Santa Clara County OES, California
ARES®/RACES
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Activation Number | XSC-15-04T |
Overview | Dust off your go kits, brush up on procedures, and practice an end-to-end field deployment! |
Participation | Open to all amateur radio operators interested in emergency communications. Everyone MUST sign up in advance. Individuals who do not have a current DSW registration with Santa Clara County ARES/RACES can register when they arrive at the drill. Registering for DSW during check-in at the drill may delay check-in by as much as 20 minutes, so plan accordingly. |
Purpose | A county-wide communications exercise designed to practice mobilization, deployment and demobilization of amateur radio operations. The activities are varied and have been designed to provide fun and education while, at the same time, developing experience with operating according to the standard procedures required for emergency operations. |
Activities | Attendees have the option to sign up for various types of assignments. Click on the links below for more information about the type of assignment/activity and the equipment required: The net control positions have a strict schedule to ensure we have net controls on all the nets. For the other activities, you can spend as much time at each activity as you want. Plan on a minimum of about two hours per activity. Attendees can participate in up to two assignments as long as they check-in at staging prior to 09:00. All sign-ups should be done on-line, as far in advance of the event as possible, so the event staff can plan for the right number of attendees. Some activities require minimum qualifications. For example, Net Control assignments require the participant to be at least an MIT. |
Sign-Up | To participate in this drill, you MUST sign-up in advance. To sign-up, use the Training and Event Database and sign up for one or two activities. |
Drill Location | Drill Location Note: You do NOT need to pay the entrance fee. The fees have been waived for this event. Map showing the surrounding area and staging location Thomas Brothers Guide: page 794 grid G5 GPS Coord of entrance: 37* 26' 52.19N / 121* 50' 54.95W |
Date | Saturday, April 18, 2015 (rain or shine) |
Weather | Average daytime temperatures in April: High temp: 69 F; Low temp: 48 F. Sunny to partly cloudy with 4% chance of precipitation. |
Schedule |
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Forms | Be sure to start your ICS-214 Unit Activity Log prior to leaving your home. A list of the ICS forms required for your go kit can be found on the Operations page of this web site: Operations > Forms and Signs > ICS Forms used in Communications > These are ICS Forms you should have in your Go Kit. |
Travel to Drill | If you are a registered DSW, you are expected to use the Resource Net. Follow standard Resource Net procedures. If you are NOT a registered DSW, simply check-in at Staging. The Resource Net is for registered DSWs only. |
Resource Net | The following repeaters will be linked together for the drill and will function as the resource net:
Procedure:
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Net Usage | Everyone is required to be on the proper net at the proper time. The Resource Net is used for travel to and from the event. The Staging Net is used whenever you are not on an assignment. Assignments may involve other nets. Primary staff members will be on the command net. Be sure you always check-in and check-out properly when moving from one net to the other. Always pay attention to the net control operator for whichever net you are on and answer promptly when called. |
Training Info | Additional information on the disaster server worker program, resource net procedures and net types and usage can be found in the Fundamentals of Emergency Communications training course materials. If you have not taken this course, you are advised to review the course presentation prior to the drill. |
Equipment | ALL participants must bring the following minimum equipment with them, on their person.
See the Assignments section above for additional equipment suggestions. MACs and MITs participating in MAC evaluations will have other equipment requirements, depending on the qualification level of the evaluation. Consult the MAC handbook for a list of the required equipment for each MAC qualification level. |
Check-In | After checking into the Staging Net from your vehicle, walk to the Staging Area to complete the check-in procedure. |
Evaluations | Mutual Aid Communicators (MACs) and MACs in Training (MITs) can request evaluations for the following MAC program qualifications: F3, F2, N3, N2, P3, P2. We may offer MAC equipment evaluations if sufficient staff is available. |
Lunch | There is no specific time defined for a lunch break. The drill will run continuously. But attendees can stop and take their lunch break in between assignments or whenever it is convenient. |
Check-Out | After you have completed each assignment, return to the Staging Area for re-assignment or check-out. Be sure to fill out an evaluation form so we can capture your feedback. |
Travel Home | Check in to the Resource Net from your car, prior to leaving the park. If you prefer not to be tracked back home, notify net control when you check in. Alternatively, you can check out of the resource net at any time on your way home if you decide to go somewhere else. |
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This page was last updated 09-Aug-2017