May 29
Mark your calendar for these important dates. More details when we get a bit closer.
Nov 4th – Saturday, quarterly ARES / AUXCOMM / COMU training VIRTUAL
Feb 3 2024 – Saturday, quarterly ARES / AUXCOMM / COMU training AT SCEMD
Watch your email for an opportunity to register. Keep your SPAM folder cleared so you will notice if something lands in there unexpectedly.
Sep 20
Where do I find the Field Situation Report ?
Open Winlink Express , Message, New Message, Select Template, Standard templates, Mapping-GIS Forms, Field Situation Report.txt
This SET is sponsored and administered by EMA-3, All are invited to participate.
Aug 09
WASHINGTON — FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System
(EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.
Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones.
FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct 4 2023
Sep 26
The Pickens County Communications Group will be hosting Clay Chaney (NWS GPS) for a virtual presentation on Winter Weather as it relates to our area. This is an important training for the upcoming winter weather season. This will take place on 11/7 at 1830. A huge thank you to Tom Poole, W4ATP and his team for putting this together.
The zoom link is as follows:
https://clemson.zoom.us/j/97544609737?pwd=bkUvTU9RL0o5L28yWlJnL0J5MndEdz09
73,
Daniel J. Boyer, WD2DW
SC-ARES, Section Emergency Coordinator
Sep 27
The US Geological Survey (USGS) and Winlink are collaborating to provide “Did you feel it?” (DYFI) earthquake intensity reports via Winlink. SHARES and Amateur Radio Operators are therefore invited to send an EXERCISE Winlink “Did you feel it?” (DYFI) message to the USGS during Shakeout!
For more information please click https://winlink.org/content/shakeout
Sep 06
Apr 07
The Amateur Radio Emergency Services team is always looking for new members. People excited about providing communications in an emergency situation. So how do you join ARES and what is the difference between level 1 and level 2?
ARES level 1 is the entry level, join the team come on in and look around. Talk to others that have been on the team for years and get the feel of what is expected as an ARES volunteer. You do not need to take any FEMA ICS or ARRL course to join ARES.
ARES level 2 So now you know what it is and you want to continue. You want to build your own go box and you want to deploy to a local emergency operations center (EOC). At this level you will increase your skill level by completing several FEMA ICS courses and the ARRL course.
ARES Level 3 You like everything ARES stands for and you want to contribute more. To be appointed into a leadership position you need to step up to level 3. At this level you will learn about more advanced subjects. Only the Section Emergency Coordinator can make ARES leadership appointments.
ARES level 1 you are required to do the following:
1) Get a copy of the ARES Task Book. Click on the menu item above and download the latest copy.
2) Fill out and send in the ARES membership application. Again this is a menu item above.
3) Study for and pass the Technicians license test. Many local clubs have study groups and they provide the testing. If you need a contact then click on CONTACT above and let us know, we will find a local club for you to study and test with. You must have a Technician license, or higher to join ARES.
That is all you need to do to join the ARES team. After you join you might consider advancing your skill level by working on ARES Level 2, which you can read about in the Task Book.
Jun 08
On the 6/8 SCHEART training net Kent Hufford, KQ4KK presented this topic, which was originally written by Christine Smith, N5CAS (sk). It is a long read but it answers so many questions.
WORKING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS
Modified from a Waller County, TX ARES training article
written by Christine Smith, N5CAS (sk)
Meeting the communications needs of “served” agencies is quite a challenge in today’s complex
disaster/emergency relief arena. The number of emergency relief organizations and their increasingly
sophisticated needs all competing for that scarce resource–the volunteer. The activity of other non-
amateur volunteers makes the picture even more complicated. As more of the population moves to
disaster-prone areas and less government funding is available, more pressure is placed on agencies
to use and sometimes abuse the volunteer sector for support of their missions in disasters. Toes are
sometimes stepped on and a volunteer’s morale can be undermined.
On the other hand, the ARRL, SCHEART and SC EMD formal relationships with served agencies are
vitally important and valuable to radio amateurs. They provide us with the opportunity to contribute in
a meaningful way. Another substantial benefit not to be overlooked is that these relationships lend
legitimacy and credibility for Amateur Radio’s public service capability.
What to Do?
Jun 08
Who decides when ARES will be activated?
That would be the agency ARES volunteers are serving. ARES is a registered trade mark for the ARRL. The roles in emergency communication is really defined by the agencies, state, county, local government or NGO they serve as volunteer communicator. Without these served organization ARES has no role to support.
Some common terms we use often….
one or coalition of (usually not-for-profit) Second Responder organizations in the United States. These groups voluntarily help survivors after a disaster. One example is the American Red Cross.
