NEWS FROM THE JANUARY 19, 2008 MEETING AT GILA RIVER

 

PCECG Training Officer Mark Hill K7GPD arranged for a tour of the Gila River Indian Community
Emergency Operation Center and a look at their Communications Vehicle (photos below).  A tour of the dispatch center and use of the training room for our meeting was also arranged.  Future plans include a deployment exercise to help train our members to set up the Comm Van and use it during emergencies.
The first meeting of the year also moved the newly elected Officers into their positions, as well as
some discussion on the years upcoming training and events.  It was decided to turn one of the groups
radios into an APRS digipeater to fill the gap in that area.  This will help our Group add a service
to our area for all APRS users.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCECG CALLED UPON TO SUPPORT THE PINAL COUNTY MASS VACCINATION DRILL

 

On Saturday, January 29 2006, the Pinal County Emergency Communications Group

 

 

SWEX2005 AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

 

The 2005 Statewide Weapons of Mass Destruction Full Scale Exercise, sponsored by the Arizona Department of Emergency Management and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,  was conducted on October 14 with strong participation from PCECG. The exercise began with a police pursuit in the area of Florence Blvd. and Peart Road, which quickly turned into a WMD scenario involving terrorists. The Pinal County Fairgrounds served as the secure location for the exercise, with activation of the State EOC, and the EOC's of Pinal, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee counties. It was estimated that over 700 personnel from dozens of federal, state, county, and local agencies participated in the exercise.

 

This was the first full scale exercise for PCECG and ham radio backup support was written into the master exercise plan and played an integral part of the communications links. The exercise highlighted many areas where the group performed well, and other areas where improvement is needed.

 

PCECG MEMBERS ACHIEVE RACES RECOGNITION

 

After much work and coordination with the Pinal County Office of Emergency Management, several PCECG members have achieved recognition by the county as members of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). This is the first group of what will hopefully be many more still to come. The work involved mandatory training in county employee procedures and completion of required forms, in order to be issued a county volunteer badge. A lot of the credit goes to Andrea Huerta and Pete Weaver from Pinal County, and our own Ryan Oler KC7HES and Guy Packer WD8JAM.

 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH SKYWARN (3/8/05)

 

Skywarn (www.arizona-skywarn.org), the volunteer weather spotter organization under the National Weather Service (NWS), has requested assistance with severe weather reporting from PCECG. There are very few trained spotters in the Pinal County area and, although the NWS is planning for a certification course this year, it may not be in time for the upcoming summer storm season. The NWS has asked PCECG to monitor the Skywarn Sector 2 (Maricopa County and Northern Pinal County) primary frequency of 442.800(plus/pl 100) when severe weather is in or near the county. NWS needs reports meeting the following criteria during a severe weather episode:

 

            1.       TORNADO (on the ground) or FUNNEL CLOUD (tail not touching the ground)

            2.       ROTATING WALL CLOUD

            3.       WIND (estimated or measured at 40 mph or more)

            4.       MICROBURST (visually identified)

            5.       RAINFALL (1/2 inch (.50) or more in 30 minutes)

            6.       FLOODING (of any kind)

            7.       DAMAGE and/or DEATHS and/or INJURIES due to the weather event

            8.       HAIL (greater than pea-sized diameter

            9.       VISIBILITY (less than 1/4 mile due to fog, dust, blowing snow or ash)

            10. SNOWFALL (accumulating at a rate of 1 inch or more per hour

 

The Skywarn net controller monitors both 442.8 and 146.74 (Sector 6-Southern Gila & Northeast Pinal Counties) and, whenever possible, he/she will now also monitor 147.2 for PCECG spotters. If you can access the 442.8 South Mountain repeater, please use it as the primary frequency. During severe weather, any spotter who can monitor both 442.8 and 147.2 may be asked to relay reports by spotters who may not be able to reach the 442.8 repeater. Spotters are also asked to  review the Basic Weather Spotter Guide, available in the PCECG Archives page.

 

Statewide 2005 Full Scale Exercise (3/2/05)

 

Preparations are underway at the State and County level for the 2005 Annual Statewide Exercise, which will be held sometime between now and the end of the year. This year, the Arizona Department of Emergency Management selected the counties of Pinal, Gila, Greenlee and Graham. Pinal will be the host site for the exercise. Amateur Radio, and the important role it plays in emergency preparedness, has been recognized by the inclusion of the county ARES DEC, Luis KD7GMK, in the exercise planning group. The group's first planning session was held on February 28 at the Pinal County EOC. The county emergency management staff is counting on, and indeed expecting, PCECG to be a major player in this exercise.

 

The exercise will test the group's ability to deploy on short notice and establish a communications network to supplement existing governmental/public safety systems. This certainly underlines the need to complete all ham radio installations at the EOC as soon as feasible. It also means that you can count on another field exercise for the group, to test response and EMCOMM skills, very soon. It will be a golden opportunity to demonstrate to county agencies, and the state, what PCECG can do.

 

2005 FIELD DAY (1/15/05)

 

This year will be the first opportunity for the group to participate in the ARRL Field Day event and hopefully gain some new members and have fun at it. A committee has been formed to plan for field day. Since Guy WA8JAM was the first volunteer, he is now the chair for this committee. So far we only have Guy and Dennis N6IDU in the committee. We have plenty of time to plan and ensure this is a great event for all. If you want to help please contact Guy.

 

SURPRISE BIO-HAZARD DRILL ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 (12/13/04)

 

On Sunday morning an unannounced (surprise!) exercise was called by the Pinal County Emergency Manager while PCECG slept...ok, we were not all asleep but we sure got a rude awakening. The group was activated to support the EOC at 10:48 a.m., and additional ham support was requested at the Pinal County Fairgrounds. The scenario was a bio-hazard emergency with multiple casualties.

 

Ten members responded and checked into the net. The exercise was short lived and the net was secured a little after noon. One of the lessons learned was the need to see to it that a second, or even third telephone tree run-through is completed to ensure everyone is contacted, since we missed a few people.  This is our 3rd drill; which is outstanding for a group that was organized only 6 months ago.

Stations participating (Thank you!) were:

 

        W7RMC    N6IDU     KD7ZBC
        KD7VCF   KE7BLY    KD7KDI
        NQ7R     KC7HES    W5TEJ
        KD7GMK

 

 

CLUB PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT ELECTED (11/20/04)

 

During the November 20, 2004 monthly meeting, elections were held for club officers; Jerome Erickson is our new President and Tom Kramer is the Vice-President. Having club officers is a necessary next step along the path of eventually achieving 501(c)3 status as a non-profit organization. Non-profit status will facilitate the acceptance of club donations.

 

ARRL ANNUAL SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST (11/1/04)

 

The ARRL Annual S.E.T was conducted by PCECG on October 30 with a unique effort to test simplex coverage throughout the county. The group's strategic goal for this drill was to prepare for a repeater failure and test the ability to communicate via a simplex mode on 2 meters only.

 

On that Saturday morning, six members traveled to various locales  and established communications link with the Pinal County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) using 147.500 on the 2m band. Stations were established at Eloy, Stanfield, Superior, Maricopa, North Phoenix, and Oracle. Signal propagation conditions were extremely poor, with most stations unable to make a direct link to the EOC in Florence.

 

Tom Kramer K0VSV was instrumental in establishing a relay station via the use of a beam antenna from Stanfield. He was able to relay all drill messages from stations to the EOC and his performance made the drill a success. The ham operator motto of "getting the message through" certainly was exemplified that morning. Much was learned by the group as to future contingency needs, and a critique will be held at the monthly meeting on November 20.

 

Members participating were:

EOC- KB1WWW, KC7HEs, KE7CAL

Superior- KE7BLY

Stanfield- K0VSV

Eloy- W5TEJ

North Phoenix- W7KSO

Maricopa- KD7VCF

Oracle- KD7GMK

 

GROUP ADOPTS LEVEL II AND III CERTIFICATION STANDARDS (10/21/04)

 

On October 16, 2004, the group adopted certification standards for Level II and III. This brings to completion the adoption of the complete Standard Operating Procedures Manual. The manual can be found here or by clicking on the PCECG Archives link on the main page. Level II and III standards were established for those group members who desire to serve in the various leadership and support positions available, such as training officer, radio officer, etc., with the group.

 

PCECG PARTICIPATES IN BIO-TERRORISM/WMD

TABLE TOP EXERCISE AT EOC (10/20/04)

 

On October 19, 2004, the Pinal County Office of Emergency Management held a table-top exercise at the Emergency Operations Center. The exercise involved over 40 persons from various county, state, and federal agencies handling a simulated biological terrorism incident. Two PCECG members, John N7JAY and Luis KD7GMK were assigned to handle simulated radio traffic at the EOC Communications room. The exercise was a good learning experience in working out procedures for handling traffic and clearing up ICS issues.

 

 

PINAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCLEA) HEARS FROM PCECG (9/21/04)

 

On September 21, 2004, the Pinal County Law Enforcement Association, held their monthly meeting at the Department of Public Safety station in Casa Grande. This professional group of law enforcement executives in the county heard a short presentation on PCECG from DEC Luis Martinez. The opportunity to address the group came as a request from Pinal County Emergency Manager Pete Weaver to the DEC to represent Mr. Weaver at the meeting and brief the group on the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) Mobile Communications Vehicle (MCV) project.

 

Luis took this opportunity, after the MCV briefing, to introduce the assembled police chiefs and the Sheriff to PCECG and offered a short history of the group.  The plans for future drills and the need for the group to locate space within county served agencies was also mentioned. As a result, Chief Bob Ingulli, Florence Police Department, offered the use of space within his department for PCECG operators in future drills. This was a very successful next step on the path to recognition by served agencies.

 

GROUP WILL HOLD FIRST S.E.T. IN SEPTEMBER (8/30/04)

 

Plans are under way to hold the group's first "mini" Simulated Emergency Test in September. This will be a short drill but will assist in preparing the group for the ARRL October SET. It will also help the group to prepare for any actual emergencies in the future. There are two primary objectives for this SET:

 

1. To provide members the opportunity to practice message handling from simulated served agencies; and

2. To test the group's ability to respond to an unannounced alert and gather on the net frequency with short notice.

 

The results of the SET will be discussed at the group's monthly meeting on September 18.

 

 

GROUP APPROVES SOP and LEVEL I

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (7/19/04)

 

The Level I certification requirements in the PCECG Standard Operating Procedures manual were modified and approved by the membership at the July 17 meeting. Certification is important to the professionalism and credibility of the group, and recognition by served agencies. Level I requirements can be found in the revised version of the PCECG SOP, under the "ARCHIVES" section. Level II and III certification requirements have not been adopted pending further discussion at the August 21, 2004 general meeting.

Level I  requirements must be met within 24 months from joining PCECG, and are as follows:

 

1. FCC Amateur Radio License holder. (copy of certificate provided to training officer)
2. Own a 2-meter portable/mobile amateur radio.
3. Complete the ARRL ARECC Level 1 course or locally PCECG-approved 8-hour equivalent course. (copy of certificate provided to training officer)
4. Participate in:
    a. PCECG Net on (10) net-days and one public service event or
    b. twenty-five (25) net-days or
    c. three (3) public service events.
5. Complete FEMA Home Study Course: IS-2 (or IS-22). (copy of certificate provided to training officer)
6. All requirements must be completed within 24 months of joining

    PCECG.
7. Attendance at a minimum of 50% of previous 24 months monthly

    meetings.

 

Family members of PCECG members who are not FCC-licensed, or any other citizen who does not hold an FCC license but desires to provide support to the group in other areas, are exempt from Level I certification.

 

NEW TRAINING OFFICER (7/19/04)

At the Saturday July 17 meeting, Jerome Erickson KB1WWW agreed (ha!) to serve as the group's training officer. His duties will include coordinating training sessions at monthly meetings, maintaining a record of all training provided at our meetings, over the net, and maintaining a file on each member to document training. He will need your cooperation to begin this process and you can help by providing KB1WWW with a copy of your FCC license and copies of any training you want to document (ARECC Levels I-III, FEMA courses, Red Cross, etc.). The August 21 meeting will be a good opportunity to bring these documents and provide them to Jerome.

 

TABLE TOP EXERCISE AT EOC ON JULY 20 (7/8/04)

The Pinal County Emergency Manager has informed us of a table top exercise planned for July 20, 2004, at the Pinal EOC. The exercise will begin at 8:00 a.m. and EM Pete Weaver has invited PCECG to participate. The DEC is out of the state on that date, however, any PCECG member is welcome. In order to ensure there is ample room ,members must contact Mr. Weaver at (520) 866-6415 to confirm attendance.

ARCHIVES PAGE ADDED TO WEBSITE (7/7/04)

A new page has been added to the website to serve as a library or archive of documents and manuals of use to members. To reach the page click on "ARCHIVES" then click on the document you want to download. Most files are in pdf format. A link on the Archives page will lead you to the Adobe Reader download page if you need it. Please let the webmaster know of any documents you have that may be of use to others. Remember to obtain authorization from copyright holder if the document is copyrighted. Most hams are happy to authorize posting so long as their names are not removed from the documents.

NET NIGHT RETURNED TO TUESDAYS  (7/1/04)

The DEC has decided, after several requests, to move the net back to Tuesday nights. Everyone who contacted the DEC on this topic over the previous week indicated they prefer the original Tuesday net night. It is understood this may not be convenient for all, but not enough members have volunteered to serve as NCS to cover the duty every week, and the DEC has commitments on Wednesdays.

We still need NCS controllers, as the DEC will have nights he is not available, and unanticipated circumstances can pop up at any time. In addition, emergencies/disasters will require multiple controllers to operate in shifts so we need as many controllers to train now as possible.

Net control duty can be intimidating at first (ask Luis !) and it requires skills that must be developed (ask Luis !!!), but the only way to get the confidence is by doing it. Please consider serving as least once or twice. You may like it !

Thanks to Steve KN5H, for helping out with NCS last week.....

CLUB CALL SIGN (6/22/04)

Thanks to the effort of Steve Nace KN5H, PCECG now has been assigned its own club call sign by the FCC. We can now use N7FO as our FCC call at our net sessions and any other official PCECG activity. Steve was the holder of this call sign and kindly offered it to the group.

FIRST MEETING HELD (6/19/04)

The first organizational meeting of the PCECG group was held on June 19 at the Pinal EOC, with an attendance of 21 hams and other county officials. Pinal County Emergency Manager Pete Weaver welcomed the group and discussed the future possibilities of joint efforts between Pinal EOC and PCECG. Pete informed the group there is designated space available within the EOC to set up a ham station, and some limited funding for equipment may be available.

A presentation by Pinal DEC Luis KD7GMK was made, highlighting the efforts made towards informing served agencies of the group and its availability. The group also listened to a presentation on RACES from Steve KN5H, and Steve distributed applications for those interested in joining RACES.

The group agreed to move the net to Wednesdays at 7 pm, from the current Tuesdays as it was more convenient. The next meeting will be held on July 17, 10am, at the EOC. More information on the meeting can be obtained by clicking this link.