Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) May 5 th Texas-wide Exercise

1. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)May 5th Texas-wide Exercise TDEM Homeland Security ConferenceApril 2012

2. American Radio Relay League Background Information: Field Organization consists of: • 15 Divisions • 71 Sections • Texas has 3 sections (North, South, West) ARES

3. ARES Organization Background Information continued: • There are four levels of an ARES organization ARES

4. Exercise Total Coverage ARRL West Gulf and Delta Divisions Participating ARES

5. May 5th Exercise Scenario • A large solar storm has occurred resulting in widespread power outages and a failure of the Internet and cellular networks. • Two days have passed since the solar storm allowing for restored HF conditions but RF-only conditions persist. • Providing situational awareness to the state operation center from all areas is critical. ARES

6. ARES capabilities: • Voice – Local (VHF/UHF) and Distant (HF) • Radio email – Local (VHF/UHF) and Distant (HF) • Radio and Internet Linked repeaters • Other • High Speed Multimedia (HSMM) • APRS - GPS location /Tracking ARES

7. Winlink Email via Radio Services / Capabilities: ARES

8. Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outageTexas Winlink Local VHF/UHF Servers ARES

9. Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outage North American EMCOMM Winlink HF Servers

10. Texas ARES Winlink – Before the outage Texas EMCOMM Winlink HF Servers

11. Texas ARES Winlink – After the outage Central Texas HF Server designated as overall Texas message hub

12. South Texas ARES WinlinkRegional Email Hubbing Strategy EOC Hospital VHF Winlink email server in RF only mode Shelter POD Local agencies can exchange email using RF only mode. ARES

13. South Texas ARES WinlinkRouting Mail outside the local Area – the Direct approach Central Texas central backup server with VHF and HF capability VHF Winlink email server in RF only mode HF Forwarding capable SOC Direct HF forwarding requires PACTOR capability ARES

14. South Texas ARES WinlinkRouting Mail outside the local Area – through local liaison HF Liaison HF Liaison Central Texas central backup server with VHF and HF capability VHF Winlink email server in RF only mode SOC HF Liaison can use other digital technique or voice as last resort. ARES

15. South Texas ARES WinlinkRouting Mail outside the local Area – through local MARS liaison HF MARS liaison Central Texas Central Backup server with VHF and HF capability VHF Winlink email server in RF only mode SOC MARS liaisons can send email directly to SOC MARS station or through another MARS operator ARES

16. Linked Repeater System ARES

17. May 5th Exercise Objectives • County level: • Bring up local voice net per their plan • Activate or simulate activation of local agencies. • Exercise county Communications Response Teams with simulated local deployments. • Establish liaisons to other participating areas. ARES

18. May 5th Exercise Objectives • County level continued: • Send ICS-213 SITREP to State Operations Center via DDC or directly if necessary. • Receive reply from SOC via DDC or directly if necessary. • Establish HF Texas Emergency voice net liaison. • Establish VHF Linked repeater liaison if possible. ARES

19. May 5th Exercise Objectives • County level continued: • Complete After Action Report: • Name of county participating • Number of participants • Agencies participating • Were you able to submit an ICS-213 to the SOC? • SOC ICS-213 reply received? • HF Exercise net liaison established? • Liaison to Saltgrass or Armadillo networks established? • Summary of local operation • What went well? • What did not go well? • Lessons learned • Suggestions for future exercises. ARES

20. May 5th Exercise Objectives • Larger exercise objectives • Sections outside Texas doing independent exercises • Sections will generate assistance requests for Oklahoma and Delta Division sections. • High level SITREP exchanges and HF voice liaisons established ARES

21. Questions Tom Whiteside N5TW South Texas ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Assistant South Texas Section Manager n5tw@arrl.net ARES