SET Handbook for Connecticut Section

The Connecticut SET exercise has been scheduled this year for the weekend of 29-30 October 2011.   Please pass the word to all ARES, SKYWARN, and NTS operators in your Regions and on your respective nets.   And have them encourage ALL amateurs to participate in this important exercise!

Here is a link to the Player Handbook (v1.1) for the 2011 SET:

      2011 SET Player Handbook

All SET participants should have a copy of the above on hand during the exercise.

October 14, 2011

Drill - CT ARES 2011 SET - Bulletin #1
This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely watching late-season Atlantic Hurricane ZETA, currently a Category 3 hurricane in the Florida Keys.  ZETA is expected to track rapidly to the north.   This massive storm is forecast to have considerable impact on the Northeast United States on Thursday and Friday of this week (27-28 October 2011).

Expected rainfall totals are likely to exceed 12 inches in many parts of Connecticut.  This will add to the already extraordinarily high river and stream levels, resulting in widespread flooding.  Anticipated high winds combined with this additional rain are likely to cause extensive power outages due to downed trees.

Also of concern is a recent USGS report of increased seismological activity in the region.  While earthquakes are not common here, they do occur.  In light of the heavy river flow from the storm, there is particular concern for potential catastrophic damage to dams statewide.

I anticipate CT ARES being activated on Saturday, 29 October 2011, to assist with recovery in the aftermath of this storm and/or earthquake event.  Please be prepared to assist our Served Agencies by staffing the following locations to the degree able: CT DEMHS Regional Offices (simulated), shelters (simulated) opened by the American Red Cross, and Emergency Operations Centers (simulated) in municipalities needing radio operators.  Coordination by District Emergency Coordinators (DECs) with local authorities is encouraged.

The National Weather Service expects to activate SKYWARN to provide rainfall data as well as assisting with river and stream monitoring.  The National Traffic System (NTS) component of amateur radio will be used to handle message traffic.

73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC - CT ARES®

This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

October 25, 2011

Drill - CT ARES 2011 SET - Bulletin #2
This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to closely watch late-season Atlantic Hurricane ZETA.  While it has weakened slightly, it is still a strong Category 2 hurricane just offshore of South Carolina.  ZETA is expected to track rapidly northward.  This massive storm is forecast to have considerable impact on the Northeast US with landfall expected on the Connecticut shoreline sometime on Friday (28 October 2011).

Expected rainfall totals are likely to exceed 12 inches in many parts of Connecticut.  This will add to the already extraordinarily high river and stream levels, resulting in widespread flooding.  Anticipated high winds combined with this additional rain are likely to cause extensive power outages due to downed trees and powerlines.

USGS reports seismological activity in the region has increased notably.  In light of the heavy river flow from the storm, there is particular concern for potential catastrophic damage to dams statewide.

I expect to activate CT ARES on Saturday (29 October 2011) to assist with recovery in the aftermath of this storm and/or earthquake event.  Please be prepared to assist our Served Agencies by staffing the following locations to the degree able: CT DEMHS Regional Offices (simulated), shelters (simulated) opened by the American Red Cross, and Emergency Operations Centers (simulated) in municipalities needing radio operators.  Coordination by District Emergency Coordinators (DECs) with local authorities is encouraged.

The National Weather Service expects to activate SKYWARN on Friday to provide wind and rainfall data as well as assisting with river and stream monitoring.  The National Traffic System (NTS) component of amateur radio will be used to handle message traffic.

73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC - CT ARES®

This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

October 26, 2011

Drill - CT ARES 2011 SET - Bulletin #3
This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to closely watch late-season Atlantic Hurricane ZETA.  While it has weakened a little more, it is still a Category 2 hurricane just offshore of Virginia.  ZETA is expected to continue to track rapidly northward.  This moisture-laden storm is forecast to have considerable impact on the Northeast US with landfall expected on the Rhode Island shoreline sometime on Friday (28 October 2011).  NHC is predicting especially heavy rain for all of Connecticut.

Expected rainfall totals are likely to exceed 12 inches in many parts of Connecticut.  This will add to the already extraordinarily high river and stream levels, resulting in widespread flooding.  Anticipated high winds combined with this additional rain are likely to cause extensive power outages due to downed trees and power lines.

USGS reports that seismological activity in the region has increased notably, including some small quakes felt by many in Connecticut that registered 2.5 on the Richter scale.  In light of the heavy river flow from the storm, there is particular concern for potential catastrophic damage to dams statewide.

I expect to activate CT ARES on Saturday (29 October 2011) to assist with recovery in the aftermath of this storm and/or earthquake event.  Please be prepared to assist our Served Agencies by staffing the following locations to the degree able: CT DEMHS Regional Offices (simulated), shelters (simulated) opened by the American Red Cross, and Emergency Operations Centers (simulated) in municipalities needing radio operators.  Coordination by District Emergency Coordinators (DECs) with local authorities is encouraged.

The National Weather Service expects to activate SKYWARN on Friday to provide wind and rainfall data as well as assisting with river and stream monitoring.  The National Traffic System (NTS) component of amateur radio will be used to handle message traffic.

73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC - CT ARES®

This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!  This is an exercise!

October 27, 2011

ALERT - CT ARES 2011 SET - Bulletin #4

From the Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator / Exercise Director for the 2011 Simulated Emergency Test (SET):

On more occasions than we can count in the history of the Connecticut Section, our Simulated Emergency Tests have been negatively impacted by the ACTUAL weather!  Seems that if you want to produce foul weather in Connecticut, all you have to do is schedule an SET!  This weekend's potential for an early-season coastal Nor'easter threatens to add one more "gotcha" to that list!

Because the SET is an important measure of our capability and readiness to support our Served Agencies in an emergency, we do not want to cancel it.  BUT we do need to MODIFY it appropriately based on expected REAL weather conditions.  Since many of us have already invested considerable time and energy preparing for this exercise, we will include our preparations and response to the expected ACTUAL storm as our 2011 SET.

So, here is our modified PLAN B for this weekend's SET!

A)  Fictitious Hurricane ZETA and a possible CT earthquake, the subjects of the three previous SET Bulletins, are no more!  Aside: If only we had the power to control the real world that easily!  

B)  The guidelines for conducting an SET allow response to an actual event to be counted as the exercise.   Up to a 48 hour period of activity can be included in the scoring.  We will utilize the period from 0600 Saturday through midnight on Sunday as our SET scoring period.  Those responsible for SET reporting should capture all ARES/SKYWARN/NTS activity during that time period on their SET reports.

C)  Based on the current forecast, the National Weather Service is likely to activate SKYWARN on Saturday to provide REAL wind and precipitation data.  So SKYWARN exercise activity originally planned for Friday evening as part of the SET is CANCELED.  SKYWARN personnel should function as they normally would during an actual event.

D)  In order to not interfere with any possible actual response efforts, we will focuse the ARES and NTS exercise activity to between 0900 and 1200 on Saturday.  District Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers should direct the call up of their respective nets as soon after 0900 as repeater resources allow.  DECs should have their leadership cadre conduct a roll call of available operators and determine answers to the following questions about their operating capabilities:
    1) Can they operate fixed, mobile, and/or portable?
    2) On what bands/modes can they operate?
    3) Do they have an emergency power source available, and if so, for what duration?
    4) Any other specific capability or limitation?

E)  District Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers are authorized to conduct whatever training and exercise activity during the 0900-1200 time period that is appropriate for their area and existing weather conditions.  Specific options include, but are not limited to, the following:
    1) Conducting Regional nets to determine simplex coverage areas
    2) Originating and sending message traffic in NTS format - make sure TEST messages are so marked
    3) Operating on emergency power (i.e., battery, generator, solar, wind)
    4) Testing communications to EOCs, hospitals, and shelters
    5) Practicing with data/digital modes (e.g., Classic Packet and/or Winlink)

F)  For purposes of both the SET and the ACTUAL storm, we will elevate the ARES Activation Level to "Level 1 Alert" effective at 1800 Friday evening.  We will raise the ARES Activation Level to "Level 2 Standby" effective at 0830 Saturday morning.  After further changes to the Activation Level and our ARES response posture will be made as needed to address ACTUAL conditions and needs as they develop.  Any actual requests for assistance received from Served Agencies should be handled in the normal manner.

NOTE: No one should actually deploy as part of the SET unless conditions are absolutely SAFE to do so!!  An increased level of personal risk is something we are forced to accept in a real emergency response, but not in a drill!

Your support of the upcoming Simulated Emergency Test is sincerely appreciated and contributes to our overall emergency preparedness!  See you on the radio this weekend!

Thanx & 73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC - CT ARES®
SET Exercise Director

October 28, 2011