Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)

May 5th Texas-wide Exercise

TDEM Homeland Security ConferenceApril 2012

American Radio Relay League

Background Information:

Field Organization consists of: 15 Divisions 71 Sections Texas has 3 sections (North, South,

West)

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ARES Organization

There are four levels of an ARES organization

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Background Information continued:

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Exercise Total CoverageARRL West Gulf and Delta Divisions

Participating

May 5th Exercise Scenario

A large solar storm has occurred resulting in widespread power outages and a failure of the Internet and cellular networks.

Two days have passed since the solar storm allowing for restored HF conditions but RF-only conditions persist.

Providing situational awareness to the state operation center from all areas is critical.

ARES

ARES capabilities:

Voice – Local (VHF/UHF) and Distant (HF) Radio email – Local (VHF/UHF) and Distant

(HF) Radio and Internet Linked repeaters Other

◦ High Speed Multimedia (HSMM)◦ APRS - GPS location /Tracking

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Winlink Email via Radio

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Services / Capabilities:

Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outage Texas Winlink Local VHF/UHF Servers

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Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outageNorth American EMCOMM Winlink HF Servers

Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outageTexas EMCOMM Winlink HF Servers

Texas ARES Winlink – After the outageCentral Texas HF Server designated as overall Texas message hub

South Texas ARES Winlink Regional Email Hubbing Strategy

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HospitalEOC

POD Shelter

VHF Winlink email server in RF only mode

Local agencies can exchange email using RF only mode.

South Texas ARES Winlink Routing Mail outside the local Area – the Direct approach

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SOCVHF Winlink email server in RF only modeHF Forwarding capable

Direct HF forwarding requires PACTOR capability

Central Texas central backup server with VHF and HF capability

South Texas ARES Winlink Routing Mail outside the local Area – through local liaison

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HF Liaison can use other digital technique or voice as last resort.

SOCVHF Winlink email server in RF only mode

Central Texas central backup server with VHF and HF capability

HF LiaisonHF Liaison

South Texas ARES Winlink Routing Mail outside the local Area – through local MARS liaison

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MARS liaisons can send email directly to SOC MARS station or through another MARS operator

SOCVHF Winlink email server in RF only mode

Central Texas Central Backup server with VHF and HF capability

HF MARSliaison

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Linked Repeater System

May 5th Exercise Objectives

County level:

◦ Bring up local voice net per their plan

◦ Activate or simulate activation of local agencies.

◦ Exercise county Communications Response

Teams with simulated local deployments.

◦ Establish liaisons to other participating areas.ARES

May 5th Exercise Objectives

County level continued:

◦ Send ICS-213 SITREP to State Operations Center via DDC or directly if necessary.

◦ Receive reply from SOC via DDC or directly if necessary.

◦ Establish HF Texas Emergency voice net liaison.

◦ Establish VHF Linked repeater liaison if possible.ARES

May 5th Exercise Objectives

County level continued: Complete After Action Report:

◦ Name of county participating◦ Number of participants◦ Agencies participating◦ Were you able to submit an ICS-213 to the SOC?◦ SOC ICS-213 reply received?◦ HF Exercise net liaison established?◦ Liaison to Saltgrass or Armadillo networks established? ◦ Summary of local operation◦ What went well?◦ What did not go well?◦ Lessons learned◦ Suggestions for future exercises.

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May 5th Exercise Objectives

Larger exercise objectives

◦ Sections outside Texas doing independent exercises

◦ Sections will generate assistance requests for Oklahoma and Delta Division sections.

◦ High level SITREP exchanges and HF voice liaisons established

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Tom Whiteside N5TWSouth Texas ARRL Section Emergency CoordinatorAssistant South Texas Section Managern5tw@arrl.net

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Questions