By J.M. Rowe, N5XFW - Section Manager
The Batesville hamfest is this weekend. This is is an event that is getting bigger every year, thanks to the hospitality of the Batesville group. Here is the official website:
http://barchams.org/hamfest/index.htm I hope to see a huge crowd.
The scenario for this year's Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is the Section Manager and the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) are in Batesville for a hamfest when the New Madrid Seismic Zone turns loose.
The earthquake traps them both in the Batesville area, and they are unable to immediately travel back to Little Rock. The Batesville group has graciously offered their assistance, and we will be looking to make a bunch of contacts. The various net managers should already have been contacted by the Section Traffic Manager WW5AA to discuss their participation. See http://www.arkansas-aresraces.org/aresracessop.pdf
for more information about various nets. The SEC W5JLG and I appreciate all the activity!
I have been asked to join a panel discussing communications at the Albert Pike Flood. We are to meet at the Arkansas Interoperable Communications Conference. Go to http://www.awin.arkansas.gov/ for vendor and individual registrations, as well as forthcoming information. I understand there are a limited number of scholarships available for the registration fee, but I have no information about that. Check with your county Department of Emergency Management if you are interested in attending; they might have some help for you.
Showing posts with label public service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public service. Show all posts
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
CAREN Upgrades Phone Patch Repeater: Central Arkansas’ Only Landline Connection Resumes Operation
By Danny Straessle, KE5WLR - District A Public Information Officer
Continuing an established tradition of service to the statewide Amateur Radio community, the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN Club) has recently completed upgrades to the organization’s phone patch repeater in Little Rock.
Constructed years before the advent of cellular telephones, the phone patch repeater has been in operation since the late 1960s and located high above the historic Pulaski Heights neighborhood since 1980 on an elevated storage tank owned and operated by Central Arkansas Water. Upgrades including a new antenna and controller were made while the repeater was off-air as Central Arkansas Water sandblasted & re-painted its half-million-gallon tank. The antenna mount is at an elevation of approximately 740 feet above sea level.
Continuing an established tradition of service to the statewide Amateur Radio community, the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN Club) has recently completed upgrades to the organization’s phone patch repeater in Little Rock.
Constructed years before the advent of cellular telephones, the phone patch repeater has been in operation since the late 1960s and located high above the historic Pulaski Heights neighborhood since 1980 on an elevated storage tank owned and operated by Central Arkansas Water. Upgrades including a new antenna and controller were made while the repeater was off-air as Central Arkansas Water sandblasted & re-painted its half-million-gallon tank. The antenna mount is at an elevation of approximately 740 feet above sea level.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Arkansas SKYWARN® Names New President: MOU Renewed with NWS Little Rock and CAREN
By Danny Straessle, KE5WLR - Arkansas District A Public Information Officer
Entering its fourth decade of providing community service and emergency communications, Arkansas Weather Net, Inc. (aka Arkansas SKYWARN®) has named Greg Staton, K5GSS, as the organization’s president. He is preceded by outgoing President Pat Dixon, N5ZSN, who served for the last three years.
Staton is on-call 24/7 with the National Weather Service Little Rock Forecast Office, which activates SKYWARN® at its discretion whenever weather may be severe enough to threaten its 45-county warning area. An updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among Arkansas SKYWARN®, the National Weather Service, and the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN Club) has been signed and will serve as the framework for volunteer Amateur Radio operators to coordinate their services, facilities and equipment with the National Weather Service in support of the state of Arkansas and local governments for early warning of emergency weather information and emergency communications.
Entering its fourth decade of providing community service and emergency communications, Arkansas Weather Net, Inc. (aka Arkansas SKYWARN®) has named Greg Staton, K5GSS, as the organization’s president. He is preceded by outgoing President Pat Dixon, N5ZSN, who served for the last three years.
Staton is on-call 24/7 with the National Weather Service Little Rock Forecast Office, which activates SKYWARN® at its discretion whenever weather may be severe enough to threaten its 45-county warning area. An updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among Arkansas SKYWARN®, the National Weather Service, and the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN Club) has been signed and will serve as the framework for volunteer Amateur Radio operators to coordinate their services, facilities and equipment with the National Weather Service in support of the state of Arkansas and local governments for early warning of emergency weather information and emergency communications.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Department of Health Exercise and Section Emergency Test
Hello all,
I wanted to make sure everyone is up to speed for the November 18 exercise and Section Emergency Test (SET). Here is a kind of timeline and other information.
At 0800 local we experience a big earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. For the first hour, in some counties, there are no commercial communications or power available. AWIN will not work. The only things functioning will be ham radio and satellite phones. Remember not all counties are playing in this exercise, and even fewer are playing in this part of the exercise. Messages can be about almost anything, and we will see several about needing resources. Lists would be well served to be sent digitally. I don't believe any Health and Welfare traffic will be passed during this exercise.
I wanted to make sure everyone is up to speed for the November 18 exercise and Section Emergency Test (SET). Here is a kind of timeline and other information.
At 0800 local we experience a big earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. For the first hour, in some counties, there are no commercial communications or power available. AWIN will not work. The only things functioning will be ham radio and satellite phones. Remember not all counties are playing in this exercise, and even fewer are playing in this part of the exercise. Messages can be about almost anything, and we will see several about needing resources. Lists would be well served to be sent digitally. I don't believe any Health and Welfare traffic will be passed during this exercise.
Monday, October 26, 2009
State-wide Skywarn Class: Hams team-up with Department of Health
By Joshua Carroll, N5JLC - Arkansas Section Asst Public Information Coordinator
Several clubs around Arkansas have teamed together with the Arkansas Department of Health, the National Weather Service, the Arkansas Hospital Association, several media outlets, and numerous hospitals to present a state-wide Skywarn Weather Spotter's class. The class will occur on November 2 at 6 pm and will be broadcasted from the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock over thier video-teleconference network to hospitals all over the state.
Most Skywarn Weather Spotters are Ham radio operators, but that is not a requirement for the program; one must only have access to a reliable form of communications.
Several clubs around Arkansas have teamed together with the Arkansas Department of Health, the National Weather Service, the Arkansas Hospital Association, several media outlets, and numerous hospitals to present a state-wide Skywarn Weather Spotter's class. The class will occur on November 2 at 6 pm and will be broadcasted from the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock over thier video-teleconference network to hospitals all over the state.
Most Skywarn Weather Spotters are Ham radio operators, but that is not a requirement for the program; one must only have access to a reliable form of communications.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
CAREN Supports 7th Little Rock Marathon: Early pedestrian accident underscores need for preparedness
By Danny Straessle, KE5WLR
Little Rock -- Members of the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN) provided communications support for the 7th annual Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 15th. More than 6,000 runners participated in the event, which included a 5K, a half-marathon, a marathon relay and the Little Rock Marathon itself.
Twenty-Eight Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) enthusiasts donated their time, resources and equipment to staff the 26-mile route that began on Clinton Avenue in the Little Rock River Market District, traversed Downtown areas of Little Rock & North Little Rock, Central High School, the historic Hillcrest neighborhood, and Murray Park before concluding at Riverfront Park in Little Rock.
While several CAREN members were stationed at each of the 17 water stops, other members were positioned among aid stations, the race finish line, with the race director, and even behind the very last marathon runner in a position known as "Tailgate Charlie." Net control was rotated among several CAREN members who were located in the City of Little Rock tactical communications vehicle amid other net controls for LRPD special events, MEMS, LRFD and other city services.
In direct support of race officials, CAREN members tracked the three lead marathon runners for both men's and women's categories as they progressed through the course. Additional tracks were requested for leaders of the half-marathon. Of special note were the five wheelchair racers who were each tracked the entire length of the course.
"Tracking the lead runners is not always easy but the CAREN team works very hard in getting me that information," explains Little Rock Marathon Race Director Bill Torrey. "This helps build excitement in the finish area for both race organizers and the spectators waiting on their family members. Keeping pace with the last runner is a practice in patience. These people are working hard to finish and it has been a long day for them and the volunteers. I have been associated with CAREN for well over 10 years and it is my pleasure and good fortune to work with such a dedicated and professional group."
Little Rock -- Members of the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN) provided communications support for the 7th annual Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 15th. More than 6,000 runners participated in the event, which included a 5K, a half-marathon, a marathon relay and the Little Rock Marathon itself.
Twenty-Eight Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) enthusiasts donated their time, resources and equipment to staff the 26-mile route that began on Clinton Avenue in the Little Rock River Market District, traversed Downtown areas of Little Rock & North Little Rock, Central High School, the historic Hillcrest neighborhood, and Murray Park before concluding at Riverfront Park in Little Rock.
While several CAREN members were stationed at each of the 17 water stops, other members were positioned among aid stations, the race finish line, with the race director, and even behind the very last marathon runner in a position known as "Tailgate Charlie." Net control was rotated among several CAREN members who were located in the City of Little Rock tactical communications vehicle amid other net controls for LRPD special events, MEMS, LRFD and other city services.
In direct support of race officials, CAREN members tracked the three lead marathon runners for both men's and women's categories as they progressed through the course. Additional tracks were requested for leaders of the half-marathon. Of special note were the five wheelchair racers who were each tracked the entire length of the course.
"Tracking the lead runners is not always easy but the CAREN team works very hard in getting me that information," explains Little Rock Marathon Race Director Bill Torrey. "This helps build excitement in the finish area for both race organizers and the spectators waiting on their family members. Keeping pace with the last runner is a practice in patience. These people are working hard to finish and it has been a long day for them and the volunteers. I have been associated with CAREN for well over 10 years and it is my pleasure and good fortune to work with such a dedicated and professional group."
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