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Alabama Amateur Radio Emergency Service |
Welcome
to the Alabama Section of ARES
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES® consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
ARRL Alabama Section Emergency Coordinator
Interim
Mike Watkins,
WX4AL
2535 Beehive Rd
Auburn, AL 36832
watkijm@auburn.edu
* Latest News and Activities *
2009 ARES Simulated Emergency Test
Photo Courtesy Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Used with Permission.
"Operation Highball"
Alabama Hospital Amateur Radio Project Update, August 6th 2009
After much patience and effort, the Alabama Hospital Amateur Radio Project is beginning the installation phase. Soon Alabama amateur radio operators will be able to increase their assistance with hospital emergency communications.
Sixty hospitals in Alabama signed up in a program to install an amateur radio station in their facility and use ARES for operator support. Each hospital will receive the following equipment in August. ICOM IC-2820H, 2m/70cm Dual Band Mobile, including D-Star, KENWOOD TS-2000, HF/6/2/UHF and 30A switching power supply.
The ICOM radio will, of course, be used for local communications and outside the area if a D-STAR repeater is available. If there is not a local D-STAR repeater, the radio will be used for FM and D-STAR can be utilized if repeater becomes available in the future.
The KENWOOD radio is primarily for HF communications, utilizing Alabama emergency net frequencies. This radio and can be used for local VHF/UHF communications in the event the main radio fails.
Next, the plan is to conduct a site visit with each participating hospital to determine what their particular needs are to complete the installation.
Each local ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) will work with their assigned hospital to assemble a special team that will assist the hospital in emergency communications when needed. The hospital team will be given statewide compatible training, which meets standards, requirements, common ID and operating procedures. Because of the installation of common radios, procedures and training, if a hospital does not have available operators locally, ready operators can be requested from outside the county to assist.
We plan to discuss this project in more detail in the Alabama Section ARES forum at the Huntsville Hamfest on August 15th.
Putting new amateur radios in our hospitals is a very exciting accomplishment for Alabama Amateur Radio! This gives us a great chance to broaden the visibility and public service aspect of the Amateur Radio Service.
73,
Jay Isbell, KA4KUN
Alabama ARRL Section Manager
On May 7th the Alabama Department of Homeland Security and the Alabama Section of the American Radio Relay League, Amateur Radio Emergency Service conducted a Communications Interoperability Exercise, Catastrophic Hurricane Landfall. The exercise was a learning experience and a great success. We appreciate all that contributed to this successful exercise!
By Alabama Section Emergency Coordinator Les Rayburn, N1LF
As a result of the Earthquake Drill, a statewide contact list and repeater map have been generated.
Please send updates or additions to Hub Harvey, N4HUB, Jefferson County EC, N4HUB @ arrl.net
Alabama Frequency List (Excel)
2008 Alabama ARES Simulated Emergency Test Report
The Alabama District map has been restructured to match the AL State EMA/Homeland Security districts. This will give each DEC an EMA counterpart, just as the county EC has had a county EMA counterpart.
ARES Registration
Interested in registering you services and skills with Alabama ARES? Fill out this online form. This form will be automatically sent to the SEC and your county EC.
If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24hours please re-submit your application
ARRL Message Form Information
ARRL message form instructions
Alabama Weather Service Information
South Alabama - Mobile/Pensacola
South Alabama - Tallahassee, FL
NWS Upcoming Storm Spotter Classes
Training conducted by the National Weather Service
Spotter
Information
Spotter's Field Guides, Basic Advanced
Storm Spotter's Guide from NWS Norman OK
Storm Spotter's Guide from University of IL Urbana-Champaign
Miscellaneous
Alabama ARESMAT
Amateur Radio Emergency Service Mutual Assistance Teams
contact Jay, your SEC at alsm@arrl-al.org for more information.
Please send ARES suggestions to ka4kun@arrl.net
