ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Instruction Sheet - October 03, 2020


ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Instruction Sheet - October 03, 2020


The nationwide ARRL Simulated Emergency Test occurs the first Saturday of October every year.
This year Hawaii ARES is simulating deployment of EmComm stations to shelters statewide 
providing reports to American Red Cross shelter managers directly to the Red Cross email system.

The purpose of this COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE is to verify our ability to deploy equipment to 
shelters and operate using the digital protocols developed in conjunction with Hawaii State 
Red Cross.
  • Who: Participation is open to all amateur radio operators supporting their ARRL ARES District.
  • When: From 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon HST, Saturday, October 3, 2020.
  • Where: Working from designated private shelters (if available). Because of the COVID-19 situation, and concern for the safety of the radio operators, radio operators uncomfortable with shelter deployment should consider operating from their homes.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. or earlier, amateur radio operators setup their equipment at designated private shelters or from their homes. Radio operators are requested to use emergency power, e.g. batteries, solar panels, generators, if available. Otherwise operate from commercial power. If working from home, please try to operate from outside your ham shack, i.e., in your back Yard or close by park to simulate deployment to a shelter. Each radio station will transmit two Winlink messages using Winlink forms. For shelter manager and shelter names, use actual names if available otherwise please make them up for use in the messages sent. Use whatever Winlink mode to send your messages, e.g. Telnet, VARA FM, ARDOP, VARA HF, Pactor, Packet. Voice and Fldigi will also be permitted but the messages eventually need to be sent to ARC and CC radio operators KH7HO and KH6FHI using their Winlink email address. Each ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) and participating groups will organize their operation in the exercise. Message Addressing: Honolulu and Kauai county simulated shelter operators will send messages: To: Paul Klink, ARC Sheltering Lead; email: paul.klink@redcross.org cc: KH7HO Maui and Hawaii county simulated shelter operators will send messages: To: Paul Klink, ARC Sheltering Lead; email: paul.klink@redcross.org cc: KH6FHI

  • First message (to be transmitted between 9am and 10am HST):

    ARC 213 General Message (can be found in Winlink under Standard Forms, ARC Forms) The first message confirms the shelter is operational. In a real-world activation, have a printed blank ARC 213 form for the shelter manager to fill out and sign.
    • Incident Name: Hurricane Makani Pahili 2020
    • Precedence: Routine
    • To: Paul Klink / ARC Sheltering Lead
    • From: (Name / Position) Enter shelter manager/Shelter Name
    • Subject: Shelter Activation.
    • Date and Time: Winlink automatically fills in Date and Time of message creation.
    • Precede the body of the message with "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE".
    • Message: The (Shelter Name), e.g. Kailua High School Shelter, has been activated at 9:00 a.m. HST. Shelter Manager is Jane Doe, cell phone (808) 555-6789.
    • List the following (make up numbers): # of Red Cross volunteers present, including the shelter manager, e.g. ARC - 2. # of County workers present, e.g. C&C of Honolulu - 5. # of National Guard, e.g. NG - 5 # of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, e.g., MRC - 1. # of Humane Society volunteer, e.g. Humane Society - 1. # of Ham shelter radio operator(s), e.g., Shelter radio operator - 1.
    • End the body of the message with "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE".
    • Approved by: The simulated name you used as the shelter manager.
    • Position / Title: Shelter Manager.
First Message Completed Sample

  • Second message (to be transmitted between 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 noon):

    ARC Hawaii Hurricane Daily Shelter Report (Hawaii ARC forms are located under Standard Templates, HI STATE Forms). In real-world shelter activation, check with the shelter manager for the information using a printed ARC Hawaii Hurricane Daily Shelter Report blank form and have the shelter manager sign it.
    • Date: Click for the Date or manually input.
    • Shelter Name / County: Use the assigned Private Shelter name/ Add the county you are located - Hawaii, Maui, Honolulu, or Kauai.
    • Shelter Manager: Fill in a simulated name.
    • Phone: Fill in a simulated phone number.
    • Total Number of Sheltering Workers: Total number to include, all ARC volunteers, County workers, NG personnel working at the shelter, MRC volunteers, Humane Society volunteers, shelter radio operators, to include # of Disaster Health Services workers and # of Disaster Mental Health workers in the shelter (Note: in a real-world situation, all the above categories may not be represented. For this exercise, we suggest you use all.
    • # Disaster Health Services: Simulate the number, 0 or 1; in reality, most hurricane evacuation shelters may not have a Disaster Health Services worker (check with the Shelter Manager).
    • # Disaster Mental Health: Simulate the number, 0 or 1; in reality, most hurricane evacuation shelters may not have a Disaster Mental Health worker (check with the Shelter Manager).
    • SHELTER POPULATION: For the exercise, we will only fill the in the date for the 12 noon Count. Enter simulated numbers for the following categories:
      • Age 0-3 years old.
      • Age 4-7 years old.
      • Age 8-12 years old.
      • Age 13-18 years old.
      • Age 19-65 years old.
      • Age 65+ years old.
    • OPERATONAL REPORTING: Leave blank.
    • NOTES: Type/write in "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE".
    • Preparer Name: The simulated Shelter Manager's Name used above.
    • Preparer Signature: /s/ Type/write in the simulated Shelter Manager's Name.
Second Message Completed Sample

  • HF Winlink and FLDIGI Frequencies

    Winlink Channels allocated for gateway and P2P. Stations please listen before transmitting!
    Gateway Channel Dial Frequency Center Frequency Comment
    NH6NN KH6ESK AH6QK 40-2300-1 7099.80 7101.30 Channel Spacing 2500 Hz
    KH6SF WH6FG 40-2300-2 7102.20 7103.70
    KH6SF 40-500-1 7105.00 7106.50 Channel Spacing 700 Hz
    NH6NN 40-500-2 7105.70 7107.20
    WH6FG 40-500-3 7106.40 7107.90
    KH6ESK 40-500-4 7107.10 7108.60
    AH6QK 40-500-5 7107.80 7109.30
    NH6NN 80-2399-2 3592.00 3593.50 Channel Spacing 2500 Hz
    AH6QK KH6NS 80-2300-1 3594.50 3596.00
    Hawaii P2P Hubs
    Station Call P2P Dial Frequency Modes
    KH6FHI 3584.00 FLDIGI, VARA 500/2300
    7110.00 FLDIGI, VARA 500/2300

    • ZOOM session for Tech Support and After Action Discussion (starting 8:30 am HST)

      For those who would like to discuss Winlink setup during the SET, a ZOOM session will be open. The host will be Oliver Dully (K6OLI), a member of the Winlink Development Support team, who has extensive experience in Winlink training, support and in conducting exercises. Participants are welcome to join, anytime during the SET for help with any hardware or software issues or just to discuss the exercise and trade experiences with others. This is a chance to ask questions about any adhoc Winlink topic. Time permitting, it might cover these, if there is interest.
      • Use of Winlink activity map
      • The map of active Hawaii Winlink gateways
      • Use of Winlink tactical call signs
      • Entering latitude/longitude station position into Winlink map
      • Keeping Winlink channel list up-to-date
      • Use of "forward without change" messages
      • How to send a P2P message
      Click here to join the session during the 2020 SET. Meeting ID: 268 577 4435 Passcode: 778738