EC met with Jim Sage, James Applegate ( Muskingum Chapter ) and Nick Riehl ( Region Disaster Services Manager Ohio Buckeye Region ), at the Muskingum Red Cross Chapter Building, on US 40, 3/4mile west, off the Norwich Exit 164 off I-70. I also invited the District 9 DEC and a couple other ECs and AECs from surrounding counties, to attend this meeting. Jim Sage ( Director of Communications for the Red Cross East of the Mississippi ) and Nick, came out and provide the DST ( Disaster Services Technology ) overview to the Muskingum chapter and the local ARES group:. a. They will brought their communication truck for all to view b. Present a 20 min or so overview of DST c. Answer questions d. Met with me, Muskingum County EC Kathleen, KB3RDR and other ARES members to review a draft Statement of Cooperation. Muskingum EC reviewed the draft Statement of Cooperation, and then passed on her comments back to the RED CROSS. At this time we are waiting to hear back from the Red Cross. ! EC Kathleen Frederico KB3RDR

GUERNSEY CO: Guernsey ARES participated in the SET. A week later Guernsey ARES deployed 5 members to Muskingum county and assisted them with their drive through flu clinic. The county EC attended the Local Emergency planning meeting and the county Homeland Security meeting. Two county AEC attended a meeting with the Red Cross. EC Richard W. Wayt WD8SDH.

DEC Dist 9..Only 4 counties set reports this month..Missing were Belmont, Jefferson, Monroe, & Morgan...dec Sonny Alfman W8FHF..

District 10

October was a busy month in district 10! We all found something that needed work during SET. There were 2 public service events on top of that. Excellent job by all in tenth district!

Ashtabula County: Easy going month. Not to much to report on. Just getting ready to batten down the hatches here in NE Ohio. Winter is on her way!

Cuyahoga County: SET was the big event this month. Highlighted shortcomings were: 1) The keeping of useful logs. 2) VHF/UHF contacts were made sometimes made via a remote liaison. 3) The ability to locate other counties using HF. There should be a set of common frequencies to use to find adjacent/section counties on HF should VHF/UHF be out of range. Connections were made by "chance" except for W8SGT.

Geauga County: No Report

Lake County: 17 Amateurs monitored the progress of 435 half Marathoners and 140 Full Marathoners running in the Lake He! alth event. There were no major issues with the runners during the event.A Military Sargent ran the 26 miles in full uniform carrying a 100lbs back pack He was running to call attention to all our Disabled Veterans. The first place 26 miler ran bare foot! That had to be tough on the Headlands road gravel path. OUCH!

Lorain: Lorain County ARES supported the Lorain County Pumpkin Patrol, manning observation points adjacent to bridges and overpasses on Interstates and the Turnpike in conjunction with the Ohio State Patrol - Elyria Post.