The Great ShakeOut was a volunteer exercise for amateur radio operators (HAMs) to test their ability to establish emergency radio communications in the event of a natural disaster. The Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service hosted the drill, which was based on a simulated 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park. The exercise objective was for HAMS with Winlink capability to submit one Did You Feel It? (DYFI) report to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) via Winlink within one hour. The mode used for communication was either VARA FM, VARA HF, Packet, Pactor, or Telnet. The DYFI form could be found in the Winlink Express and submitting the report should take less than ten minutes. The USGS encourages HAMS to participate in this exercise to help provide critical seismic intensity reports in the event of a real earthquake.
Great ShakeOut - This was an exercise to test the ability of volunteer Amateur Radio operators (HAMS) to establish emergency radio communications and send in reports to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) via Winlink.
Short video of the drill.
HAMS can now contribute to a more robust delivery mechanism for critical seismic intensity reports after major earthquakes through the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Did You Feel It? (DYFI) system.
The Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) hosted this exercise.
The exercise was based on a real earthquake that occurred last year off of the Big Island and was felt throughout the State of Hawaii. However, this exercise scenario will be located inland, in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The simulation will be a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurring at 8:55 a.m. HST resulting in various damages on the Big Island and felt throughout the State of Hawaii. No simulated local tsunami was generated.
The exercise objectives for Hawaii hams with Winlink capability:
- Submit one DYFI report to the USGS with a cc: to planners
- Submit within only one hour, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. HST
- In the Additional Comments box at the bottom of the form, please indicate how you are submitting the report via what mode, which gateway, and your callsign.
- ave fun learning.
The USGS DYFI form can be found in Winlink Express: click on Message, click on New Message, click on Select Template, under Standard Templates, scroll down to USGS, then click on USGS DYFI.txt.
The DYFI form is attached below.
Mode to be use will be VARA FM, VARA HF, Packet, Pactor, or Telnet.We hope those with Winlink capability will be able to participate in this easy exercise. It should take less than ten minutes to complete.
In a real earthquake, remember to duck, cover and hold on!
An example DYFI form can be found here: DYFI_example_form
For More see: https://www.usgs.gov/publications/amateur-radio-operators-help-fill-earthquake-donut-holes
