WMD/RDD = Weapons of Mass Destruction/Radiological Dispersion Device (dirty-bomb). A discussion of the extensive planning and coordination that goes into preparing for a national exercise held in our backyard. Also a TopOff 2000 after-action video that overviews the TopOff excercise process -- about 30 minutes, educational, and interesting.

Randy Hansen is a 20-year veteran and Battalion Chief with the Seattle Fire Department. His present assignment is the TOPOFF-2 Planning Lead. He has extensive background as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher, Disaster Exercise Design Coordinator, and instructs in Weapons of Mass Destruction preparedness and the Incident Command System.

He has been active with the Puget Sound US&R Task Force since its inception in 1991, participating in deployments to the Oklahoma City bombing and World Trade Center terrorist attack. He regularly assists agencies with the design and execution of WMD tabletop and field exercises, including a recent one-year contract with the Department of Justice for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is an introductory level class discussing the system of organizational structure and management techniques used by most public safety agencies and other emergency management organizations

Mike Marrs, KD7MJM, is the Fire Chief for the Burien-Normandy Park, WA, Fire Dept.

Session 19: Northwest Weather Hazards and the Skywarn System

We think we live in a relatively moderate climatic zone, but in reality, the northwest is subject to many different kinds of severe weather. Ted will also talk about the other work of the meteorological warning and forecasting that the Weather Service does for local/regional non-weather disasters. Accompanied by an interesting video.

Ted Buehner is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. This position is the key National Weather Service (NWS) Seattle liaison, working to enhance the "end-to-end" forecast and warning system by more closely tying the agency's modernization effort with its customers, such as emergency managers, the media, and the marine community. Ted has been with the NWS for over 20 years, this position being his third tour of duty in Seattle. Ted also served 1 year in Boise as a forecaster, 6 years in Portland as a Lead Forecaster, and 2 years at the NWS Western Region Headquarters in Salt Lake City as the Western U.S. marine, public, and aviation program manager. Ted has a Bachelors of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Oregon State University.

Session 20: APRS and Emergency Communications

This seminar will introduce the emergency communicator to the Automatic Position Reporting System, or APRS, which is a digital communications mode employing GPS technology and computer applications to process and track mobile and stationary positions of operators. APRS is a great tool to assist communicators in providing disaster and other emergency communications support.

David Dobbins, K7GPS, has been a licensed amateur radio operator for 11 years. His primary interest in amateur radio is with APRS and HF voice. David is a high school technology teacher at Pe Ell School, west of Chehalis. He is currently working on his administration certificate in hopes of finding a principal's job in Spokane this summer. He is also a reserve police officer and avid golfer, along with being a volunteer with Lewis County and Washington State ARES and RACES.

Session 21: The Emergency Alert System and How It Works

An overview of the evolution of alterting systems, Conelrad, EBS and EAS.

Clay Freinwald, K7CR, is Chairman of the Washington State EAS Committee or more formally the State Emergency Communications Committee, SECC. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Broadcast Engineers where he represents SBE interests in EAS on a national level. He has traveled extensively teaching others on how to make EAS work well. Clay has been employed in the Broadcast Industry in this area for 42 years and is employed by Entercom as their Senior Facilities Engineer. In the event he has spare time, he enjoys his hobby of Amateur Radio.

Session 22: ARRL Emergency Communications -- Level 2 -- Review Part I (this is a 3 hour course in 2 parts)
CLOSED -- FULL

The Level II Emergency Communications course will overview the ARRL Level II course and will serve as the classroom portion of instruction for people who sign up for the Level II Hybrid class. A hybrid section will be offered by the ARRL, mentored by Terry Dettmann, WX7S that will lead to a Level II certification. The course covers advanced emergency communications topics relevant to a communications supervisor or team leader. This course is not eligible for ARRL Homeland Security grant refunds.

Terry Dettmann, WX7S, will lead course material review. He has been a ham for more than 40 years. He has an advanced degree in Physics and has done doctoral work in Astrophysics and Electrical Engineering. He spent 11 years as a Naval Officer and has been a consultant and System Architect since that time. During that time, he's worked with MARS, ARES, RACES, and various clubs and organizations to provide amateur radio support for a variety of projects and events. He is an ARRL VE, CE, and CI and is also an ARRL OES and TS. He is the official Technical Specialist for King County Washington ARES and handles Training and Packet issues for the Kirkland ARES team. Terry's main technical interests in Amateur Radio are Antennas and Low Power operation. He is an ARRL Certified Instructor and Online Mentor for all levels in the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses. In 2001, the ARRL appointed Terry as the Mentor Coordinator for the online Emergency Communications courses.

Special Lunchtime Presentation in the Shoreline Room. Icom will do a product launch presentation on DSTAR -- Icom's new high speed networkable radio system. Presentation by Nick Sutton, NS7DX, Icom Landmobile Technical Support Representative.

Catering will be available for those who sign up in advance. Cost is $8.00 for sandwich, salad, chips, dessert, and pop. Should you wish to forego the catered lunch, you may wish to consider a sack lunch each day, as there are no restaurants immediately near the Shoreline Center. There are a few restaurants about five minutes drive.

Course description not available.

Instructor: Robin Friedman

Session 24: Radiation Safety: Dispelling the Fears of Radiological Contamination

This is a brief review of the basics of radiation physics and a review of both the practical and regulatory aspects of radiation safety. Included will be an overview of background radiation and comparisions with everyday radiation sources, an introduction to the biological effects of radiation, a review of sources of radiation including defining radiological dispersal and nuclear devices, and public perception and misconceptions regarding radiation and radiation exposure.

John Gough is currently the Radiation Safety Officer for Swedish Medical Center. He has a Bachelor's Degree in both Physics and Mathematics from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Health Physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Gough is a Certified Health Physicist receiving this title from the American Academy of Health Physics. Before coming to Swedish Medical Center he worked as a consultant in Chicago as the Radiation Safety Officer for VA Chicago Health Care Systems and as the Radiation Safety Officer for Marshfield Clinic and St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield WI.

Session 25: Experience RDF -- Tools and Techniques (Radio Direction Finding)

Radio Direction Finding (RDF) is an invaluable tool for finding anything from a stuck transmitter to lost hikers. The basics are simple but actual implementation in the field requires some skill. Become acquainted with the tools and techniques for a successful search. Some materials will be available to assemble your own tape measure RDF yagi or bring your own equipment and try to locate a transmitter on the site.

Scott Honaker, N7WLO, is a retired Microsoft Employee who just can't get enough of Ham Radio. He is a founding member of the MicroHams (Microsoft amateur radio club) and the current vice-president. Scott is probably recognizable as the guy behind the counter with Dave at Radio Depot for the last few years. Scott holds an Extra class license and is a charter member of the Pacific Northwest VHF Society. He often participates in VHF contests. As a frequent fox hunt participant and occasional fox, Scott is familiar with RDF tools and techniques.

Session 26: Hospital-based Emergency Communications

A description of the various radio systems used in the medical community, and a history of eveolution of medical communications. Also a discussion on the new radio systems being deployed under a Department of Health Homeland Security grant.

Duane Mariotti, WB9RER, joined Harborview Medical Center in August 1994. Harborview Medical Center is a 350-bed teaching hospital associated with the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. It is the sole Level I Trauma and Burn Center for a four state region. Mr. Mariotti was hired to create, implement, and manage a clinical engineering department and technology management program. The program is presently responsible for over 8,000 devices valued at over sixty (60) million dollars.

Session 27: ARRL Emergency Communications -- Level 2-Review Part 2 (this is a 3 hour course in 2 parts)
CLOSED -- FULL

See Session 22.

Session 28: Field Communications and Alternate Power Systems

This popular course is being repeated again this year. It is a hands-on open discussion on practical equipment and techniques for doing emergency communications in the field (Field Day or real activation. ) It will also include a discussion of alternate power sources, such as solar, generator, etc.

Ralph Javins, N7KGA, has been a licensed Amateur Radio operator since 1955, first getting his license in Hawaii. He previously built satellites for the US Navy Research Lab. He currently is a traffic signal technician for the Washington State Dept of Transportation -- responsible for the single most-hated traffic signal in Washington: Highway 2 in Sultan.