PanhandleARES.org

Krissy Scotten, Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS AMA, will be presenting a SKYWARN certification class for the PARC ARES group on Tuesday February 5th at 19:00 at the AES Building located at 1900 Line Avenue in Amarillo, TX. This class will be open to the public. If you are unable to attend the SKYWARN Training scheduled for our ARES meeting, the 2013 Spotter Training Schedule is available here.

SKYWARN is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) severe weather spotting program with nearly 290,000 trained volunteers nationwide. Since the late 1960s, trained SKYWARN spotters have helped support the NWS’ primary mission of protecting life and property through the issuance of severe weather warnings. These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS Forecast Office. SKYWARN spotters are integral to the success of our Nation’s severe weather warning system.

Every year the NWS conducts SKYWARN spotter training sessions. The NWS currently has 122 Weather Forecast Offices across the nation, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN program in their local area. There is no charge and a typical class takes about 2 hours to conduct.

Storm Spotter certification is required every two years, but please consider attending this class even if your certification has not expired. If you are not currently a SKYWARN spotter and you are interested in joining our volunteer group you are welcome to attend this training as well.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service.  Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN name and logo are available here.

For more information about SKYWARN, please click here.

If you are interested in joining ARES, please click here.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, please click here.

Many ARES groups across the country require the following training of it’s members, however this training is not mandatory for our group at this time, although it is highly recommended. This training will help emergency communicators to be successful in assisting in any scenario whether it is a public service event such as the Bike MS ride or the Tour de’ Cotton bike ride, or an actual emergency or disaster event

Introduction to Emergency Communication (link)

Cost: ARRL Members $50               Non-Members/ Guests: $85

Description. This course is designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. The course has 6 sections with 29 lesson topics. It includes required student activities, a 35-question final assessment and is expected to take approximately 45 hours to complete over a 9-week period. You will have access to the course platform at any time of day during this 9-week period so you may work according to your own schedule. You must pace yourself to be sure you complete all the required material in the allotted time.

Course Completion Requirements. At the end of the course an online final assessment is taken.  A score of 80% or better is required for successful course completion.  For the student to receive a “Pass,” Mentors must also verify student completion by evaluating work on required activity assignments and notify the Continuing Education Program that the student has successfully completed both the course work and achieved a satisfactory score on the final assessment.

Computer Requirements. This is an online course hosted on the Moodle online learning platform. This online learning platform is best accessed using the Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers.

Prerequisites. Before you begin the course you should have completed the following prerequisites. These courses provide a foundation for the content of this course.  These are free mini-courses you can take online at http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp.

IS-100.b – Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100 (link)

Course Overview: ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

IS-700.a NIMS An Introduction (link)

Course Overview: This course introduces and overviews the National Incident Management System (NIMS).  NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.

Krissy Scotten, Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS AMA, will be presenting a SKYWARN certification class for the PARC ARES group on Tuesday March 13th 2012 at 19:30 at the AES Building located at 1900 Line Avenue in Amarillo, TX. This class will be open to the public. If you are unable to attend the SKYWARN Training scheduled for our ARES meeting, the 2012 Spotter Training Schedule is available here.

SKYWARN is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) severe weather spotting program with nearly 290,000 trained volunteers nationwide. Since the late 1960s, trained SKYWARN spotters have helped support the NWS’ primary mission of protecting life and property through the issuance of severe weather warnings. These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS Forecast Office. SKYWARN spotters are integral to the success of our Nation’s severe weather warning system.

Every year the NWS conducts SKYWARN spotter training sessions. The NWS currently has 122 Weather Forecast Offices across the nation, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN program in their local area. There is no charge and a typical class takes about 2 hours to conduct.

Storm Spotter certification is required every two years, but please consider attending this class even if your certification has not expired. If you are not currently a SKYWARN spotter and you are interested in joining our volunteer group you are welcome to attend this training as well.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service.  Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN name and logo are available here.

For more information about SKYWARN, please click here.

If you are interested in joining ARES, please click here.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, please click here.

In case you missed the training this month…

Download (PPT, 247KB)

What is NVIS?

NVIS, or Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, refers to a radio propagation mode which involves the use of antennas with a very high radiation angle, approaching or reaching 90 degrees (straight up), along with selection of an appropriate frequency below the critical frequency, to establish reliable communications over a radius of 0-200 miles or so, give or take 100 miles. Although not all radio amateurs have heard the term NVIS, many have used that mode when making nearby contacts on 160 meters or 80 meters at night, or 80 meters or 40 meters during the day. They may have thought of these nearby contacts as necessarily involving the use of groundwave propagation, but many such contacts involve no groundwave signal at all, or, if the groundwave signal is involved, it may hinder, instead of help. Deliberate exploitation of NVIS is best achieved using antenna installations which achieve some balance between minimizing groundwave (low takeoff angle) radiation, and maximizing near vertical incidence skywave (very high takeoff angle) radiation.

As hams, we often faithfully follow the advice: get your antenna up as high as you can get it! We do this, and other things (like choosing antennas that have a low angle of radiation) in order to maximize the distance over which we can communicate. An antenna with a particularly high angle of radiation is often somewhat disparagingly referred to as a “cloudwarmer”, the implication being that if the signal isn’t radiated at a low enough angle, it’s being wasted. For NVIS, we ignore all this traditional advice, and select instead techniques which will maximize not our DX, but our ability to reliably communicate with other stations within a radius of 0-300 miles.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of NVIS?

Among the many advantages of NVIS are:

• NVIS covers the area which is normally in the skip zone, that is, which is normally too far away to receive groundwave signals, but not yet far enough away to receive skywaves reflected from the ionosphere.NVIS requires no infrastructure such as repeaters or satellites.
• Two stations employing NVIS techniques can establish reliable communications without the support of any third party.
• Pure NVIS propagation is relatively free from fading.
• Antennas optimized for NVIS are usually low. Simple dipoles work very well.
• A good NVIS antenna can be erected easily, in a short amount of time, by a small team (or just one person).
• Low areas and valleys are no problem for NVIS propagation.
• The path to and from the ionosphere is short and direct, resulting in lower path losses due to factors such as absorption by the D layer.
• NVIS techniques can dramatically reduce noise and interference, resulting in an improved signal/noise ratio.
• With its improved signal/noise ratio and low path loss, NVIS works well with low power.

A complete and informational article on NVIS can be located HERE.

Packet radio is the fourth major digital radio communications mode. Earlier modes were telegraphy (Morse Code), teleprinter (Baudot) and facsimile. Like those earlier modes, packet was intended as a way to reliably transmit written information. The primary advantage was initially expected to be increased speed, but as the protocol developed, other capabilities surfaced.

The technology itself was a leap forward, making it possible for nearly any packet station to act as a digipeater, linking distant stations with each other through ad hoc networks. This makes packet especially useful for emergency communications.

Station configuration

A basic packet radio station consists of a computer or dumb terminal, a modem, and a transceiver with an antenna. Traditionally, the computer and modem are combined in one unit, the terminal node controller (TNC), with a dumb terminal (or terminal emulator) used to input and display data. Increasingly, however, personal computers are taking over the functions of the TNC, with the modem either a standalone unit or implemented entirely in software. Alternatively, multiple manufacturers (including Kenwood and Alinco) now market handheld or mobile radios with built-in TNCs, allowing connection directly to the serial port of a computer or terminal with no other equipment required.

We are currently looking for an experienced packet radio operator to give a presentation to the radio club and ARES group. Please contact KE5ZRT or N5YXN to help out.

To learn more about Packet Radio, CLICK HERE.

SEVERE WEATHER DEFINITIONS

THUNDERSTORM—A storm accompanied by thunder and may contain lightning, gusty winds, heavy rain and hail

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM—A thunderstorm that produces winds of 58 mph or greater, or 3/4 inch hail or larger.  This type of storm may also produce torrential rain (more than an inch in 1 hour) and possibly tornados

WALL CLOUD- An abrupt lowering cloud base which usually forms in the rain-free base area of a thunderstorm. The wall cloud may develop in the southwest portion (right rear) of the storm. Many wall clouds exhibit rapid upward motion and rotation. A persistent, rotating wall cloud usually develops before a tornado, and should always be reported

FUNNEL- A cloud pendant or inverted cloud cone which extends from the base of the thunderstorm, but IS NOT in contact with the ground

TORNADO- A violently rotating narrow column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm base

GUST FRONT- The leading edge of rain cooled sinking air from a thunderstorm. It is usually marked by gusty cool winds and sometimes low clouds (shelf clouds) or blowing dust

DOWNBURST- A strong downdraft of air which produces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. These winds may cause tornado-like damage

DRYLINE- A boundary separating hot dry air to the west from warm moist air to the east. Thunderstorms often develop along or near a dryline

CAP or LID- A hot dry layer of air between warm moist surface air and cool dry air aloft.  The cap may inhibit of delay the onset of thunderstorms

WEATHER WATCHES—Indicates where and when the severe weather probabilities are highest, and should not be confused with a warning

WEATHER WARNING—Severe weather is imminent and you should take immediate action to protect yourself and your property

SEVERE WEATHER FIELD MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES

ESTIMATING ANGLE TO THE BASE OF THE STORM:  The cloud base of most thunderstorms in our area is about 5000 ft.  Using basic trigonometry you can estimate the angle from your location to the base of the storm and determine the distance.  For example:

• 60 degrees = 1/2 mile
• 45 degrees = 1 mile
• 30 degrees = 1.7 miles
• 15 degrees = 3.7 miles

HAIL SIZE EQUIVALENTS: Remember, hail of 1″ diameter or greater classifies a storm as severe, and should be reported.

• 1″         Quarter Size
• 1 ¼”     Half Dollar Size
• 1 ½”     Walnut or Ping Pong Ball Size
• 1 ¾”     Golf Ball Size 2″ Hen Egg Size
• 2 ½”     Tennis Ball Size
• 2 ¾”     Baseball Size
• 3″         Teacup Size
• 4″         Grapefruit Size
• 4 ½”     Softball Size

TORNADO SIZE ESTIMATES

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
• Sand to improve traction
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

• Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
• Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow – or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

Prepare your car

• Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
  • Antifreeze levels – ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Battery and ignition system – should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
  • Brakes – check for wear and fluid levels.
  • Exhaust system – check for leaks and crimped pipes andrepair or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
  • Fuel and air filters – replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.
  • Heater and defroster – ensure they work properly.
  • Lights and flashing hazard lights – check for serviceability.
  • Oil – check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
  • Thermostat – ensure it works properly.
  • Windshield wiper equipment – repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
• Install good winter tires.Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
• Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes:
  • a shovel
  • windshield scraper and small broom
  • flashlight
  • battery powered radio
  • extra batteries
  • water
  • snack food
  • matches
  • extra hats, socks and mittens
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Necessary medications
  • blanket(s)
  • tow chain or rope
  • road salt and sand
  • booster cables
  • emergency flares
  • fluorescent distress flag

Dress for the Weather

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

For more information:

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/wi_before.shtm

In the September 2011 PARC ARES meeting we discussed “Served Agency Communications Systems”. Below are links to reference sites discussed in the materials.

APCO — www.apco911.org

International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA): www.imsasafety.org/

Dispatch Magazine: www.911dispatch.com/

Project 25 — www.project25.org

Inmarsat — www.inmarsat.com

Globalstar — www.globalstar.com

Iridium — www.iridium.com

Thuraya — www.thuraya.com (United Arab Emirates)

Motorola — http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/networks.shtml

EC-001 Updates:

The infrastructure to re-launch field instruction in ARRL’s Emergency Communications training program is now in place.

The printed course transcript is now available in the ARRL store: www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Introduction-to-Emergency-Communication-Course/

Field exams for the new course have been developed and are available from the ARRL Continuing Education Program office. You can review requirements for registering as a Field Examiner and find the information you’ll need to perform those responsibilities, including instructions for ordering exams, at: www.arrl.org/emergency-communications-field-examiners

You can find authorized ARRL Field Instructors and Field Examiners by conducting a search of our database at: www.arrl.org/find-a-fi and www.arrl.org/find-a-fe.

We’ve also just launched a new searchable database for Field Instructors and Field Examiners to register their classes and/or exam sessions on our website www.arrl.org/find-an-emcomm-class-exam.

EC-001 Field Instructors Needed

Field Instructors are volunteers who commit their time and expertise to offer classroom instruction of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course. Volunteer instructors may now conduct classroom instruction covering the material in the new Introduction to Emergency Communication course.

Field Instructors must be registered with the ARRL Continuing Education Program and must meet certain requirements:

• Completion of EC-001 (old or new version)
• Completion of FEMA IS-100, 200, 700 and 800
• Must be 18 years of age with Technician or higher license
• ARRL member
• Recommendation of Section Manager

If you are interested in serving as an ARRL Field Instructor for EC-001 you may submit an application here.

The Office of Emergency Management will be conducting a G-300 Intermediate ICS (20 hours) and G-400 Advanced ICS (12 hours) on August 2-5, 2011 in the Amarillo/Potter/Randall Emergency Operations Center.  Any personnel that require this training should take advantage of this opportunity.  Registration for the training is through the Preparing Texas website:

https://www.preparingtexas.org/

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

kevin.starbuck@amarillo.gov

Kevin Starbuck, CEM, Emergency Management Coordinator

Amarillo/Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management

Thursday and Friday, June 9th and 10th, 2011

Amarillo Civic Center, The Heritage Room

401 S. Buchanan, Amarillo, TX

Registration Deadline: June 3rd

To Register, CLICK HERE

Target Audience: Mayors, Judges, City Council Members, County Commissioners, City/County Administrative Staff, Law Enforcement, Fire Responders, EMS Responders, Hospital/Clinic /LTC Administrators, Morticians/Funeral Directors, Emergency Management Coordinators, School Administrators, Agriculture Producers, Extension Agents, Faith-Based Organizations, Area Volunteer Groups and VOADS, Private Sector Business Active in Disaster

Cost: No Charge. The costs associated with this conference are being supported by the PREMAC with homeland security grant funding provided through the Texas Division of Emergency Management and with the generous support of the following sponsors: Amarillo College, ATMOS Energy Corporation, DH Marketing, El Paso Natural Gas Company, Panhandle Regional Advisory Council, Texas Cattle Feeder’s Association, West Texas A&M University, Williams Fire and Hazard Control Association.

Conference Objective: This conference is designed to bring the area’s emergency management system stakeholders together for discussion, networking and training on issues of common concern and interest. The format for this 3rd annual event is being expanded to a 2-day conference to allow for more diverse training that will appeal to the volunteers and professionals that are part of the emergency management system serving our area.

Keynote Speaker: Jose Garcia is the Chief Meteorologist in the Amarillo National Weather Service Office. The NWS informs local stakeholders in the region’s emergency management system on imminent weather conditions that could produce natural disasters or impact the way in which local agencies respond to those events. The NWS is providing the region’s responder agencies with a tactical advantage in preparing for and responding to events.

Sheltering and Mass Care are critical operations in the aftermath of a major disaster in any community. And given the relative remoteness of Texas Panhandle to the capabilities that exist in other parts of Texas it is critical that we have a robust capability to assist displaced citizens. To assist communities in Texas better prepare for this critical operation, Texas DSHS has contracted with Baptist Community & Family Services (BCFS) to work with Amarillo to further develop an Alternate Care Site (ACS) capability that could also be used as a Functional Needs Support Service (FNSS) shelter or Medical Special Needs (MSN) shelter.

While BCFS is working with Emergency Management and Public Health to identify potential shelter locations and what is required to make them functional in a disaster, the final component of the program is to provide ACS Facility Supervisor Training. I would encourage anyone who potentially could work in a shelter management role to participate in this training.

ACS Facility Supervisor Training:

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Amarillo/Potter/Randall Emergency Operations Center

Course Description:

The ACS Facility Supervisor training is a 3-hour course designed specifically for those who may be tasked with maintaining or working in an ACS facility upon activation in the event of a local emergency. Medical Reserve Corp members, Red Cross shelter team members, nursing students, volunteers from local faith-based organizations, public health employees and any others you designate for this purpose are all encouraged to attend.

Topics for the training include:

• ACS functions
• ACS facility selection and set up
• ACS accessibility basics and barrier workarounds (reasonable modifications)
• Patient intake, registration and tracking
• Logistical supply requirements
• Recommended volunteer and professional staffing ratios
• Volunteer roles & responsibilities
• ACS facility management best practices, policies & procedures
• Overall ACS facilities management techniques, including suggested ICS structure and facility management organizational charts

I appreciate your consideration in supporting this training. Please RSVP to myself and pass the word to anyone you think might be interested in participating.

kevin.starbuck@amarillo.gov

Thanks, Kevin

Kevin Starbuck, CEM, Emergency Management Coordinator

Amarillo/Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management

Bob, Daniel, Terra and I attended the Weather Watch Operations training today, presented by the Amarillo/Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management (OEM), at the Amarillo Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Some of the topics covered were: OEM Duty Officer Watch, Weather Watch activation and staffing, and warning criteria. Jose Garcia Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Amarillo National Weather Service (NWS) office stated that in years past he usually had been more able to predict the upcoming season, however this season he is uncertain of the weather to expect. Garcia also stated that we are transitioning out of a La Nina cycle which generally means warmer, drier weather which may cause us to experience a below average severe weather season, but the fire weather threats we have experienced will likely continue. Garcia also indicated that our Spring severe weather cycle may be earlier than normal with higher possibilities of severe weather in April and May, rather than May and June.

Have a safe storm spotting season, KE5ZRT

AMARILLO, TEXAS — The Panhandle is home to some of the nation’s fiercest weather and the Amarillo Chapter of the American Red Cross will be conducting a tornado disaster drill this Saturday.

The Amarillo chapter of the Red Cross, along with 21 other Texas Red Cross chapters, will take part in the statewide simulated tornado disaster response test. In a statement from the Red Cross, it says it is the group’s first statewide disaster drill.

More than 600 disaster assessment volunteers will participate in the devastating weather scenario. Those volunteers will handle mock conditions after reports of dangerous storms.

Other American Red Cross chapters participating are in Beaumont, Austin, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Dallas, Pampa, El Paso, Houston, Waco, Kerrville, Wichita Falls, Orange, Brownwood, Bay City, San Antonio, Tyler, Harlingen, Midland, Denison and Texarkana.

The Panhandle Amateur Radio Club (PARC) Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Group will be assisting in a limited capacity with this drill. KE5ZRT, KE5ZRU & KE5WXN will meet at the Amarillo Red Cross chapter with a mobile HF radio to transmit a damage assessment to N5ARC, the Dallas Red Cross Radio Club, using HF 40 meters, 7.243 MHz.  This frequency worked well in a test last weekend, and recent MUF maps for F2 layer appear to support 40m over 80.  However, if the MUF goes down at the time of our exercise, 3.835 on 80m will be the alternate.  In both cases, if there is a conflict on the frequency, look slightly up or down to monitor this drill. If the mobile communications are not successful, we will hand carry the message to a more suitable fixed station for radio communications.

The PARC ARES group is proud to be able to assist the Amarillo Red Cross in this drill. Additionally, we look forward to assisting the chapter in selecting and assembling their own radio equipment, and we are eager to assist with training Red Cross volunteers to become new ham radio operators as well.

Schedule

9:00     Regional Chapter Check-in on HF (7.243), UHF (442.5) and VHF 146.74. 

10:30   Net Control will announce that the net is open for any regional chapters to provide a very brief summary of the DA Supervisor conference call (scheduled for 10:00), if they listened to the call.

12:00   Net Control will begin to take Form 5233 information by voice, either on HF or on one of the VHF/UHF channels.