Santa Clara County ARES/RACES Drill

Activation Number	XSC-22-07T
Overview	Dust off your go kits, brush up on procedures, and practice an end-to-end field deployment! This is as close to the real thing as you can get.
Participation	Everyone MUST sign up in advance, no drop ins. Open to all amateur radio operators interested in emergency communications who have a current SCCo Disaster Service Worker (DSW) registration. You need to arrive at Staging by 0815. Individuals who do not have a current DSW registration with Santa Clara County can sign-up to register when they arrive at the drill. You need to arrive no later than 0800 to start the DSW Registration process.
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. We will operate much like we would during a real activation. You will need to be prepared to operate based on the assignment given, be able to program your radio when given a new frequency, have all the necessary go-kit forms available, and operate per the Performance Standards and Best Practice and your training.
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: Field Communications Net Control Packet Operations Shadowing Staff - with permission There will be two shifts with varied activities that you can take part in. Each shift will be two hours. 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 number of attendees. Some activities require minimum qualifications, read the sign up pages. For example, Net Control assignments require the participant to at least have a C4 Credential. If you are signed up for a Credential Evaluation you must have the other requirements for that Credential completed or receive approval from the Credential Program Manager.
Sign-Up	To participate in this drill, you MUST sign-up in advance. You can select from up to two skill areas (one during each shift). Sign into the Activities database and look for the September 17th County-wide Communications Exercise. Select the type of activity (Field, Net Control, Packet, or Shadow) you want to perform and then sign-up for one of the positions offered. Read the requirements for each position before signing up.
Drill Location	Drill Location Raynor Park 1565 Quail Ave. Sunnyvale, CA Map showing location of Raynor Park. Map showing the park layout and the Staging/Check-in location.
Date	Saturday, September 17, 2022 (rain or shine)
Weather	Average daytime temperatures on September 17th: High temp: 82 F; Low temp: 58 F. Sunny with a slight chance of precipitation. Sunrise 6:51 Sunset 19:12
Schedule	0700 - Resource Net Open for Travel to drill (DSW registered participants only) 0800 - DSW Registration begins for those without a DSW ID card (proceed directly to the DSW Registration area) 0800 - Staging Opens - Do not arrive before this 0815 - All participants with DSW have arrived at Staging and started check-in process 0845 - Shift 1 Briefing at Assignment area 0900 - Shift 1 begins 1100 - End Shift 1 1100-1130 - Break as needed - Staging makes assignments for Shift 2 1130 - Shift 2 Briefing at Assignment area 1145-- Shift 2 begins 1345 - End Shift 2 1345 - Check out of Staging and turn in paperwork, complete exercise evaluation 1345 - Depart drill - use of the Resource Net is optional for demobilization
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: Go-Kit Forms These are the 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 and follow standard Resource Net procedures. If you are NOT a registered DSW, you will NOT use the Resource Net and will not be tracked. Travel to the drill on your own. You can Register for DSW before the drill but need to sign-up in advance.
Resource Net	The following repeaters will be linked together for the drill and will function as the resource net: AA6BT: 146.115 (+) 100.0 (Main; located in East San Jose) N6NAC: 444.625 (+) 110.9 (South; best when South of San Jose intersection of Hwys 85 & 101) W6ASH is not currently linkable and will NOT be used, use one of the other repeaters. If you are unable to reach the repeaters from home, make contact as soon as you are in range. Procedure: Program all the repeaters into your radio memory so you can easily switch between them while driving. If you are coming from the southern end of the county, you will need to switch from N6NAC to AA6BT approximately when you reach the 85 and 101 intersection in South San Jose. Remember that linked repeaters require you to insert extra delay. Leave plenty of space before keying up. Pause after keying up, before speaking. Prior to departure from home: Check into the Resource Net. When called, tell net control your starting mileage (last three digits of your odometer) and your street location. (Your odometer does not have a decimal point. If you see a decimal point, you're looking at your trip odometer. We don't use that because it can be reset. Switch to your odometer and provide the last three digits to net control). While traveling: Stay tuned to the Resource Net and respond to health and welfare checks by net control. When called, give your mileage and street location. Upon arrival at the drill: Stay in your vehicle and contact Resource Net control to check out. You will be told to switch to the Staging Net (the frequency will be provided at that time). Do not exit your vehicle until you have successfully checked into the Staging Net. If you are unable to reach the staging net, return to the Resource Net and inform net control. If you do not yet have a current county DSW registration, net control will not be able to officially activate you and you will not be covered under the DSW program until you reach the drill site and complete your DSW registration.
Net Usage	Everyone is required to be on the proper net at the proper time. An ICS-205 Communications Plan will be provided at Staging. The Resource Net is used for travel to and from the event for registered DSWs. The Staging Net is used whenever you are not on an assignment or when traveling between staging and your assignment. Assignments may involve other nets. 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 materials prior to the drill.
Equipment	ALL participants must bring the following minimum equipment with them, on their person. Driver's license or other State-issued identification card Amateur Radio License HT (2m minimum; 2m/440 dual-band preferred) with sufficient batteries to operate for the time you are there Clipboard, note pad, pens/pencils All ICS forms required for your Go Kit ICS Forms used in Communications) Lunch or snack Water, you can refill containers in the park. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes (wear) Long pants (wear). Shorts are optional for this event. Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.) Be sure you have a backpack, fanny pack, shoulder bag or some other hands free way to carry your equipment. That goes double for your radio - you need a radio harness, belt clip, or something to hold it. Safety vest, ANSI Class 2, safety yellow/lime green - REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE See the individual assignments in the Activities section above for additional equipment suggestions. Participants desiring to take part in a Credential evaluations will have other equipment requirements, depending on the type and level of the evaluation. Consult the Credential Program Handbook for a list of the required equipment for each Credential level.
Check-In	After checking into the Staging Net from your vehicle, walk to the Staging Area to complete the check-in procedure.
Evaluations	Credential Evaluations can be requested for the following credentials: F3, F2, N3, N2, P3, P2, S3, and S2. Equipment evaluations and knowledge checks can be scheduled with your evaluator for another time after the drill. If you want a Credential Evaluation please sign up no later than Saturday, September 10th.
Lunch	There is no specific time defined for a lunch break. The drill will run continuously with only a short 30 minute break between shifts. Attendees can stop and take their lunch/snack break in between assignments (30 minutes) or whenever it is convenient.
Check-Out	After you have completed each assignment, check into the Staging Net and return to the Staging Area for re-assignment or check-out. Be sure to turn in all paperwork and fill out an evaluation form so we can capture your feedback.
Travel Home	If you do not desire to be tracked home, simply leave the drill after checking out of Staging. You will not be covered by DSW at this point. If you do want to be tracked home and covered by DSW, check into the Resource Net from your car, prior to leaving the park. Respond to Net Control H&W checks while in route, check out of the net when you arrive home. Alternatively, you can check out of the Resource Net at any time on your way home if you decide to go somewhere else; your DSW coverage will end at that point.

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This page was last updated 11-Sept-2022

County-Wide Communications Exercise & SET

17-September-2022