The annual SET is scheduled for this weekend on Saturday, October 7th.  Please read carefully, some more details and steps have been added to the drill.  We have also added the option to participate in the drill from the ARES trailer at the 911 center, or feel free to stop by anytime between 9a and 11a.

All Delco ARES members are strongly encouraged to participate if at all possible.  If you have a county issued Go Kit radio, you should make every effort to do so.  Please contact me (w3ctk@delcoares.net or 484-425-2125) if you will be unable for alternative arrangements.


Here are the detailed plans for the October 2023 SET, scheduled to run from 0000 to 2400 hours tomorrow, Satuday, October 7th.

For DELAWARE COUNTY ARES members, please follow the procedures here:

  • Review our Emergency Procedures (delcoares.net), the Delco ARES Manual (delcoares.net), especially the Delco ARES Annex A (delcoares.net) for procedures during a failure of commercial power and/or communications infrastructure, as well as Emergency Communications (delcoares.net) from the ARES Handbook.

  • Listen to the W3KG Boothwyn Repeater (446.775) for the Drill announcement, which should come out around 9a. 

    • We will also send out a notification from ServPA and Galaxy Digital to test alerting via those, but this SET plan simulates a CME event which would likely make these services unavailable.  Please assume you lose power at 9a and are aware of an emergency which may require a response from ARES.  Join the primary repeater during this time using a radio running backup battery power.

  • Assume the W3KG repeater is down and attempt to call W3CTK on simplex first.  Since I will be at the trailer in Media, PA, I should be fairly central to everyone.  I will be at the trailer between 9a and 11a to accept calls.


    Channel Name

    On Air Name

    Receive

    Transmit

    Off Freq

    Off Dir

    Mode

    Tone

    CTCSS
    DC S1 TACTICAL Delco Sierra One 146.565 146.565 0 Simplex FM None
  • If you can't reach me on simplex, then fall back to using the W3KG repeater (446.775), our local ARES emergency net frequency.  Again, best time to do this will be between 9a and 11a, however if this timeframe doesn't work you can try anytime tomorrow, or you can use the Winlink message option.

    Channel Name

    On Air Name

    Receive

    Transmit

    Off Freq

    Off Dir

    Mode

    Tone

    CTCSS
    DC R1 W3KG BOOTHWYN Delco Romeo One 446.775 441.775 5 - Minus FM Tone 88.5 Hz
    DD DW W3AEC LIMA Delstar Whiskey 440.05625 445.05625 5 + Plus DV None


  • When checking in, you will be asked for the following information:

    • Name, Call Sign, County.
    • If you are available to deploy if this was a real emergency.
    • If you can deploy, for how many hours/days can you function independently.
    • Your deployment capabilities such as: County provided Go Kit, bands you can operate on such as VHF/UHF and HF, if you radio(s) are handheld, mobile or base station units, portable antennas available and antenna masts.

  • Please document your check in message using a standard ICS-213 form.  Please email a scan/picture of this form to maciolekt@co.delaware.pa.us and w3ctk@delcoares.net 



  • If you have Winlink available, please use it to send an ICS-213 form with the information above to W3CTK.  Using your radio with a RMS station is preferred, however using Telnet (over the Internet) is acceptable.  This can be done anytime from 0000 to 2400 hours on Saturday, October 7th.

  • After the SET is over, please fill out the following Google form for an evaluation of the exercise.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhbu4UePCXJdCRHCNePcwYlfvxpi6qHIeNxzrZUi0OyY-TEg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&usp=mail_form_link

    • Participation in the exercise and completion of the feedback form will help us possibly qualifying for some grants. 

Please note, for this exercise you will not deploy, unless if you want to come to the 911 center.  Please check in using the Radio and/or Winlink methods above, from your home location or wherever you may be at this time.

If you would like to participate from the ARES trailer at the 911 center or just to stop by to see it and the drill, please feel free to stop anytime between 9a and 11a.  The trailer is setup behind the main building.

Thanks.

Here are the full SET plans from our SEC, Bob Wilson W3BIG:

As you know, the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place on Saturday, October 7. The time frame is 0001-2400. Comprehensive drill plans are attached. Much thanks to Jay King-W2AFE of the American Red Cross in Southeastern Pennsylvania for his design of this exercise and coordination of efforts between the Red Cross and EPA-ARES.

The exercise will be comprised of (2) parts:

  1. Early on 7 October EPA ARES ECs will receive a DRILL ALERT by email. They will be asked to alert their units and determine who is capable of deployment. The information will be compiled and sent via WINLINK to ARES-EPA (a WINLINK tactical address).  This Winlink email will be sent to the tactical call ARES-EPA to detail availability.
  2. Also on 7 October, Pennsylvania Red Cross will be reaching out by WINLINK with a DRILL ALERT for activation of simulated shelters. Participants are requested to respond via WINLINK on ARC-213 describing their arrival at a simulated shelter. Use the appropriate tactical call for your region, ARC-SEPA or ARC-GPA. (see below)

The DRILL ALERTS will contain all details needed for participation. Try to do as much as possible without phones or email. WINLINK Telnet is okay if you have no other options.

Please read over the attached drill plans so you understand the details and what information is required. The major part of the exercise will involve Winlink messaging. Read over and understand the proper TACTICAL CALLS to use to direct your Winlink emails.

For ARES units in EPA Region 1 (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties) the TACTICAL CALL to send your responses is:  ARC-SEPA. For ARES units in all other Pennsylvania counties, the TACTICAL Call is ARC-GPA. The use of two different calls is a Red Cross administrative requirement.

Individual county ARES units are welcome to add unique elements to this exercise as they deem appropriate as long as the required Winlink messages are sent detailing availability and shelter arrival information. Make sure you read over the sample ICS-213 Red Cross message to understand what information should be sent.

After the exercise, the American Red Cross will collate and analyze responses and detail the participation by county. That will enable ARES leadership to understand the response to determine where addressable issues exist.

Please discuss the details with your units to ensure a successful exercise. Try to have fun while operating and, as always, operate safely.

Loading

Loading

Thank you,

Bob Wilson,  W3BIG
ARRL – Eastern Pennsylvania
EPA Section Manager
EPA Section Emergency Coord.