THANKS ! – Flathead Shake Out Participation

For amateur radio the Flathead Shake Out emergency management exercise was an unmitigated and resounding success. We logged 35 check-in’s from all corners of the county and established contact with an operator near Helena. In addition, we were incorporated into the response communication plan and simulated the dispatch of operators to 3 localized Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and 3 Incident Command Posts (ICP). On behalf of WA7VNP (Jon, AEC) and myself, I would like to personally thank all of the amateur operators who participated.

I would especially like to thank N7CMJ (Les) and W7YP (Rick) who served diligently as Net Controls for the entire duration of the exercise. Their professionalism and team work really shined and demonstrated to all of the players in the EOC the importance and value of amateur radio during emergencies.

During the post event ‘hot wash’ 3 key players and decision makers specifically mentioned the importance of the participation of the amateur radio community in this exercise. Kudos to all for a job well done.

A key element of any exercise is to identify lessons learned. Anyone who participated in or monitored on-air activities of this exercised is strongly encouraged to send your input to me at misc@cjamt.net. Your comments are valued and serve to improve future performance. I will add them to the list.

In the meantime, here are some initial lessons learned:

(1) Maybe we should try to prearrange for a net control operator and two alternates ahead of time. (W7YP)
(2) Perhaps we should try to have one dedicated HF station and one alternate and maybe try digital modes such as PSK31 if HF voice isn’t working. (W7YP)
(3) It might be nice if we added a real-time exercise log to the FVARC website so that, during the exercise itself, ALL control operators (primary and alternates), any other stations checked in with Internet access and Flathead EOC can see who’s currently active and their locations. Also, the primary and alternate net control operators could be maintaining this electronic log while also maintaining a paper copy at their QTH. (W7YP)
(4) Identify a liaison station and establish the HF link (Helena) at the very beginning of any incident or exercise. (K7CJA)
(5) Net Controls should remember to delegate any task that distracts them managing the net. (K7CJA)
(6) Operators need to educate themselves on the ins and outs of NIMS/ICS and various other aspects of modern emergency management; As in this case, they could be asked to provide communication support for an EOC or ICP. They need to know the basic structure and function of those involved. (K7CJA)
(7) Operators should consider some of the newer EMCOMM training currently offered by the FCC (AUXCOMM, COMM-T, and COMM-L) (K7CJA)
(8) Wherever possible, we should operate on alternative power to demonstrate our ability to stay on the air even in a wide area blackout event. (WA7VNP)
(9) When checking into the net, operator should give call sign including station status (mobile, portable, base), general location (or destination if mobile) and availability for travel assignments. (WA7VNP)
(10) Net control should maintain an “Assigned Post Manning Log” in order to track post status, assure adequate manning of each post and prevent double assignments. (WA7VNP)
(11) Operators who are currently on an assigned post should not volunteer to respond to a new assignment unless requested to do so by net control. (WA7VNP)
(12) Operators who have checked into the net should check out with the Control Operator when leaving the net. If only a temporary absence (sandbox call, meal break away from the radio) notify Control operator upon exit and return. (WA7VNP)
(13) Assigned posts (ICPs, hospitals, shelters, etc.) should be polled for status on an hourly basis or when a change in event conditions would affect them. (WA7VNP)

Again, thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Chris Amyes, K7CJA
Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Flathead County, Montana