March Section Emergency Coordinators Report

Reporting Month: March
Reporting Year: 2019
Total Number of ARES Members: 1707
Change since last month: 50
Number of DEC's reporting this month: 9
Number of ARES nets active: 463
Number of nets active with NTS Liaisons: 10
Call Signs of DEC's reporting: all
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 621
Person Hours: 5680
Number of Public Service events this month: 60
Person hours: 965
Number of emergency operations this month: 12
Person hours: 241
Total number of ARES/RACES events this month: 693
Total Person Hours: 6886
Comments: Severe weather training is underway. Statewide tornado test prompted local nets, and a statewide checkin net on DMR 3139.
Submitted by and call sign: Stan Broadway N8BHL
Email: stan@standi.com
Files to upload?:

March, 2019 activity report

District 1

Totals Include figures from the Northwest Ohio Traffic and Training Net and District 1 Skywarn. The Northwest Ohio Traffic and Training Net had 281 Checkins, passed 113 pieces of traffic in 445 minutes in 31 sessions. Most Counties participated in the State Wide Tornado drill

Seneca County-EC James Hershberger KE8ERN

Report submitted by AEC Steve Tarbert KC8ZKC
ARES provided communication for the St Patrick's Day 5k run in Tiffin.
Checked into the NORC Net March 6th 1P Statewide Tornado Drill March 20th 15 Check-ins
No Comment
No Comment 
Drill for Davis Besse 3/19/19
Planning for BGSU Bike4Tikes 3 day event from southern Ohio. Waiting on further planning for GOBA. Scheduling meeting with new EMA director to discuss future ARES participation and ham radio in EOC
 NTS Report Not Included
March 19 we were involved in the Davis Besse NRC dry run. This is in preparation for the graded drill coming up in April. Two stations, Dan Stahl and Jay Babione manned the EOC radios and were able to comm with W8SGT via 2m. I reached out on social media about anyone wanting to join OC ARES and get their ticket. This was well received with 10 people expressing interest. Stay tuned! 
The Wyandot County Hams met once again met at the Wyandot County EMS / EMA facility for their monthly meeting. We also completed a warning siren test net which is the first Wednesday morning of each month at 10:00 AM. We do this on the 147.210repeater in Upper Sandusky. That's all for now folks. "73"
We had 5 check ins for the tornado drill.

Huron County-EC Craig Franklin KD8KWU

Sandusky County-EC David Gierhart W8DAG

Hancock County-EC Evan Hartman W8KJR

Erie County-EC Tim Bergeman KE8IBN

Wood County-EC Eric Willman WD8LEI

Lucas County-EC Tim Grey KD8IZU

Ottawa County-EC James Garber KB8TT

Wyandot County-EC Ron Wilch KE8PX 

Hardin County-Craig Newland KC8FEL

District 2

Joint TRI-COUNTY SKY Warn Training.

District 3

No file submitted

District 4

Brown: 

Butler: We continue to work on getting our membership qualified as Tier 1 Ohio operators with the ICS and ARRL training plus CERT, CPR and AED certifications. We continue to support the seven Butler County 911 centers, 6+ hospitals, the Sheriff's department and EMA. The Butler County - Warren Co Severe Weather Net is in it's 4th year of operation as many times when severe weather passes through Butler-Warren, Dayton and Cincinnati SKYWARN is not on the air. We are using an application called AIRTABLE to log weather reports from field observers that is available for viewing by both EMA's, the National Weather Service in Wilmington and anyone else that request access to the site. It was utilized during our last severe weather activation the first part of March with the agencies monitoring our activity. The program allows those logged in to "keyboard chat" back and forth between everyone else that is logged in. Several repeaters are linked via the ALL STAR linked network system with the repeaters used for severe weather reporting in Butler and Warren counties having secured access to the "WX room". This eliminates expensive remote receive sites and competing for additional tower space while maintaining portable- hand held coverage for field spotters. No one wants to be hooked up to a base station antenna during a thunderstorm..... so this method has provided both portable and mobile coverage for spotters in both counties.

Clermont: No report filed

Clinton: One activation by served agency – NWS

Hamilton: business meeting hours 47 administration hours 10

Highland: HAD 16 MEN CHECKIN OUR STATE WIDE TORNADO NET I HAD 76 MESSAGES SENT BY MARS THIS MONTH

District 5

 Summit County- This month had a special guest speaker Dr. Jack Nilsson inventor of the COMPACTenna. Dr. Jack spoke on antenna design and theory and presented his revolutionary antenna designs for both mobile and base applications.

Stark County- completed 4 public service nets that totaled 98 check ins. While there were no public service events during March, they were activated during severe weather awareness week. On March 26th, they held a weather net during the annual tornado drill accepting check ins from the County EMA office with the EMS Director in attendance. They are seeing more use of the ARES Connect System, During March 5 users registered 5.75 hours.

District 6

No comments submitted

District 7

Marion County: Opened a local NET during the statewide tornado siren test, had 9 check-ins and reported results to the county EMA. Upon request from the EMA director and the Marion county board of elections director we had a meeting to discuss their request that we man and report activity at the election polls on May 7th. See you next weekend at the ARES statewide conference.

Licking County: Had a busy month, we helped with the counties annual tornado siren testing using MARCS radios with amateur radio as a back-up. Several members, Bret KD8SCL, Alan N8CJ, Scott KE8CIK & Matthew KE8GTP had the opportunity to attend the IS-300 & 400 class that was held here in the county, ARES was well represented in the class and we even has several people approach us asking about how to get their license. Several members also had the opportunity to take a first aide class with CERT. We also has some severe weather roll through the county and thankfully there were no major damage, only minor damage, trees and power lines downed. We now have a 2nd DMR repeater in the northwest portion of the county (Johnstown) thanks to Kevin AC8GI for all of his time and hard work getting DMR in the county.

Fairfield County: ARES/K8QIK voice nets, ARES training, ARES public service events meetings, weather standby, CERT training, ARRL testing.

Fayette County: 3 man days at Arnold Expo Delaware County:

Delaware worked the "Viking Dash" at Delaware Lake State Park, as an extension of "The Arnold" sporting event. It was cold, and uneventful. We used "Canned Ham" as command for Fire/EMS. We also participated in a Delaware EMA full scale tabletop exercise. We had a custom Delaware County status form made up for both WinLink and Fldigi. We used the MESH-based WinLink reflector.

Franklin County: The Arnold Sports Festival finished out this month in early March. Volunteer hours are still being calculated but I want to report that amateurs that committed to the event responded at a 94.6% rate. That in itself is excellent. Our Emergency Communications Readiness Program continues to gain momentum as we meet with another entity in April that is interested in particpating. FCOHARES lost a long time member, Brent Sheffer, K8BAS, on Saturday March 30th. We will miss Brent's expertise, advice and humor.

Union Countyt: The repeater nets and the simplex diginets haven't been getting as much participation this month. I an hoping it has to do with the time change and the weather getting better out side. The 2 meter repeater has been replaced with a new Kenwood Repeater. Many thanks to Arlin, KD8EVR foe getting the new repeater programmed and helping Joe, K8JWL get it working with the controller and voter. This will make it much easier when moving it to the new location. The new location is still waiting for the tower to be put up. Things are still moving in the forward direction. I am looking forward to going to the ARES conference in Marion and I want to thank the Marion ARES group for hosting it. 73, -Ed, KE8ANU Madison County: No current EC or Active members 

District 8

Counties reporting: Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Lawrence, Ross, Scioto. EC comments:

Athens: ACARA had a program on constructing and tuning amplifiers at their March meeting. 

Hocking: I am finally done with my evening job for the past 11 months and will be able to devote a bit more time to my ARES duties.

Ross: GOBA route review and testing EC comments: Three new licenses and one upgrade from the ACARA/SCARF VE session at the end of the winter technician license class - initial licenses: one Tech, two General, upgrade: one Extra. Upcoming events for ACAR/SCARF: Saturday, April 6, 9 AM - Iron Furnace Trail Run at Lake Hope Sunday, April 14, 8 AM - Athens Marathon Saturday, April 20, noon, Tour of Athens Gravel Edition bicycle tour. Sunday, April 28, 8 AM to noon, Athens ACARA Hamfest, Athens Community Center, East State Street. Sunday, June 2, 10 AM to 5 PM, Lake Hope Bicycle Race.

District 9

BELMONT CO: No Comments Frank Wojewodka, KD8JXP

COSHOCTON CO: A couple skywarn nets and a statewide tornado drill had great participation. 11 check ins on tornado drill with reports to EMA and sheriff. Mar 14 severe thunderstorm warning net with 11 on net. An lepc meeting attended with yearly ARES report given to county commissioners...... The monthly ARES meeting had KB8VIP presenting a program on his 160m antenna and 2x with OHDEN nets. N8MXX also spoke with his success on 160m with OHDEN. I've gotten a DMR rig to leave at EMA/EOC along with the open spot donated to ARES by WX8OH. EC: Steve Wheatcraft, AA8BN

GUERNSEY CO: During the monthly ARES meeting the subject of reviewing and revising the local ARES plan was performed.. We also conducted a Tornado Siren test net. Results were sent the local EMA office. EC: Richard W Wayt, WD8SDH

NOBLE CO: No comments. EC: Gary Oliver, KD8OSR

TUSCARAWAS CO: 4 voice nets with 87 operators participating; one monthly meeting with 8 operators participating; Tornado drill net with 2 operators participating; EC checked radio's at two local hospitals, local health department and local radio station for proper operation and will follow up to assure radios are tuned properly. EC: Tracy Goddard, K8TAE

WASHINGTON CO: Signed MOU with Memorial Health systems as of yet we have not had any meeting with MHS in regards to planning. This MOU will involve surrounding counties beyond Washington County. We are hoping this MOU will inspire more licensed hams get involved with ARES locally. Also been updating emergency power systems mainly generators at repeater sites. A new generator at my QTH is now connected to my private natural gas well to provide natural gas to Generator exclusively This should provide a almost unlimited fuel supply. EC: Joseph Wigal, W8JTW.

District 10

District 10: District 10 Training Day at Tri-Point was a big hit. Thanks to the folks from Lake County ARES for helping to pull it off!

Ashtabula County: No report submitted.

Cuyahoga County: This month we had 41 participants in the Ohio Tornado drill on March 20th. Our monthly meeting was held at CCOMS. We also hosted a DMR training. SkyWarn nets resumed on March 6th. A number of our members also attended the ARES District 10 training day.

Geauga County: No comments submitted.

Lake County: Lake County hosted the District 10 ARES Conference this month at Tri Point Medical 

Center. Eight Lake County ARES member were in attendance. Five Counties had members in attendance at this training and sharing event.

Lorain County: No comments submitted.

Medina County: No comments submitted.