Santa Clara County, CA ARES®/RACES
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Activation Number | XSC-18-08T |
Overview | This is our annual, large-scale, countywide communications exercise. It is intended to exercise individuals, teamwork and equipment. We will offer activities for field communicators, net controls, packet operators and shadows and mesh networking. Individual equipment and the county communications trailer equipment will be used. We will operate completely "off the grid". MAC evaluations for advanced qualifications will be available. This drill is also our primary activity for the annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), which is a annual exercise conducted nationally. |
Activities | A primary objective of our exercise will be providing communications support for CERT:
Additional amateur radio activities will include:
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Participation | Open to all individual amateur radio operators interested in emergency communications. Everyone MUST sign up in advance. Since the event is on NASA property, there are a few extra rules:
All individuals will be registered for DSW with Santa Clara County ARES/RACES when they arrive at the drill. See the DSW section below for forms. Registering for DSW during check-in at the drill may delay check-in by as much as 20 minutes, so plan accordingly. |
Sign-Up | Deadlines:
The participation options are flexible in order to allow each individual to get the experience they need. Your options are:
Click here to sign up for Shift 1 Click here to sign up for Shift 2 Click here to sign up as event staff (requires approval) |
Date | Saturday, October 27, 2018 (rain or shine) |
Drill Location | Moffett Field Directions:
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Schedule | Notes:
Mobilization (06:00 - 08:00)
Shift One (08:00 - 11:10)
Break (11:10 - 11:50)
Shift Two (11:50 - 15:00)
Demobilization (15:00 - 17:00)
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Weather | Average temperatures in late October: Highs in the low 70s F; Lows in the high 40s F. Sunrise: 07:29. Mostly Sunny. Average precipitation: ~1" (be prepared for rain). Can be windy (use weights for papers, pop-up tents). |
Lunch | Lunch will be provided for those who are there all day, either as staff or as participants working two shifts. We don't have details. So, bring your own lunch if you're particular about selection. |
Personal Equipment |
A table and chair will be provided under a pop-up canopy, to protect against rain or sun. ALL participants, must bring with them or wear on their person the following minimum equipment:
If you are signed up to operate field packet (at one of the simulated field ICPs):
If you are signed up to operate as a shadow
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. |
Liability Release | NASA requires all participants to sign a release of liability in order to participate in the drill. The form will be provided at staging. |
DSW | The county is updating its DSW registration process. All individuals will be registered for Santa Clara County DSW, even if you have previously done so. Download a blank registration form and the instructions here. Follow the instructions to fill out the blank form before you come to the exercise. This will speed up the process in Staging. |
MAC Evaluations | Mutual Aid Communicators (MACs) and MACs in Training (MITs) can request evaluations for the following MAC program qualifications: F3, F2, F1, N3, N2, N1, P3, P2, P1, S3, S2, S1. We may offer MAC equipment evaluations if sufficient staff is available. To request an evaluation, contact KE6TIM at ARRL dot net after signing up. |
AAR | After Action Report |
Travel to Drill | If you are a registered county DSW, you are expected to use the Resource Net. Follow standard Resource Net procedures. If you are NOT a registered county DSW, Net Control can not activate you. But you can still practice using the Resource Net for tracking your travel. Follow standard Resource Net procedures. |
Resource Net | The following repeaters will be linked together for the drill and will function as the resource net:
Procedure:
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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. |
Staging | After checking out of the Resource Net, walk to the Staging Area to complete the check-in procedure. |
Net Usage | Everyone is required to be on the proper net at the proper time. The county Resource Net is used for travel to and from the event. 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. |
Check-Out | After you have completed each assignment, return to the Staging Area for re-assignment or to check out. Be sure to fill out an evaluation form and participate in the debrief 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 26-Oct-2018