The 2018 Simulated Emergency Test

1. The 2018 Simulated Emergency Test Geomagnetic Storm! October 6, 2018 9am to 12n !

2. September is “Readiness Month” (see http://www.ready.gov/) • The SET demonstrates Amateur Radio’s Readiness • “Readiness Month” raises awareness of citizen preparedness Are YOU Ready ?

4. And now: A short message about family readiness ... • Get a kit. • https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit • Water & Food • First Aid Kit • Radio & Flashlight • Simple tools • Make a plan. • https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan • Family rally point • Local & out of town contacts • Discuss the plan with everyone in the family

5. ( Ok … back to the SET )Simulated Emergency Test 2018 … • Provides an opportunity to participate in a statewide communications exercise. • Provides a demonstration of the value of Amateur Radio to served agencies and the public. • Identifies strengths and weaknesses of ARES/ RACES, and the NTS. • Helps communicators gain experience in standard net procedures using a variety of modes.

6. Communications Technique • Follow FCC Rules: Identify at the end of each communication and once each 10 minutes during a communication. • Exercise good net discipline • All communications go through Net Control • Pace your words and speak clearly. • Formulate informal messages in your head or on paper before transmitting them. • Transmit formal messages exactly. • Airtime is valuable. Keep transmissions brief. • Use plain text. Plain text means words and phrases understood across all responders and disciplines. • Do not use codes or jargon. • Appropriate and understandable pro-words and phonetics are acceptable.

7. Communications Technique – Break Tags • ‘Break Tags’ are a way to interrupt an ongoing communication. When able, transmit a break tag and your call sign. • “Answer”:To be used when you have the definitive answer to a question. • “Question”: To be used when the answer to a question can’t wait. • “Priority”: Used to report an important but non-life threatening situation. • “Medical”: Used to report a medical incident. • “Emergency”: Only used to report an ongoing life or property threatening situation. • “Traffic”: Used to let NCS know you have formal traffic for the net.

8. Communications Technique - Prowords • “OVER”means the sending station expects a reply. • “OUT”means that this is the last transmission of an exchange. No reply is necessary. • Note: Use either ‘Over’ or ‘Out’. Do NOT use both together! • “WAIT”means it is necessary to pause during an exchange of transmissions. • “ROGER”that the receiving station understands the information transmitted. • “WILCO”is used in response to a request or tasking and means that the tasking is understood and will be accomplished.

9. SET 2018The Scenario: A G5 Class Geomagnetic Storm • A solar event that disrupts Earth’s magnetic field. • A G5 Class storm: • Occurs approximately 4 times in a solar cycle. • May cause power grid voltage fluctuations or even collapse. • Causes hundreds of amps of electrical currents in underground pipelines. • Can degrade or destroy radio communications circuits and equipment and satellite navigation.

10. SET 2018The Scenario: A G5 Class Geomagnetic Storm • Solar Storms are classed from G1 to G5 • Class G1: Minor • Class G2: Moderate • Class G3: Strong • Class G4: Severe • Class G5: Extreme

11. SET 2018The Scenario: A G5 Class Geomagnetic Storm Source: Business Insider

12. SET 2018The Scenario: A G5 Class Geomagnetic Storm • A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) raced out from the sun and impacted Earth’s magnetic field. The ensuing geomagnetic storm is at least as strong as the Carrington Event of 1859. • Effects of the storm include: • Severe disruptions and outages to the global positioning system. • Severe degradation to HF and LF communications • Damage to sensitive electronic equipment.

13. SET 2018What We Hope To Accomplish • Maximize Participation By All Amateurs • Activate as many stations as possible • Operate on emergency power if it’s available • Exercise county and district activation plans. • Do they work as designed? • Test The Statewide Communications Infrastructure • Activate County & District Nets • Activate State ARES/RACES HF Net (3967Khz LSB) • and Badger Emergency Net (3985Khz LSB)

14. SET 2018What We Hope To Accomplish • Generate Messages: • Practice sending formal messages using the ICS-213 General Message Form and the ARRL Radiogram. • Practice sending tactical messages • Include “Test” or “Exercise” before the precedence in formal messages and include the word “Test” in tactical messages. • Use As Many Modes As Possible: • Digital: WinLink • Send NTS bound WinLink messages to N9VC@winlink.org or K9LGU@winlink.org • The SEOC Winlink address is WC9AAG@winlink.org

15. Preparation is Important!Steps for Individual Hams • Have Some Fun! Try new modes. • Check in on nets. • What is the frequency of your county net? • Deploy to an EOC or served agency if you’re asked. • Send and receive SET messages. • Formal messages: Begin each message with “Test” before the message precedence. • Tactical messages: Use “Test” or “Test Message” in the message text. • Send a SET Form A to your EC.

16. This is a SET Form A Captures information on participation Allows for apples-to-apples comparison Enter data in this column Calculate ‘points’ in this column

17. Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECs • Before the SET: • Encourage all hams to participate. • Review/update activation plans. • Publicize! Send a press release to newspapers, radio & TV stations in your area. • Activate at least one EOC or served agency facility. • Encourage served agencies to pass message traffic.

18. Preparation is Important!Steps for DECs and ECs • During the SET: • Have stations send messages on behalf of served agencies.

19. Simulated Emergency TestTraffic Flow Traffic Should Flow Through District Nets Unless There Is No District Net.

20. Simulated Emergency TestRole of the National Traffic System • The NTS ties section nets together by systematically relaying message traffic between sections or regions. • NTS interfaces with section & local nets through liaison stations.

21. SET 2018Post Exercise Activities • After the SET: • ECs and DECs should conduct a hotwash review with participants. • All reviews should emphasize the positive. • Address negatives generally as areas for improvement • Individual Stations: • Send your EC needed information from logs and notes.

22. SET 2018Post Exercise Activities • ECs and DECs: report SET results to ARRL HQ. • ARRL SET report packets are available from the SEC or on the internet at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/ • Send report to: sewald@arrl.org or by mail to the address on the form. • Send a copy of your report to: Skip Sharpe, ASEC Training. Email: W9REL@ARRL.net.

23. SET 2018Your Role: What Should You Do? • Check in on your local ARES net. • If your local network isn’t activated, follow your local emergency communications plan. • Check in on a nearby local net, if necessary. • Keep logs of contacts and messages sent and received. • Keep notes of good points and items that need improvement. • Use portable, mobile, or on emergency power (if possible).

24. SET 2018Your Role: What Should You Do? • Utilize and experiment with different communications modes. • Originate and copy formal messages. • Include “Test Message” at the beginning of your messages • Learn something new. Practice something you already know. Build your confidence to operate in a net environment.

25. SET 2018Your Role: What Should You Do? • Have Some Fun! • Have fun, but with a sense of urgency. • Operate as though this was an actual emergency! • Contact some new stations. • Try out some new skills. Any ? Questions Thanks for Coming Drive Carefully On The Way Home !!