Vinny, KC2WPP is calling for volunteers for this important walk on October 25th 2015.
Please reference the Suffolk County Radio Club Web Site for more information.
Category Team Updates
COAD Event Sept 30th
Team,
Some of you may remember that Ken and I met with Marian Russo of the The Greater Patchogue Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD).
We originally planned to hear Marian’s presentation at the September SCRC meeting but that appears to have fallen through the cracks.
Although the North Patchogue Fire Department held some promise, we were unable to secure those locations for meetings. Since that is the case, our team is unable to ask COAD for a presentation.
Despite our inadequacies, COAD continues to march on with their September 30th event in Patchogue.
Since COAD is participating in that event, I am asking if any Team members would be interested in setting up and ACT table or a demo of some kind.
If a few of us can spare a couple of hours to promote our team and show COAD what we are capable of, I will contact Marian to see how ACT may fit into the event.
Let me know no later than September 18th.
From the last COAD email the Team received:
The plans are moving forward for the PrepareAthon on September 30th. Partners interested in participating please let me know.
The COAD will have a table at the St. Liberata Festival on September 26th. Please let me know if you have an hour or two or three to share preparedness information with the community.
October 24th is the Red Cross Fire Safety event. Attached is the flyer. Please share it with your members, friends, and congregants. We are focusing on single-family homes in the Village of Patchogue. If someone is outside they can provide their information so we can find out where the need may be and if a follow-up event is warranted. We are also looking for volunteers for this event.
The next COAD meeting is November 30th at Briarcliffe. Please save the date. Meanwhile, be safe.
Amateur Communications Team Drill August 29th, 2015
Amateur Communications Team Drill #3 (Download Audio Track)
The Act Team held a drill on August 29th, 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:
- 5th 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.
ACT Drill Plan – 8/29/15
On Saturday 8/29/15, the ACT Team will be hold an important drill.
Be sue to participate in this important drill.
Download The Drill Plan Here!
Ambient Weather Radio Recall
From: UL Regulatory Services [mailto:ULregulatoryservices@us.ul.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 11:12 AM
Subject: 20150813 – CPSC Recall of Weather Radios..
In cooperation with the CPSC, Ambient Weather is recalling 12,500 of their weather radios. The recalled radios were sold from November 2012 thru December 2013. The recall indicates that the radio’s power adapter can overheat posing a fire hazard. Ambient Weather has received three reports of fire and smoke in the batter area of the radios, no injuries have been reported. The power adapter was eligible to bear the cULus Mark.
Link to the recall: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Ambient-Weather-Recalls-Weather-Radios/
Amateur Radio Communications Team (ACT) 