The Fall Simulated Emergency Test (SET) exercise will be Saturday, October 7. BCARPSG, along with clubs and amateurs across Western Pennsylvania, will be participating in this test of communications and emergency preparedness.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 7. 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT.
Butler County Local Repeaters: 147.300 Primary Repeater / 443.9 Repeater Alternate Repeater. Tone 131.8 Hz
Butler County Simplex Frequencies: 147.570 (primary) & 145.510 (alternate).
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 ACCURATE OR REALISTIC INFORMATION, AND DO NOT REFLECT CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS IN BUTLER COUNTY, PA.
Read the following statement at the beginning of the Net and at 1030 and 1130.
THIS IS A REGION 13, ACS SECTION EMERGENCY TRAINING DRILL!!
THIS IS AN EXERCISE TEST MESSAGE, REPEAT, THIS IS ONLY A LOCAL EXERCISE TEST MESSAGE!!
Massive power outages have blacked out large portions of the country! The eastern seaboard power grid has suffered a catastrophic failure. Here in Western Pennsylvania crews are working 24/7 to restore power from Erie down to Allegheny County, with little or no success. Authorities suspect grid control sites have been infected with malicious software, totally knocking out the grid control network. Although utility crews are working around the clock, they are hard pressed to restore and maintain service to essential services. Government officials have requested all citizens limit travel on county roadways until further notice. Here in Butler County, police, fire and Emergency Services are all operating on back-up power systems. The 145.29, 147.3, 443.2 and 443.9 amateur repeaters are also operating on emergency power and it’s uncertain how long they will remain operational. Should any repeater go down or when directed to, please QSY to the Butler County Simplex Frequency 147.57 MHz. All amateur radio operators are requested to check into this Net, stating your Call Sign, location and current operational status. Additionally, all Registered ACS Operators, please report availability for an ACS Assignment. I will now accept check-ins on this repeater to the ACS Net, please call K3PSG.
THIS IS A REGION 13, ACS SECTION EMERGENCY TRAINING DRILL!!
THIS IS AN EXERCISE TEST MESSAGE, REPEAT, THIS IS ONLY A LOCAL EXERCISE TEST MESSAGE!!
Acknowledge check-ins as required.
- Assignment of ACS Operator(s) to Shelters – Within Butler County, the Butler Area Senior High(New Castle Rd.), Moniteau(RT38, just beyond West Sunbury) and or Seneca Valley Schools (RT68 Zelienople) have been utilized in the past as shelters. Butler and Moniteau, no problem with Comm Links, Seneca Valley, not so much. You should be aware Butler County no longer has a local Red Cross Chapter, any and all shelter activities would be provided through mutual aid agreements with counties surrounding Butler, most likely Allegheny, Beaver or Venango.
- Assignment of ACS Field Team Operators to local Fire Departments to assist as needed i.e., monitoring stream and creek levels for flooding, downed electrical lines or communication shortfalls (Cellphone overloads). However, within Butler County the Fire Police and CB Rangers are usually called upon for major traffic control activities
Guidelines for EOC:
- If possible, establish communication contacts with surrounding counties either simplex or repeater
- If possible, as time and traffic permits, establish digital communication with one or more shelter operators
- If possible, as time and traffic permits, send a Radiogram via HF 3.983MHz and receive a Radiogram via HF 3.973MHz to and from K3MJW
- Terminate the Net promptly at 1230 and thank all participants
- Forward all check-in / activity info to TBT for reporting
Guidelines for participants:
- Accept assignments, participate, ad-lib but keep it realistic and most importantly, by all means have fun!!