Good Afternoon. I hope this finds everyone well and enjoying your July
4th weekend.
This email is directed to all Tennessee ARES members. Please see below
for a message from our Section Emergency Coordinator, Jim Snyder AJ4NO:
Please share this email with your ARES members and encourage them to
participate in this exercise. The probability of a catastrophic event
from the New Madrid fault is increasing. This short notice exercise is
intended to measure the readiness of government and private sector
emergency communications assets in the aftermath of a catastrophic
disaster. Read the instructions carefully and send the Winlink form per
the instructions below.
ARES and the amateur radio community could gain significant positive PR
with a robust response to this request. The maps and spreadsheet will
provide compelling information for informing your local AHJ of your
ability to communicate when the P, A and Cs of the PACE plan have been
exhausted. A description of the PACE planning process is also attached
for those who have never been exposed to the concept.
Share this information with other hams who you believe would participate
and respond.
Jim, AJ4NO
TN ARES SEC
EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE
UPCOMING FEMA MULTI_REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE, JULY 9, 2025
We have been invited to participate in a FEMA Multi-Regional
Communications Exercise, JULY 9, 2025. Unlike most exercises, this
exercise does not give us the leisure of planning ahead with time for
much detail. However, this exercise provides a realistic timeframe for
such an event. In most “real-life” emergencies, we do not get the
luxury of developing a detailed exercise specific plan.
In addition to SHARES Winlink, which will provide agency to agency
communications, this is also a wonderful opportunity for W inlink on
amateur radio to show that situational awareness “ground truth,” can
be readily obtained within an approximate 1,000 mile radius from the
earthquake Memphis,TN epicenter. Such information is especially critical
to those who must prioritize response and recovery resources. Please
take the time to participate by filling out the Winlink provided field
Situational Awareness Report form from the Winlink Express Template
library, and send it in via telnet or radio per instructions found in
below.
This is a multi-Regional FEMA RECCWG driven exercise, which covers many
communications systems including:
The Winlink Hybrid Radio Email Network System for both CISA SHARES and
Amateur Radio. In this exercise, we are to provide a situational
awareness report based on the information contained in the scenario,
which greatly depends on our location.
Just FYI, in addition to the Winlink portion of this FEMA m ulti-Regional
communications exercise are the additional communications components
that are proposed for testing:
– The FEMA National Radio System (FNARS): a nationwide, high-frequency
(HF) radio network used by FEMA for backup communications during
emergencies,
– Starlink, MSAT, G2 SatComm, Iridium SatPhone (involved states)
– Linking of Statewide P-25 Public Safety Trunking Systems between
involved states.
– The National Warning System (NAWAS), an automated telephone system
used to convey warnings for federal, state and local governments, for
military and civilian population.
Below is the scenario for this exercise, which starts on Wednesday, July
9 from 6:30 AM CDT or 7:30 AM EDT (1130 UTC) and ends at 6:00 PM CDT or
7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). . For those even vaguely familiar with the
Winlink system, and specifically Winlink Express, this exercise should
be simple to complete with the amount of time we have available to
report.
The Task for Winlink is directed and simple:
Below is the starting scenario for this July 9, 2025, EARTHQUAKE
exercise.
This exercise should involve participants from zero to approximately
1,000 miles away from the Memphis, TN epicenter. However, if you are
further away, you may also experience Internet, cell, VOIP, POTS, or
other communications outages due to the number of fiber and long-line
circuits that travel through the earthquake epicenter.
Background:
IMPORTANT: For the Winlink portion of this Exercise, there are (at
least) two services participating: The CISA SHARES Winlink participant
agencies and their volunteer resources, and amateur radio Winlink
participants. Because of the interoperability between services available
within the Winlink system, both CISA SHARES and amateur radio
participants may both send email to the same address es as long as each
follows the rules and regulations set forth by the government for each
group. SHARES users, using SHARES station callsigns will participate
only on the SHARES provided channels (or Telnet), while amateur radio
participants will participate on their FCC Part 97 spectrum (or Telnet),
following their specific rules and regulations. Both groups may send the
SITREP “ground truth” information either by TELNET or radio to the
two SHARES call signs set up to receive the information (NCS398;
NCS800). FYI, although there are other Winlink options for delivery, in
this exercise they do this through our virtual Common Message Server
(CMS) system, located on the Amazon AWS “cloud” by logging into a
Radio Message Server (RMS) or via Telnet.
NOTE: For those participants who find that the provided information
allows the use of Internet, which is determined by your location’s
distance from the Memphis 7.8 magnitude earthquake epicenter, please
consider using Winlink TELNET instead of your radio in order to
alleviate congestion of useable spectrum for those who may not have
Internet availability. Even those who may not be conveniently next to
their radio equipment may also use Telnet if you wish.
For the this exercise, further distribution of this information to
those copied as leaders within their span of control is a part of the
exercise. Please expand this information to whatever resources you
have available.
Resulting data from the Winlink Field Situation Report will be
accumulated as geographic “ground truth” and shown to the
appropriate state and federal leadership as a spreadsheet item as both
graphic and textual analysis. In addition, a FORM 309 log of all
Winlink participants, and a CSV file for GIS viewing will be available.
EXERCISE SCENERIO:
(Exercise, Exercise, Exercise) O n Sunday, July 6, 2025, an initial 4.1
magnitude earthquake, centered in Memphis, TN, will occur, and be
announced via all news media. The announcement below requires no action.
We will only use this information to prepare for any communications
requirements needed based on our own personal outages, and for whatever
agencies we work with require per their PACE plan. However, this
exercise will also serve as a warning for future near-term readiness
needing alternate, resilient communications resources, which could (and
should) be in most emergency agency’s communications PACE Plan.
Pre-Exercise insert from FEMA:
Exercise Exercise Exercise
July 6, 2025 -This is a breaking news update from KTSB News at 10:15.
We’re following reports of a minor earthquake that shook parts of the
Mid-South this morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a
magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck near Memphis, Tennessee at approximately
10:00 AM Central Time. Residents across Shelby County and surrounding
areas reported feeling the tremor — a quick jolt followed by a light
rumble lasting just a few seconds.”
There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but the quake was
enough to prompt emergency managers to review their earthquake response
plans and check for any infrastructure issues.”
“Officials remind residents that while this quake was relatively
minor, the region lies within the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and
preparedness is key. If you felt the quake, you can report it to the
USGS ‘Did You Feel It?’ website to help scientists gather data.”
“Stay with KTBS for any further updates. And remember — know your
safe spots, drop, cover, and hold on if another quake occurs.”
Exercise Exercise Exercise
Exercise insert from FEMA, July 9 at 3:30 am EDT:
At 3:30 AM EDT on July 9, 2025, a 7.8 magnitude Earthquake with its
epicenter near Memphis, TN, follows the July 6, 4.1 quake, causing an
epic amount of damage. (see PDF Attachment to this email.) Emergency
federal, state and local agencies have deployed their alternate
communications options where possible in order to maintain
communications. In order for all levels of government to respond as
quickly and efficiently as possible, there is a push to use available
alternate means of communications to obtain as much situational
awareness “ground truth” as quickly as possible.
FEMA has requested that all providers/users of resilient communications
services (satellite, FNARS, MERS, OpSecure, SHARES HF voice services,
and SHARES and amateur radio Winlink) report to them as soon as possible
to start response and recovery. A critical need for situational
awareness at various dista nces from the Memphis epicenter will allow
more effective and efficient use of the limited resources necessary for
response and recovery from this mass casualty event.
Message to send: Winlink standard template, Field Situation Report
Specific Instructions for Winlink participation
Below are the instructions for participants:
– DATE and TIME of Exercise participation: Wednesday, July 9 from 6:30
AM CDT or 7:30 AM EDT (1130 UTC) and ends at 6:00 PM CDT or 7:00 PM EDT
(2300 UTC).
– Please, feel free to use telnet from any area. If possible, use radio
within the first two most severe impact areas, but if you only have
telnet, use it. Telnet should be used where possible to alleviate the
limited amount of provided band space available for those who have no
telnet available. PLEASE, DO NOT INCLUDE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUEST,
EITHER MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY. Considering the volu me of
participation and the limitations on available operating bandspace, it
will take up too much space/time for a one-way transmitted report.
How to fill out the Field Situation Report:
1. Open Winlink Express (ensure you have a most recent version, ie..
1.7.24.0 or higher, Template Version 1.1.13.0 or higher).
2. Open “New Message” form. (First ICON in main menu).
3. On New Message Form, click on the “Select Template” menu item.
4. Double click on “Standard Templates”
5. Choose “Mapping GIS forms.”
6. Choose “Field Situation Report.txt”
7. Your browser should open with the HTML Form showing.
8. Fill out the form per info below:
a. PRECEDENCE (R) Routine
b. Date, Time, Task as 1.0.
c. To: NCS800; NCS398 (separate addresses with
semi-colon).
d. On Form:
#1: NO.
#2. your City, County, State (2 letter designator), or
Territory.
#3 Put in Coordinates using degree decimal format,
DD.DDDD . Example: LAT: 36.0703 LON: -86.8241, which is the correct
format. (Note: LON is a “-“ or negative number.)* To convert from
degrees, minutes, seconds to decimal degrees use ChatGPT, or the web
tool at https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal. Remember that
Western hemisphere longitude is a negative number!
(If you cannot provide coordinates per above, then put in
your Grid Square, and they will be approximated from your Winlink
Express settings.
#4 Put in your Grid Square. To convert your street
address to a grid square, use the web tool
https://www.levinecentral.com/ham/grid_square.php.
9. At this point, you should review the data in the PDF attachment to
this email, which contains probable damage in mileage bands from zero to
800 miles.
10. From the data provided, determine your approximate distance (“as the
crow flies”) from Memphis, TN, the location of the earthquake
epicenter. Once you have approximated that distance, review the mileage
band that applies to you and your location, note the probable effects on
physical structures and communications availability, and fill out the
SITREP report, accordingly. REMEMBER TO PUT “EXERCISE, EXERCISE,
EXERCISE” in the COMMENTS section at bottom of the Form.
NOTE: If you live 300 miles or less from Memphis, and are powered by a
nuclear power plant, which will be mandatorily shut down for inspection
for damage, the inspection process takes at least 1-5 days to complete
and restore providing power. This, of course, assumes that no damage
occurred. NRC regulations (e.g., 10 CFR Part 100 and RG 1.165) require
that plants be designed for Safe Shutdown Earthquake Ground Motion
(SSEGM). For a 7.8 magnitude Earthquake, a distance of 300 miles or less
from the epicenter would most likely shut down for inspection from 1-5
days. Use your own judgement based on this data.
11. Once the form is completed, submit it (bottom of report area), and
close the browser if it does not happen automatically. Your message will
appear.
12. BE CERTAIN to ensure your messages are being sent to NCS800 and
NCS398, then find menu item on message form, “POST to OUTBOX,” and
send the message via TELNET or radio.*
Reminder: If you are not in an affected area, you may decide to use
Telnet Winlink. In a “real life situation,” you would always want to use
Telnet if it is available in order to leave the precious RF spectrum for
those in affected areas who have no other choice. However, for this
exercise, it is your choice since this exercise is also for practicing
your ability to use Winlink in an emergency condition.
Thanks much,
Steve Waterman,
Winlink Administrator
FEMA R4 RECCWG AuxComm Committee, Chair
EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE
——————————————————————–
ARRL Tennessee Section
Section Manager: Mr David R Thomas, KM4NYI
km4nyi@arrl.org
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