Amateur Communications Team Drill #3 (Download Audio Track)

The Act Team held a drill on August 29^th, 2015 commencing at 10:00 hours.

Purpose of Drill:

The idea behind the drill stemmed from a prior actual evacuation when patients became unaccounted for while being transported to local hospitals for safe keeping.

The ACT drill simulated a natural gas leak at the Bellhaven Nursing Home in Brookhaven NY. The responsibility of the ACT Team members was to track and account for the patient’s movement from Bellhaven to local hospitals and shelters and also account for their safe return to the nursing facility.

To simplify the drill, a total of 20 patients were involved in the drill. 15 of the 20 were transported by Ambulance to local hospitals. The balance of the able bodies patients were taken to the local Bellport Middle School which was opened as a temporary shelter.

During the course of the drill there was also a motor vehicle accident simulation in which 3 patients were transported to triage at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital.

5 patients were transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, 5 to Mather Hospital and 5 to Peconic Bay Hospital for monitoring during the simulated evacuation.

Simulated Ambulance Companies were:

• South Country transported 5 patients from Bellhaven to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and provided return transportation.
• Medford Ambulance transported 5 patients from Bellhaven to Peconic Bay Hospital and provided return transportation.
• Brookhaven Ambulance transported 5 patients from Bellhaven to Mather Hospital
• Port Jefferson Ambulance provided return transportation for the 5 patients from Mather Hospital to Bellhaven.

Actual Communications Equipment:

• The W2DQ Amateur Radio 2 Meter Repeater was the primary Amateur Radio system used for radio communications during the drill.
• The ACT Team Private’s Zello Internet Communications channel was used to transmit sensitive patient information for public Amateur frequencies.
• Digital communications were also available to the team members via the KC2WCB DMR repeater.

Participating ACT Team Amateur Radio Operators and Their Responsibilities:

• Art W2ALW – Radio Command and Control
• Joe W2OFD – Emergency Coordinator
• Ken KD2DZZ – EOC Operations Command and Control
• Gary N2TBC – Mobile Unit and Communications At Bellhaven
• Gary KE2YK – Dispatched To Peconic Bay Hospital
• Renee KD2FEL – Dispatched to Mather Hospital
• Vinny KC2WPP – Dispatched to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital
• John KD2DZY – Dispatched to Bellport Middle School Temporary Shelter
• Jeff N2OEP – Mobile Communications Standby
• Samatha R – Dispatched To Bellhaven
• Cheyanne R – Dispatched To Bellhaven

Other Simulated Services on Scene:

• 5^th Precinct Sector Cars 505 and 506
• Emergency Safety Officer
• PSEG
• National Gas

Wrap Up:

At about 10:35 hours, the gas leak was detected and repaired. Venting the gas smell was complete at about 10:50 hours and the all clear was given by the safety officer. The emergency coordinator gave the signal to the ACT Team members located at the area hospitals that patients could be returned to Bellhaven.

Peconic Bay was the first to begin the return transport of patients followed by Mather and Brookhaven.

The able bodied patients were returned from the shelter at 11:00 hours.

The drill was secured at 11:04 hours by W2ALW Radio Command and the repeater was returned to normal Amateur Radio operation.

All Team members met for debriefing at the Bellhaven Nursing Home.