Washington County ARES/RACES

Start Time: 0900
Location:  Public Safety Training Center

This training will be akin to a “radio check” or an equipment check. It will be at the Sheriff’s Office Training Center. We will be in close proximity to each other so we can ensure everyone is able to perform the task. Then the following month we will spread out.

For some this is a chance to verify your skills and verify your equipment. For others who have this mastered it is a chance to help other TEAM members.

Ideally, you will arrive with the equipment and power necessary to send and receive Winlink (WLE) messages by radio frequency. If not, please come anyway WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. We can likely help to get you going. You can also learn by watching and helping.

Some will arrive with a vehicle, mobile 2M/440 mobile radio, magnetic mount antenna, laptop, soundcard device (Signalink, DRA board, Digirig or similar) and battery.

Others may arrive with an HT, Digirig and a smartphone.  As long as you can trade (send/receive) WLE messages with other operators nearby using radio frequency (2m, 70cm) it will be good.

Bring your own drink or snack if desired. Dress appropriately for the weather that day.

To keep it interesting for those who have mastered these skills, consider bringing a USB GPS device and/or a watt meter.

1. CERT Damage Assessment  a printable PDF version of a WLE template
2. CERT Rapid Needs Assessment  a CERT form in PDF
3. WLE Initial Damage Assessment a printable PDF version of a WLE template

The following are Winlink forms that can be downloaded into your Global (or personal) folder and unzipped. Do Not place in the “Standard Templates” folder.

Download as a single zip file: CERT Exercise Templates (Thanks Michael).

cert_damage_assessment
cert_windshield_survey_v.2.0
cert_eoc_status_v2.0
cert213_general_message_v2.0_designed_by_k9onr
victim_treatment_record

AREDN: The AREDN Mesh talk that happened at SEAPAC this year is now up on Willamette Valley Mesh website:  https://willamettevalleymesh.net/news/SEAPAC-24/

The talk was titled: “AREDN Building Apps for Emergency Support” where we talked about our mesh network as well as out services on the network.

Slides: https://sites.willamettevalleymesh.net/WVMN/SEAPAC-24/Seapac%20-%20Seminar%20-%202024.pdf

After rain chased us out of Seaside this last weekend, now we have to watch for extreme high temperatures.

Three new references are posted on our Weather Links page. See references on 1. Heat Related Illness, 2. Heat Index and 3. Extreme Heat Preparedness Checklist.

1. Heat related illnesses: What to look for and What to do for:

• Heat Stroke
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat cramps
• Sunburn
• Heat rash

2.  Heat Index: “The heat index is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when the affects of humidity are added to the high temperatures.”

3. Checklist check the tip on urine color.  As for emergency community alerts – note: a “WATCH” means “Be Prepared!” A “WARNING” means “Take Action!”

Stay alert out there.

Iron OR 24 – May Meeting Brief.pdf

Set aside a Saturday in November for our winter SET (State Emergency Training). Bill polled us on our preference of date. We will await to hear back.

Simulated Emergency Test
SET – 2024 – 18 May – Final

Instructions for WinLink Forms to ODEM

Saturday 1000-1230 hrs.  Be at your served agency, at home or at another outdoor location. The SET documents are downloadable above.

Individual Tasks:

See page three of the top document above. All communications must indicate “EXERCISE.”

• Voice check in at 10:00. Tell us where you are going to play from.
• Set your Winlink Express (WLE) GPS coordinates. Check that your computer time is correct. See prior posts. Grid Square
• WLE Activation (Mapping-GIS section)
• WLE Field Situation Report (Mapping-GIS section)
• WLE Deactivate (Mapping-GIS section)

Tip: “Save” your report before you “Submit.”

Download printable reports for reference. Notice you can “Set” your agency name at the top of the form. See upper left “Set” button.

Winlink Check-in                 Field Situation Report

Winlink Check-out

Let’s face this head on.

When we schedule ham radio drills, we have yet to come up with the “perfect” schedule. Usually all of our ham radio drills occur for a few hours on a Saturday morning at 0900. If we participate in an exercise sponsored by a local government, it often occurs on a weekday (Tu-We-Th).

During these pleasant weather months starting in April, there is a great competition for our time every weekend.

As “luck” would have it, the drill we activated for May 11th was a HOT one.

A SOLUTION

If you missed the drill today (May 11th), there is a way you can still train. Basically, on your own scheduled time, you pack up your gear and travel all the way to . . . your own backyard! Or a local park.

What?  What good does that do?

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Detailed Participant Instructions

FIELD_EXERCISE_2024MAY_instructions_V2

Your Grid Square

WHEN: Saturday 11 May 2024. 9 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: Participants’ choice, with VHF coverage of Washington County

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The presentation for 4-16-24 was Where Am I by Larry Ossowski, AE7TM. It is on Basic Coordination Awareness. Used by permission.