A video about climbing a very tall tower to service an antenna.
What: EmCOMM BRAINSTORMING SESSION
When: SATURDAY DECEMBER 11, 2010 0900 to 1200 L
Where: HOUCHIN COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK 2600 G STREET Bakersfield Seating is limited. Use rear door next to the tower.
My name is Dave and my call is W7FYV (w7fyv@arrl.net).
In October 2010 KCCVARC asked me to chair a committee to explore creation of a county wide EmCOMM Net designed to help amateur radio operators in an emergency. Since then I have attempted to contact as many of the 6 known clubs/groups seeking their input. I would like to thank each of you for your phone calls, e-mails and comments. I feel that we have come to a point where we need to sit down together and seriously discuss what, if anything, we collectively can and should do about Emergency Communications in this county. Please refer to www.w6lie.org under the EmCOMM tab for summary documents based on your comments. I have been encouraged to hear RIdgecrest stations check in on both the KCCVARC club Sunday net and tne Monday EmCOMM net since this news spread. I hope we can count on the IWV for a participant - that would be great!
This is an INVITATION for your club or group to send one member to represent you in order to brainstorm the creation of a county wide EmCOMM net to provide emergency communications for amateur radio operators. Your representative can bring the results back to your club so you can decide if your are interested or not. KCCVARC feels strongly that hams need to help hams before we can do anything for others. The goal is to see if our respective groups can work together and still maintain our individual identity, nets, schedules, activities, Served Agencies, etc.
I am using the best set of e-mail addresses I have to get this message out. If you receive it please get it to the leadership of your group so they can decide who to send. If you want to call me my number is 661 589-9119. Please call or e-mail me with the name of your representative so I can prepare enough material to facilitate the session.
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Dave
Dave Merritt, W7FYV
Please try to attend.
EmCOMM QST (2)
Input I received so far and we should discuss these when we meet. I will be away until about the 21st of November so we could think about these things and meet in early December to discuss them. You are encouraged to pass this around. Let me know what you want to add, change or delete so we can have a good idea what will work for each group as well as the entire county. Keep it simple.
Family First!
ü Have an emergency plan for you and your family - children included.
ü Consider that you may be at work and children at school.
ü Get to know a few hams in your neighborhood.
ü Prepare each family member to hold out for 72 hours minimum.
ü What are the basics you need for 72 hours?
ü Where can you find that information?
ü Do it!
Each individual group will continue to do their own thing.
ü Each group can operate as they see fit – you know your area best.
ü What is your club and net schedule so we don’t conflict on dates & times.
ü If what you are doing works in your area share that with everyone.
ü Calling up the countywide net if your group needs help? How to.
ü Share good e-mail links and web addresses – some are invalid now.
Keep your radio available.
ü Have it with you – situational awareness – turn it on & listen.
ü Have it programmed and know how to program it in the field.
ü Develop a comprehensive comms plan including manageable simplex.
ü Develop a countywide EmCOMM Net that meets regularly. (monthly?)
Right now there are about 6 organized groups in Kern County.
Integrate all groups into the countywide Net.
Include independent repeater owners.
Pass net control duties around so each group gets a turn.
Practice with system failure scenarios – train & test.
Standard format for the countywide Net.
If an emergency develops listen for Net activity according to the comms plan.
ü Develop a wallet size card for quick reference of frequencies, etc.
Repeaters up – which ones – simplex only – relay stations
ü If not at home – which neighborhood hams can you reach?
ü What can we do for each other if we can’t get home?
Assist a spouse with utility shut off – just check your house for you.
Gather children at a safe place until you can pick them up.
Meet someone on the other side of a collapsed bridge, etc?
Not everyone wants to train to FEMA standards.
ü Those that want to should – a requirement in some emergencies.
ü Those that don’t want to can participate – everyone is important.
ü The primary net controllers must be trained to the FEMA level.
ü Train key people who are interested from each group.
Training – Practice.
ü Do a full blown training exercise X times per year.
ü Activate our county wide net for state and national exercises.
ü Do emergency power only drills.
ood morning all,
Remember - I just got this committee gig temporarily. Attached Word document
As we prepare to get together to see what we can do about establishing a countywide EmCOMM net that gets all our groups/clubs/interested parties/repeater owners working together I am attaching a summary of the input received so far. The goal is to have a comprehensive net for this whole county and not infringe on any existing groups schedules, operation, etc. You each know what works best in your area. Right now it is not much more than hams helping hams. Maybe it will grow into more.
Anticipate getting together for a discussion in early December since we are getting close to Thanksgiving and I will be gone a couple of weeks in November.
I don't have all the proper e-mail addresses. If you see that I have missed a group or person just let me know or pass this along as you see fit. Also if you want me to stop sending you stuff I will do that also.
KCCVARC still has their Sunday evening club net on 145.150 and the 146.91 at 2000L and the EmCOMM Net on Monday at 1900L on the same repeaters. Really glad to hear Ridgecrest check in to both nets recently. Bird Springs is back up and final work is being planned so GOOD JOB to the team that took that on.
I can be reached at w7fyv@arrl.net (h) 661 589-9119; (c) 661 203-0335
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Dave
Dave Merritt, W7FYV
