Message 28344 in ARES.ARRL
From: CX2SA
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 26 19:22:00 Z
Newsgroups: ARES.ARRL
Subject: The ARES E-Letter - 08/2026
Message-ID: <ARES082026>
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : ARES@ARRL
=================
The ARES E-Letter
=================
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE - August 19, 2026
In This Issue:
- Michigan Ham Radio Shines at Soo Locks Engineers Day 2026
- Route Safety Lite at the Mightyssippi 10 Mile
- FEMA Course Review - MGT-456 - Integration of Cybersecurity Personnel into
the Emergency Operations
-------------------
On July 27, July 30, and August 1, 2026, members of the Green Bay Mike and
Key Club, who are also members of the Brown-Kewaunee County Amateur Radio
following a tornado that struck on July 27. The tornado hit Appleton and
caused severe damage in Menasha, Fox Crossing, and nearby communities, with
peak winds estimated at 140?mph and a 12.1-mile path up to 1,500?yards wide.
to a request from the Winnebago County Emergency Management Office for ARES
radio assistance. When they arrived, team members were paired with other
volunteers from Community Emergency Response Teams and local officials to
form damage assessment teams assigned to specific areas.
While deployed, Evenson, Reid, and Martin conducted damage assessment
operations. There were no deaths and only 60 injuries reported as a result
of this tornado. Amateur radio provided communication between team members
and the net control station at the volunteer coordination center.-Thanks to
The ARRL Letter
The Hermiston Amateur Radio Club of Oregon recently provided
radiocommunications for the Pendleton Round-Up Wagon Train, a week-long
event conducted in the Blue Mountains of the state. With limited cellular
service, communications for emergencies are problematic. Since 2017, the
club has supported the wagons on their routes.
This year, there were seven amateurs participating at the wagon train site.
Kevin Hedgepeth, NB7O, served as Communications Unit Leader (COML). Michelle
Hedgepeth, K7MGO; Rochelle Meyers, KD7LXH; George Meyers, KD7NDL; Rick Guse,
KI7GBU; Ralph Thomas, N7WCA; Peter Mackwell, W7PTA; and Daniel Meyers, a
GMRS participant, were the team radio operators (RADO).
Serving as a monitoring net were Dennis McHenry, KI7CUS; Mike Kimsey, W7MWK;
Fred Maiocco, KG7WYY; Alan Polan, KE4TRR (Umatilla County ARES EC); and Jim
Davis, AA7AZ. The net was opened daily upon departure of the wagons from
camp. The amateurs in the Hermiston area maintained radio watch, listening
for traffic from base camp or the wagon train itself.
In previous years, this net has had to vector in life flights for injuries
and helped arrange for parts to be delivered to camp to effect repairs on
one or more wagons. This year there were no requests for medical services.
Wagon train participants knew solid communications were available if needed.
The primary operation was conducted on the Umatilla County ARES repeater on
Black Mountain. The NB7O-10 Winlink gateway was used for written
communications between participants of the wagon train and family members at
home. Additionally, the COML used Winlink communications to send written
traffic to the net team members and to provide weather forecasts to the
wagon train organizers.
Ground communications between team members on wagons were provided by Family
Radio Service (FRS) radios. This year, Kevin Hedgepeth, NB7O, provided a
GMRS repeater for testing purposes, which proved to be very useful for
ground communications from the wagon train to the communications team. In
addition to these voice/data modalities, some members of the wagon train had
Meshtastic trackers available for service: Hedgepeth deployed a Meshtastic
repeater at the camp site. In addition, Forest Service radios were available
to the operators for direct communications with the U.S. Forest Service in
the event of an emergency. -Kevin Hedgepeth, NB7O, Oregon ARES
Michigan Ham Radio Shines at Soo Locks Engineers Day 2026
---------------------------------------------------------
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan - June 26, 2026, marked another fantastic edition
of Soo Locks Engineers Day, the annual celebration of engineering marvels,
maritime heritage, and community spirit at one of the world's busiest lock
systems. Once again, Michigan's amateur radio community stepped up in a big
way, providing vital public safety communications support and operating
special event station W8S to showcase ham radio to visitors from across the
region.
Led by dedicated AUXC and ARES volunteers from Chippewa, Luce, and Delta
Counties, plus hams from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the team delivered
strong communications support throughout the day. The weather was perfect,
and we also had three staff members from the National Weather Service in
Gaylord attending. Their presence provided a great training opportunity and
showed how well we can work together at these types of events. Setup began
the afternoon before on June 25, with full operations running from
early-morning briefing at Brady Park through late-afternoon shutdown. Hams
managed radio distributions, MyMich Hospital trailer operations, Michigan
State Police Command Vehicle rotations, and reliable links using local
repeaters, the county simplex frequency, a mix of VHF and HF, and even a
mini Starlink deployment for backup connectivity.
Key highlights from the field included smooth setup and testing of radios,
coordinated personnel movements between the special events tent, command
vehicles, and hospital trailer, and strong participation from both
experienced AUXC operators and eager newcomers.
The Eastern Upper Peninsula Amateur Radio Club special event station W8S
gave the public a firsthand look at amateur radio in action - connecting
with hams worldwide while highlighting how our service supports community
events and emergency preparedness. This annual tradition continues to build
strong partnerships among local clubs, AUXC teams, and event organizers
including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Volunteers who made it happen included Cody Ames, KJ7SYX; Robert Donaldson,
W8SSM; Dave Erickson, W9TRC; Kay Erickson, N8OFF; Brent MacMillan,
Roger VanDamme, KB8PLR; and many more from both sides of the border. A huge
thank you to every volunteer who donated time, equipment, and expertise!
Events like this not only support the community but also strengthen our
skills for when they're truly needed.- Bob Sterner, KB0BS, CETsr, AUXC,
COML, Chippewa County ARES Emergency Coordinator; Thanks to The ARRL Letter
Route Safety Lite at the Mightyssippi 10 Mile
---------------------------------------------
Many amateur radio operators are familiar with supporting large public
events such as marathons. But smaller races can benefit just as much from
experienced communications volunteers. A local 10K or 10-mile race may
require only a handful of operators and a simple communications plan, yet
still provide meaningful opportunities to improve participant safety and
event coordination.
The Mightyssippi 10-Mile is a new event built around an established race
brand and a scenic course along the Mississippi River south of Minneapolis
and St. Paul, Minnesota. The route winds through an extensive trail and park
system, minimizing interaction with busy streets while offering runners
beautiful river views.
similar events in southwestern Minnesota. After seeing the value amateur
radio added there, race organizers wanted to bring that same level of
communications support to the Twin Cities.
Our involvement actually began the previous year at the Elm Creek Half
Marathon. A request for communications support circulated informally, and
our team volunteered to help. Using a local repeater and a small group of
operators, we provided reliable communications throughout the event. The
organizers were pleased with the results, and before long we were invited to
support Goldys Run, one of the region's larger races involving several
thousand participants along with medical and public safety partners.
For the Mightyssippi 10 Mile, organizers clearly defined the mission and
matched expectations to the available volunteer resources. Rather than
attempting to cover the entire course, five radio operators were assigned to
locations where complicated trail intersections or limited access could
present challenges for runners or emergency responders.
Communications were handled through the W8WRR D-STAR repeater in downtown
St. Paul. While the repeater was recently upgraded for dual-mode operation,
conventional FM was selected for the event and offsite linking was disabled.
Because portions of the course were south of downtown and partially shielded
by terrain and buildings, verifying radio coverage before race day proved
worthwhile.
One lesson carried over from larger events was the importance of accurate
location information. Race mile markers and aid station numbers are
meaningful to race officials but have little value to a 911 dispatcher. The
Race Director prepared detailed assignment sheets that identified each
operator's location using nearby street mapping, photos and recognizable
landmarks. This simple step would greatly simplify directing emergency
responders if needed.
In the weeks leading up to the event, our team also assisted organizers in
developing communications and medical plans. Drawing on Incident Command
System (ICS) concepts, we drafted documents such as the ICS-205
Communications Plan and ICS-206 Medical Plan, identifying key contacts,
medical resources, transportation assets, and aid stations.
While life-threatening emergencies always require calling 911, many minor
incidents simply need to be coordinated with race medical personnel. Amateur
radio provides a fast, reliable way to connect field volunteers with medical
resources while maintaining situational awareness across the course.
Before the race began, I visited my assignment to become familiar with
nearby aid stations, access points, and surrounding streets. Volunteers were
already busy setting up the course. As I spoke with aid station personnel, I
pointed out the closest street intersections and emphasized that those
locations-not race mile markers-would be the information emergency
dispatchers needed.
Like many running events, a few participants still managed to miss turns
despite extensive signage. At my location, cones, arrows, and course signs
clearly marked the route, yet I still found myself standing near an
incorrect trail entrance to redirect runners before they wandered off course.
As temperatures climbed later in the morning, radio traffic increased. One
runner was reported being assisted by fellow participants and appeared to
require medical attention. Communications personnel quickly coordinated with
race medical staff, and a medical cart was dispatched. At the finish line,
an amateur radio operator who was also a former EMT prepared for the
patient's arrival. Ultimately, the situation required a 911 response, and
race organizers had wisely staged an ambulance nearby.
Despite the modest size of the event, the communications plan performed
exactly as intended. There was no formal Net Control Station. Instead,
experienced operators coordinated informally over the repeater as conditions
required. Communications remained clear, coverage was reliable, and
information flowed smoothly throughout the race.
Perhaps the most gratifying feedback came after the finish. Organizers
specifically thanked the amateur radio team not only for providing
communications, but also for helping develop their communications and
medical planning documents. They appreciated the structure and
professionalism that these ICS-based tools brought to the event.
As we continue supporting community races, we are finding that our value
extends well beyond passing radio traffic. By sharing proven emergency
management practices, we help organizers improve coordination, strengthen
safety, and build events that can grow successfully in the future.
The best measure of success came only a few days later: the organizers
called again. Three more races are already on the calendar. --Erik Westgard,
NY9D ny9d@xxxx.xxxx ASEC-Events, ARRL Minnesota Section
Medical cart on course Mightyssippi (photo courtesy of Erik Westgard, NY9D)
FEMA Course Review - MGT-456 - Integration of Cybersecurity Personnel into
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Cyber Incidents
---------------------------------------------------------
Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) in Minnesota is that we get on some
good mailing lists. FEMA has two slogans lately that I absolutely love:
volunteers the feeling of being included, an important part of something
bigger.
There was an email about a free course being taught in the north central
part of the state that needed more students to meet the minimum required.
The description was: MGT-456 provides emergency management, public safety,
information technology, and cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge
and skills needed to integrate cybersecurity personnel into emergency
operations center activities during cyber incidents. Participants will
explore coordination, communication, and decision-making processes that
support effective cyber incident response.
I met the prerequisites: I was a career Information Technology and
Cybersecurity Consultant; and the interest--I was forever being told that
the be all and end all of emergency communications was land mobile radio.
I got an 85% on the pre-test but had no idea what to expect. We had 10
instructors with solid public safety credentials. Fellow students were
government IT professionals and emergency managers. I signed up as a
Marathon worker, and was the only volunteer in the room. A few others had
ham licenses.
The first day was comprised of a series of cybersecurity and EOC structure
lectures. Historically, EOCs were organized under the Incident Command
System (ICS), familiar to many of us. The newer Incident Support Model (ISM)
modifies ICS by separating situational awareness and resource tracking from
the Planning Section or having a hybrid of old and new. This is interesting
here to us, as "Common Operating Picture" is all the current rage and
accordingly we have developed a Field Observer program for hams.
The second and third days were devoted to EOC simulation. They re-arranged
the room: There was a large resource table with 16 of us, a MAC address
table, a planning table and an EOC support area. We got random assignments.
They gave us quick training on a home-made EOC software package (like
WebEOC) and I sat at the ESF-12 seat - Energy.
Cell phones and five radios were also used. The first of three scenarios was
a water main break, which rapidly escalated. A cyberattack on critical
infrastructure was mixed in. My role was to take calls from the power
company and inform leadership (next to me was an Information Sharing desk)
and fill out an ICS-213RR form (resource requests) online. These were routed
to leadership for approval and then to a procurement desk and a costing
desk. We had some pre-defined resources on hand: police, fire, EMS, public
works and others. We had to source food, water and volunteers.
Exercises
There were three exercises, including a marathon. The level of realism was
high, and the creative injects were quite amazing. Feedback was given in
real time, getting coached by a true peer was effective for me.
Takeaways
Get to know the Community Lifelines. The primary purpose of FEMA's Community
Lifelines program is to provide an outcome-based, survivor-centric framework
that enables emergency responders to prioritize, target, and rapidly
stabilize the most fundamental services in a community-such as Energy,
Transportation, and Water Systems.
Learn the Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). We have a policy room at our
marathon where the government ESF decision makers sit.
Trust issues came up: If you are a know-it-all with poor people skills there
is a place on the curb outside for you.
There was no printer in the room-a handful of paper ICS-214 message forms
were used- interestingly to request volunteers via liaison-- those are not
assets that can be procured via an ICS-213RR The cyber element was either
mixed into the ESF-2 (communications) or a more standalone unit, aka Cyber
Section.
Garbled requests/messages were a huge issue. "Do you need 100 bottles of
water or 100 cases of water?"
Incident Action Plans rule the roost. Having the addresses of your shelters
helps. I put a tame emergency manager on the spot at lunch - did he see a
place for hams at the desks here? "No, there are too many trust/vetting
issues."
I was Deputy Ops Chief in the last scenario. My boss was a big county Chief
Information Officer. When she was out, I had to be at my desk where I was
needed for advice.
ARES volunteers can use more scenario-based training. We can help our
communities if we get out there where needed (i.e. events and disaster
recovery), follow best practice, and earn real world experience. --Erik
Westgard, NY9D ny9d@xxxx.xxxx ASEC-Events, ARRL Minnesota Section
EOC drill briefing on community lifelines (photo courtesy Erik Westgard, NY9D)
---------------
ARES Field Resources Manual [PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Fillable PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Word]
ARES Plan
ARES Group Registration
Emergency Communications Training
who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with
their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service
when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in
ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for
membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully
in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because
ARES is an amateur radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible
for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable,
but is not a requirement for membership.
How to Get Involved in ARES: Fill out the ARES Registration form and submit
it to your local Emergency Coordinator.
------------------------
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