The Ohio Section News Update – March 3rd Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- Ohio ARES Important Dates

- FEMA Needs an Experienced New Administrator

- Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week

- Getting this Newsletter

- Upcoming Hamfests

- My Final For Friday

   

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NIMS / ICS Training

Hey Gang, by now I’m sure that you’re sick of seeing this article.. and asking why in the world are these courses so dog gone important. The simple answer is this - without these courses, you are not trained! Without the training, you can’t be used!  I couldn’t have said it better myself! Thanks Jerry, KC5WLA for that great way of phrasing it!!

Now, get those oh – so important ICS certificates in to me and to your Emergency Coordinator!!

Here’s where you can get all of this information  http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/training.html. This page contains a lot of information about what is needed. Each course takes about an hour or so to take, that’s really not much to ask now is it? You spent way more than that to get your Amateur Radio operators license!

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members in the database 641. Members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 429. Total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database 4,222  Want to know if you are one of the 429? Here’s the link..  http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html 

I also highly recommend that you get used to looking at the Ohio Section Website..  http://arrl-ohio.org as it changes all the time. You’ll also want to visit the Ohio Section Emergency Coordinators page frequently too  http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/default.html

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Ohio ARES Important Dates

Ohio ARES Conference

April 01 – Nope, this isn’t an April fool-- mark your calendars for Saturday, April 01 at Marion Tech/OSU for this year's All Ohio ARES Conference! More to come but we have a really solid lineup on tap for this year!

EC's, AEC's, and general members are all welcomed! Hope to see YOU there! We would ask that you register for the Conference so that we have a clear idea as to just how many folks will be attending.. Here’s a link..  http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/form.html 

Ohio NVIS Day

April 22 – There will be more discussion about NVIS Day at the ARES Conference and on the website soon.

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FEMA Needs an Experienced New Administrator, Former FEMA Head Says

(from ARRL Bulletins)

Now-former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, told a US House subcommittee this week that the agency needs to have a new and experienced administrator soon, or it could lose its forward momentum. That sentiment was echoed by House members during a February 28 hearing on FEMA’s future held by the House Homeland Security Committee’s Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications Subcommittee.

“It’s not a good job to do on-the-job-training,” Fugate told lawmakers. “It’s too brutal, and the citizens deserve better.” He said that whoever ends up heading the agency should understand that FEMA’s role in disaster response “is not about putting FEMA in charge.”

“My parting advice for the FEMA team was to continue going big, going early, going fast, and being smart about it,” Fugate said in his written testimony. The new FEMA head should build upon “the strides the agency has made since [Hurricane] Katrina.” During his time at FEMA, from 2009 until this January, Fugate was a strong supporter of Amateur Radio as a communication resource in disasters.

The hearing was the second in a series that will provide recommendations to the next FEMA Administrator. Former FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison also testified. The officially vacant position is being filled for now by Robert Fenton Jr., FEMA’s Region IX administrator.

Fugate focused on Amateur Radio's role in disasters during a recent interview on HamRadioNow, explaining to host Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, how he became familiar with emergency management from the ground up, first as volunteer firefighter and paramedic in Florida, and then as head of Alachua County’s emergency management program for 10 years. That experience, he said, “was my first intersection with Amateur Radio.” He eventually self-studied for his license and passed the test after arriving in Washington.

He told Pearce that FEMA supports state, local, and tribal governments in emergencies and disasters, and will work with whatever resources are available. While it has taken advantage of radio amateurs and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ARRL in 2014, the agency looks at Amateur Radio “a bit differently.”

“We’ll work with whoever’s up and operating,” said Fugate, who has not quite taken off his FEMA hat. He said that could be an ARES group, a RACES group, or an individual radio amateur who may have key information coming out of an area hit by an emergency.

“Training is great,” he told Pearce. “We shouldn’t think it’s exclusionary.” He said FEMA needs to remain open to any Amateur Radio resource available, “because that person may be the only one up and running.”

Fugate told Pearce that FEMA under his watch tried to be inclusionary, taking advantage of the entire spectrum of radio amateurs, not just the institutionalized emergency communication organizations. “If you have the luxury of being exclusionary,” he said, “it’s probably not a bad disaster.” Fugate said that while he favors formal emergency communications training, those completing the courses may not always be available when a disaster strikes.

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Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week March 19-25

(from Ohio EMA All-Hazards Herald)

In a coordinated effort with the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness (OCSWA), Governor John R. Kasich is proclaiming March 19-25 as Severe Weather Awareness Week and encourages all Ohioans to learn what to do to protect themselves from spring and summer weather hazards and home emergencies.

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, as coordinated by OCSWA, the state of Ohio will participate in a statewide tornado drill and test its Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, March 22 at 9:50 a.m.

During this time, Ohio counties will sound and test their outdoor warning sirens. Schools, businesses and households are encouraged to practice their tornado drills and emergency plans.

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Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

Heck, just send me an email:  n8sy@n8sy.com and let me know that you want to be added. It’s really just that easy. Please, if you know of anyone that would be interested in this information, feel free to pass it on to them. You don’t have to be an ARRL member or even a ham to receive these emails.

You can always  “Opt-Out”  at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it.  http://arrlohio.org

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Upcoming Hamfests

03/05/2017 | WinterHamFest

Location: Elyria, OH
Sponsor: Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society

 *Free pancake breakfast with paid admission

 *Free Vibroplex Clinic
 Website: http://noars.net

 03/18/2017 | MOVARC HAMFEST
 Location: Gallipolis, OH
 Sponsor: MOVARC Club
 Website:

 https://sites.google.com/site/midohiovalleyarc/

 03/19/2017 | Toledo Mobile Radio Association

 Hamfest and Computer Fair
 Location: Perrysburg, OH
 Sponsor: Toledo Mobile Radio Association
 Website: http://www.tmrahamradio.org

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My Final..    

On this day.. 

In 1634 the 1st tavern in Boston (Mass) opens (Samuel Cole).. Wha Hoo

In 1791 Congress establishes US Mint – that’s so they can pay their bar tab!!

In 1838 there was a rebellion at Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada

In 1931 "Star Spangled Banner" officially becomes US national anthem by congressional resolution

TGIF - Acronym for Thank Goodness it's Friday. Used to express the joy one feels in knowing that the work week has officially ended and that they have two days off with which to enjoy!! 

Now.. go have FUN..!!

 

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..