The Spring Simulated Emergency Test (SET) exercise will be Saturday, April 3rd. BCARPSG, along with clubs and amateurs across Western Pennsylvania, will be participating in this test of communications and emergency preparedness.
Date & Time: Saturday, April 3rd. 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT.
Incident Radio Communications Plan: CLICK Here to download the GREY RHINO Spring SET Drill ICS-205 Plan for Butler County.
Index:
- Scenario
- Table of Radio Frequencies
- Locations
- Reporting
- Guidelines
- Mobile Unit Equipment Checklist
- Documents & Forms
THE FOLLOWING IS A SIMULATED EMERGENCY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY. NONE OF THE INFORMATION BELOW IS REAL OR SHOULD BE ACTED UPON BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE TEST EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS. THE STATEMENTS BELOW DO NOT CONVEY ANY ACCURATE OR REALISTIC INFORMATION, AND DO NOT REFLECT CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BUTLER COUNTY, PA.
Scenario: Butler County has been experiencing a severe weather pattern over the last several days. A strong low pressure weather pattern has moved into western Pennsylvania, resulting in heavy rainfall and unusually high winds. Over the last 48-72 hours, the county has recorded 6 to 8 inches of rainfall in some areas, with random and straight line wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour. This, coupled with rapidly warming temperatures across Butler County, has greatly accelerated the winter snow melt, causing numerous power outages and road closures due to downed trees and power lines. Flooding across low lying areas has forced many to seek emergency shelter with temporary emergency services. Moraine, Thorn Run and Oneida Dams are now at maximum capacity and are currently exceeding the maximum safe water discharge rates. Downstream areas along Muddy Creek, Thorn Run and Connoquenessing Creek are especially inundated. Parts of Butler, Harmony and Zelienople are currently experiencing moderate to severe flooding.
Radio Frequencies:
| Service | Function | Frequency (MHz) | Tone (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| K3PSG VHF Repeater Alameda Park | Primary | 147.300+ | 131.8 |
| W3UDX VHF Repeater Center Township | SKYWARN Traffic | 147.360+ | 131.8 |
| K3PSG UHF Repeater Butler County EOC | Backup | 443.900+ | 131.8 |
| Simplex | Alternate & Backup | 147.570 | |
| WPA DMR Talkgroup | Alternate | #31422 | |
| 80 meter HF | Alternate | 3.98300 | |
| 60 meter HF | Alternate | 5.40350 |
Repeater offsets are plus 600 kHz for the two VHF repeaters and plus 5 MHz for the UHF repeater.
Locations:
- Thorn Resevoir – Love Road + Thorn Run Road
- Onieda Valley Dam – Route 38
- Glade Dam Lake – Route 308
- Evans City Reservoir – Lindsay Road
- Glade Run Dam – Route 8 & Glade Mill Road
- 9 Madison Drive – Connoquenessing Creek
- 145 South Monroe Street – Connoquenessing Creek (Next to API Auto Parts)
- 502 W. Cunningham Street – Sullivan Run Creek (Next To Pizza Hut)
- West Penn Street & Miller Avenue – Sullivan Run Creek
- Butler Outdoor Club – Connoquenessing Creek (Next to Greco Gas)
Other Locations
Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department
East Butler Volunteer Fire Department
Unionville Volunteer Fire Department
Prospect Volunteer Fire Department
Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department
Butler High School
Adams Fire Dept Route 228
Mars High School
Reporting: Individual counties will have net control operators for communications with their respective field teams. Field teams will observe conditions along waterways within their respective counties and report river/stream/dam/ice conditions to their respective county net control stations. Conditions will be relayed by net control stations.
Guidelines:
- Communication discipline: Listen prior to speaking, when in doubt, query the frequency you are on for traffic
- Keep communication professional: Speak clearly and concisely. Keep all communication short, sweet and on point; use the phonetic alphabet to clarify communication whenever needed
- Take your turn to speak; don’t get wrapped up with a false sense of urgency, this is a training exercise. If ever faced with a REAL-WORLD emergency, say “BREAK” and identify yourself, you should be immediately acknowledged and you can state the nature of your EMERGENCY!
- Simplex communication; if the opportunity presents itself; remember our assigned Primary Butler County ACS Simplex Frequency, 147.570and the Alternate District Simplex Frequency, 145.510
- Last but not least; this is your hobby…..Have Fun!!!!
Mobile Unit Equipment Checklist:
- Your FCC license.
- Your Region 13 ACS badge (if you were issued one).
- Dual-band radio (HT or mobile or both). If HT, do not forget an extra battery.
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Notepad & pens
- Potable water
- Meds
- Face mask
- Map
- Safety vest
Documents & Forms:
Past S.E.T. Drills: