Next: Westchester Participation in ENY
Up: WESTCHESTER COUNTYNY ARES/RACES
Previous: The Hurricane Simulation
The local drill was conceived as a partial test of the RACES portion
of the Rye Plan. Using the above-mentioned simulated hurricane sequence,
the plan was meant to simulate the sequence of
events normally leading up to arrival of a hurricane. As such,
the time line below was scripted and implemented.
The following agencies and organizations supported the local drill.
The City of Rye did not actively participate on the day of the
local drill other than by granting permission for access to the
Rye EOC (Police Headquarters) and arranging access to the Rye Country
Day School. No Rye officials were available to simulate
traffic or command decisions.
Prior to the drill, several conversations were held with the City
Manager, Frank Culross, and his assistant for the Plan, Sgt. Bob
Chittenden and they provided valuable feedback and support.
The Rye Country Day School has demonstrated its commitment to the
community by making it's facilities available as an evacuation
reception center. Staff came in on Saturday and unlocked
the reception center, the Dunn Performing Arts Center, allowing
access by the Amateur Radio operators who remained there for
several hours.
As stated previously, United Hospital Medical Center used this drill
as an opportunity to tie-in to an in-house drill.
Dr. Robert Leviton, Director of Emergency Services, was very helpful
in making suggestions for the subject matter of the drill.
The American Red Cross chapter was aware of and supported the drill.
Red Cross staff did not participate in the field. The chapter
headquarters was simulated by ARES/RACES member, and ARC Communications
Chair, Tom Raffaelli, WB2NHC.
The County EOC was very active for the drill. Both the Communications
Officer and his assistant were present as was the Director, Liam Murphy.
Mr. Murphy played the role of County Executive and simulated
state-of-emergency command decisions as per New York State Executive Law
Article 2B.
- 1900
- Mention there is a hurricane in Carribean during
Wednesday bulletin on 147.06 repeater.
- 1700
- Bulletin #39 is automatically transmitted to westchester-ares
email reflector and faxed to EOC. Hurricane watch up to Cape Lookout, NC.
(See figure 6 for a sample bulletin.)
- 1710
- EOC staffer calls N2DB and asks her to read bulletin #39
during nightly 2130 Southern District NTS traffic net.
- 2300
- Bulletin #40: Hurricane watch extended to Cape Charles, VA.
- 0500
- Bulletin #41: Hurricane watch extended to Chincoteague, VA.
- 1100
- Bulletin #42: Hurricane watch extended to Atlantic City, NJ.
- 1140
- N2DB reads bulletin #42 on 147.06.
- 1700
- Bulletin #43: Hurricane watch remains to Atlantic City, NJ.
- 1710
- N2DB reads bulletin #43. Announce call-up net for 8 p.m.
- 1800
- Group A activated by phone by N2DB at N2YGK's request.
- 1900
- WB2NHC announces 8 p.m. call-up net during regular Friday bulletin.
- 2000
- ARES call-up net begins. Pagers set off, volunteers recruited
for Saturday from 0930-1200 and to help with telephone call-up. Those
available to participate are asked to check back in at 2200. Net secures
at 2100.
- 2200
- ARES net called up to give assignments to volunteers for Saturday
morning.
- 2300
- Bulletin #44: Hurricane warning issued through Watch Hill, RI.
At this point, Weather
Alert radios owned by many Amateurs and others in the area would have
set off their alarms as the NWS in Brookhaven issued the warning.
Note: There was never a watch that covered Westchester--Straight from a
watch to Atlantic City to a warning all the way up to Watch Hill.
- 2310
- N2YGK reads bulletin #44 on 147.06.
- 0500
- Bulletin #45: Hurricane warning through Rockland, ME.
The following slots are all filled at 0930 through the conclusion of
the drill at 1200:
- EOC VHF operator and net control on 147.06 MHz (WECA 2m).
- EOC HF operator checked in on 3.9935 MHz (ENY 75m net).
- Sgt. Chittenden's shadow at Rye PD.
- Rye EOC (PD).
- United Hospital operating position in ER waiting room.
- Dr. Leviton's shadow
- Comm van in United Parking Lot (simulated evacuation command post).
- Comm van, second operator.
- Rye Country Day School, Dunn Performing Arts Center.
- Rye Country Day School, second operator.
- ARC chapter (simulated).
- Roving tech.
A minimal amount of message traffic was passed on the VHF net consisting
mostly of confirmation that all stations were in place, along with a
few messages between the simulated ARC chapter and the Rye Country
Day School (CDS) shelter.
Next: Westchester Participation in ENY
Up: WESTCHESTER COUNTYNY ARES/RACES
Previous: The Hurricane Simulation
Alan Crosswell
Fri Oct 17 23:30:21 EDT 1997