On Saturday, September 19, 2009, Prince William County ARES (PWCARES) will be conducting a full-scale communications test, code named Where’s Waldo. This will be our Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for 2009 and the first deployment test we have done in several years. I want to take a few minutes to explain a little of what we hope to achieve and what I expect from each of you as participants. Additionally, I want to give you an overview of the timeline so you know what to expect.
The exercise will simulate the delivery of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Push Packs from a facility in Northern Virginia to key locations in Prince William County. We will be simulating the tracking of these packs using APRS, both into the county and then distributing them around the county. I will need two volunteers to simulate the arrival and then several other APRS operators to deliver the packs to the various Points of Distribution (PODs) within the county.
We will be practicing a call-up deployment model on Saturday morning. Activation will be by Roam Secure (PWCAN), email and radio so I encourage you to register with PWCAN if you have not already registered. Once you do that, let me know so I can move you into the PWCARES group. This call-up will also practice our deployment skill, utilizing a logistics net (frequency to be announced at the time of call up) and an operations net. Operators will check into the logistics network and then will deploy as resources are identified by the ECIC. I encourage you to take a look at the quick-reference cards for the various radios (hospital/EOC) that are posted on the web site and remind yourself of how to program your radios.
This exercise will run longer than our normal training. We are looking at a start time around 0730 with an ending time around 1400, which will include a hot wash at the EOC after the exercise. Lunch will be provided.
Our primary locations at Prince William Hospital, Potomac Hospital and the Prince William County EOC will be utilized along with other locations in and around Prince William County. Operations from shelters and PODs will be mobile. Operations from the EOC and the Hospitals will utilize existing equipment at those facilities and will occur indoors at the designated locations. We will operate from the parking lot of the other facilities (shelters, PODS). If you do not have a current copy of the Prince William County ADC map, you may wish to pick one up as getting to your designated location will be part of the exercise. I would also encourage you to make sure you have several copies of the key forms, such as the ICS 213 and ICS 214. We will not be using ARRL radiograms for this exercise.
More details will be coming as we get closer. This is an excellent opportunity for us to practice as well as to highlight some of our abilities to the County. David Meola, KI4AZX, has put a lot of effort into this exercise, and I know you will give it your all as well.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send them my way and I will do my best to answer them. You do not have to be a member of ARES to participate in this exercise and we are looking for home-based operators to operate the various nets for this drill.