2025-05-03 County CERT Exercise

Purpose

Provide support for County CERT Exercise at school in San Martin. RACES Will provide communcations support between CERT Teams and Net Control, Net Control will be located at the CERT Incident Command Post (ICP). Message forms (ICS-213) and operator-to-operator traffic is expected.

Schedule

Operational Period:  10:00 - 15:00

RACES Schedule

• 07:30 - Resource Net Opens for travel to event
• 08:15 - Coffee and Breakfast snacks are available until 09:00
• 08:50 - Resource Net closes. All travellers have arrived at event location
• 09:00 - Briefing (Be sure to arrive earlier to account for parking, and checking in)
• 09:30 - Station setup and familiarization
• 09:50 - Tactical Net Opens
• 10:10 - Exercise begins
• 11:55 - Lunch Break - bring your own food/drink
• 12:45 - Exercise Resumes
• 14:25 - Exercise Ends
• 14:30 - Tactical Net Closed
• 14:30 - Debrief and Clean-up
• 15:00 - Check out of Staging, everyone departs
                No Resource Net for Demobilization

Location

Gwinn Elementary School-San Martin
80 North Ave., San Martin, CA

Travel - Use of the Resource Net:

All participants must use the Resource Net for travel to the exercise.

The Resource Net will be in use by both the CERT Exercise and the Tierra Bella Bike Race. When you contact net control you need to call “CERT Net Control” so the correct net control operator responds. If you just ask for “Net Control” you may get the Tierra Bella net control operator and cause confusion for both nets.

As you travel south, you will need to switch to the K6SNY repeater (443.275 + 107.2) as you reach the 101 and 85 interchange. Have the frequency already programmed into your radio so all you need to do is click your radio one channel to reach this repeater.

Do not approach the school from Llagas Ave., that street may be closed for the Tierra Bella Bike Ride. Access the school from North Ave. When arriving at the school, check out of the Resource Net by calling “CERT Net Control”. Before leaving your vehicle check into the RACES Tactical Net on 146.555 Simplex with a PL of 85.4 (unless otherwise instructed by Resource Net Control).

Equipment Required

Field operators will need an HT with batteries to last the entire event using low power. A headset or ear bud is highly recommended. You will need a clipboard to maintain your 214 and 309 forms. You will be receiving operator-operator messages and transmitting ICS-213 messages from the CERT Teams to the CERT Incident Command Post (ICP). Blank ICS-213 forms will be provided for you, bring your own 214 and 309 forms.

Net Control operators will coordinate their equipment needs for net operations. You will need to run on 10W for the full exercise.

Food/Clothing

Bring your own lunch and water. There are places to fill a water bottle. Bring sun screen and appropriate clothing for any expected weather, be prepared for a chance of light rain early in the morning. You could be both inside buildings and outside during the day.

All RACES operators should wear an ANSI Class 2 (yellow/lime yellow) safety vest. If you have a county or city ID badge please wear it.

Documentation

The ICS-205 will be provided at staging, be prepared to program your HT at staging. Other documents have been distributed via email.