On Saturday 2 August 2003, three Ocean-Monmouth ARC members, Kenny KB2KBD, Steve N2CKH and Mike N2GEG in accordance with the ARRL SOU with the American Red Cross participated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) graded Evacuation and Sheltering drill which took place at Lakewood, High School. There were various officials on site from Lakewood Township, NJ Sate Police, Monmouth County Red Cross and others.
The Lakewood OEM vehicle transported all the needed, properly labeled signs and traffic control equipment to the site by 8:30am and we had everything in place within 15 minutes. The OEM trailer has multiple pre-printed, reflective signs for just about all known emergency scenarios, along with street cones, barricades and more.
(OEM vehicle radio console)
All Lakewood OEM vehicles are well equipped with communications equipments boxed fixed mounted and portables for the OEM UHF repeater, Police, Fire etc. and Amateur Radio, as well as with light bars, sirens and towing hitches for the largest trailers. The current Yaesu FT-7100 is found in many of the vehicles.
(Kenny, KB2KBD)
KB2KBD, N2CKH represented Lakewood OEM and the Ocean County Radio Amateur Civil emergency Service (RACES)
(Steve, N2CKH)
N2GEG represented the Ocean County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) as a liaison to Monmouth County ARES operating at the Red Cross EOC in Monmouth County with ex-OMARC member W2KQ as the operator.
(Mike N2GEG seated)
All parties to the drill with tagged with Yellow wrist bands to indicate that we were contaminated. We all then entered the building along with the FEMA representative and began a walk through inspection of the facilities. I had personally never been at the site myself and found the facilities to quite impressive, not to mention the quantity of emergency materials that the Red Cross stores and is authorized to appropriate as needed.
(FEMA Official)
All parties to the drill with tagged with Yellow wrist bands to indicate that we were de-contaminated. We all then entered the building along with the FEMA representative and began a walk through inspection of the facilities. I had personally never been at the site myself and found the facilities to quite impressive, not to mention the quantity of emergency materials that the Red Cross stores and is authorized to appropriate as needed.
(Mike, N2GEG)
It was the assignment of N2GEG to setup a communications link on site with the Red Cross EOC where W2KQ was positioned. N2GEG did a quick site survey and found that hand held communications with the W2RAP 146.955 repeater in Ocean county being used was not reliable from within the building unless standing near a window and then setup a portable J-Pole antenna encased in fiberglass on loan by BIll, KC2CNB (another OMARC and Ocean ARES member).
(KC2CNB portable J-Pole Antenna)
The area where the J-Pole was positioned normally serves as a play ground for the on-site day care center for faculty and students of the High School, it was surrounded on all four sides by building, but served well for communications with the repeater being used.
(N2GEG GO radio)
Next N2GEG setup his "Go Kit" station consisting of an Alinco 25w 2m FM mobile radio and A.C. mains source D.C. power supply. Mike was also prepared for battery operation, however that was not needed during the drill. The station was set up near doors that allowed rapid access to the nearby J-Pole antenna outside, doors that were labeled clearly "Not an Exit".
When the time came, N2GEG exchanged communications on behalf of the FEMA inspector with W2KQ. N2GEG then answered a few questions for the FEMA inspector as did KB2KBD and N2CKH. The drill was a complete success with all parties on station and ready for the FEMA inspectors questions as expected.
(N2GEG and FEMA Official)
Those club members that are not yet involved with any OEM activity or the American Red Cross and are interested can contact:
NJ OEM web site: http://www.camdencountyraces.org/links.htm
American Red Cross - visit: http://www.redcross.org/
Monmouth County ARES/RACES - visit: http://www.qsl.net/ka2irq/ares-rac.htm
Ocean County ARES - Bob, WX2NJ - visit: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wx2nj
Ocean County RACES - Your local Township OEM Officer:
Lakewood OEM/RACES - Kenny, KB2KBD at: kennyd771@aol.com
The club snail mail address is:
Please use the following e-mail addresses for:
Questions about this web site, club repeaters, or anything:
Steve Hajducek, N2CKH
Club Webmaster