October 2006 ARES / RACES Emergency Drill

The Annual Albemarle County ARES/RACES Simulated Emergency Test will take place Saturday October 14, 2006 at 10:00AM. The purpose of the drill is to:

• Activate the County sites having pre-installed antennas
• Assure that at least one ARES member is familiar with each site and knows how to set up there in an emergency
• Demonstrate our capabilities to County Emergency Response officials

We would also like to include the Emergency Operations Centers of neighboring counties in the drill to the extent possible.

The sites to be activated are:

• Albemarle County/ Charlotteville/UVa EOC on Route 250
• Zehmer Hall
• COB South
• Martha Jefferson Hospital
• Poison Control Center
• Red Cross
• Health Department
• Western Albemarle Rescue Squad
• Scottsville Rescue Squad

Also we would like to activate the East Rivanna Fire House and Monticello High School. These sites do not (yet) have antennas installed. A mobile station parked in the parking lot would be a good substitute.

Most of the sites require that you bring a radio with you. HTs may work in Charlottesville, but all the other sites require a larger radio with up to 50 watt capability. Remember adapters, jumpers and a power supply for your rig.

The drill "event" is a hurricane situation similar to Isabel. We will respond by getting each of these locations on the air by 10AM October 14. The main frequency will be 146.76 MHz. We will also use the 444.250 MHz repeater on Martha Jefferson. The drill will include tactical message handling and health and welfare traffic, and will last about one hour.

We need an ARES volunteer to lay claim to each of the sites listed above, preferably one close to your home, and get it on the air by 10AM October 14. In addition you will have to make sure that you have access to the location by making contact with the in-charge person between now and October 14. I have the contact information and can give you the location of the antenna. Once you commit to a site we can work out the details by phone or a site visit.

To volunteer please call Bill Phillips AD6JV at 434-872-0686, or email Bill at billp1048@earthlink.net.