Serving K-W Radio Amateurs Since 1922

ARES
"A
mateur Radio
E
mergency Services"

by Larry VE3LGN

KWARC Emergency Services



 


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KWARC EMERGENCY SERVICES
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 ARES/CANWARN articles

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a voluntary organization of licensed radio amateurs who have registered their capabilities and equipment for providing emergency communications as a public service to the community.

The purpose of ARES is to furnish communications in the event of natural disaster when regular communications fail or are inadequate. Sponsored by RAC, the ARES functions at the local level to meet local communications needs.

The ARES has a long history of public service going back to its formal inception in 1935. Since that time the ARES has responded countless times to communications emergencies. Experience has proven that radio amateurs respond more capably in time of emergency when practice has been conducted in an organized group. There is no substitute for experience gained before the need arises.

The ARES in each locality operates under the direction of the Emergency Coordinator (EC), whose function is to direct the activities of the ARES to maintain a state of readiness. To register in the ARES, fill out then send or give this detachable Registration Form directly to your EC, or to RAC HQ for forwarding to your EC. Membership in RAC is desirable but not required for registration. Registration does not require possession of any special equipment. All amateurs can be of assistance to the ARES. There is room in ARES for every amateur regardless of class of license, equipment owned, or personal circumstances. Please consider joining us in providing this essential Amateur Radio Service?

The Kitchener Waterloo Amateur Radio Club is now affiliated with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) organization and is in the process of training it's members to provide Emergency Communications service in time of local or regional disasters.

The Emergency Coordinator for Kitchener-Waterloo is Larry Gorman VE3LGN.  If you are interested in becoming a member of our local ARES group contact Larry  at ares@kwarc.org.

The KWARC ARES group recently took part in Exercise Download.  Click here to read the review.

This ARES Home Page should be book marked as it will keep KWARC members abreast of local and regional ARES activities and exercises.

For more information on the KWARC ARES program please contact our A.R.E.S. Emergency Coordinator Larry Gorman VE3LGN at ares@kwarc.org


 

ARES in Action October 2009

 

Ontario Wide Simulate Emergency Training exercise

         The annual province wide emergency training exercise (SET) took place on Saturday 3 October. Dave V3PMT our designated ARES contact, linked VE3RBM to the Vancouver reflector early in the day. Both he and Bob VE3XNB made check ins and monitored activities throughout the day.

         This net, which operates every year on the first Saturday of October, provides a valuable opportunity to test province wide Amateur Radio capabilities. We should always be prepared to assist in a large scale emergency.

Dave commented that all check ins were welcomed and no frustrating pile ups occurred.

Hopefully next year we will get more of our KWARC members to call in at some time during the day long event.

         This event was sponsored by Radio Amateurs Canada, our national voice for Amateur Radio. <www.rac.ca>.

 

         SSEPAC

Ben VE3ST, Dave VE3PMT and I attended the Regional Social Services Emergency Planning Advisory Committee quarterly meeting as reps of the KWARC  ARES  team. The meeting was held Thursday 15 October at the Salvation Army Citadel in Cambridge.

         HINI and flu pandemic were again  key topics on the agenda. The Regional Medical Health office gave an update on local planning. The Region has prepared as much as is possible, and does not foresee  a need for any special preparation at this time.

         Larry commented on our club SET exercise held this past spring and emphasized the importance of preparing concise messages containing clear instructions. He also pointed out that messaging in a noisy situation  presented a challenge to both the sender and the receiver. 

 

         CANWARN-Summer program ends.

                  The KWARC CANWARN weather monitoring program ended October 29.  While we maintained a full net management schedule, only a few Severe Weather nets were set up.   The summer weather was rather indifferent this year-at least locally.  Thanks go to Robin VE3OAV, BenVE3ST, Bob VE3XNB, Bonnie VA3BLM, and Nick VE3NNW   for participating over the 5 month period.

         We activated 3 nets  over the summer, the last one during the Durham County and Markham  F3 Tornado.  Our Region experienced no significant severe weather.

 

         Larry VE3LGN

                  Emergency Services Coordinator

 

 

 

ARES IN ACTION  October 2006

   

 Ben  VE3ST and I recently visited Kitchener City hall to complete the Amateur Radio  emergency radio station installation. We have been consultating with city officials since this past spring. After checking out other municipal Amateur equipment set ups Ben put together a package suitable to operate an emergency station from city hall.

     KWARC ARES is  now an active part of the City of Kitchener's emergency planning program. At a follow up meeting in September, while Ben worked on the roof to complete the antenna connections, I programmed the new Yaesu 8800 dual band radio (@#$*&!!)

    (If you buy a new rig that has the option of software programming through your computer, you will never regret the extra expenditure)  While the city will own this equipment, KWARC Emergency Services  has been asked  to supply radio operators when needed.

    This ARES rig at Kitchener city hall  now has easy access to all of our VHF and UHF repeaters, as well as some in the more distant surrounding community repeaters, as well as selected CAll frequencies.

    SInce our last visit the building electrician had completed a major job of routing the feedline  down to our communications room, and readying it for hook up.  Ben was impressed with the very strong signal strength report coming back from VE3RCK.

    The city emergency planning staff will be staging a  simulation exercise in early Decemberr to test out their Emergency Operations Centre.  We have been invited to participate.

 

 

While we no longer have  Patch codes it is still possible to  contact

       Emergency (POLICE/FIRE) via the three digit 911 number on VE3RCK.

 

                         Larry VE3LGN

                                 Emergency Coordinator for KWARC

 

 

From: Bob Cooke VE3BDB
       Director Ontario South Region
       Radio Amateurs of Canada
Date: 18 Aug 03
To:    Ontario Section Manager,(and all ARES participants)
       RAC Field Organization
       Amateur Radio Emergency Service

I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to you, your DECs, ECs and all members of the ARES for the swift and appropriate response to the on-going hydro crisis facing most of North Eastern North America in general and Ontario in particular.

Since approximately 1612 HRS EDST on Friday, August 15, 2003, citizens of Ontario, many of them in RAC's Ontario South Region, have faced either the reality or the possibility of no electricity, or both. The implications of such a break-down are enormous and this event once again proves it.

I am aware than ARES nets throughout the Region, as well as other areas, were called up to assist or to stand by, as applicable.

This state of emergency, as declared by the Premier of Ontario, continues as I write these words. The unexpected event of a sudden curtailment of electricity has resulted in two prime conclusions, at least for our people: 1) ARES volunteers are ready, willing and able to provide emergency communications on short notice; and 2) ARES services are, indeed, crucial in emergency situations and that fact must be recognized not only by the authorities but by Radio Amateurs themselves.

I would hope that both of these conclusions will be realized by authorities at all levels and urge all ARES volunteers to continue their vigilance and to be proud of their contribution to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Ontario.

I salute you all.

Sincere 73,

Bob Cooke
VE3BDB
Director
Ontario South Region
Radio Amateurs of Canada
18 Aug 03