Registration

Welcome and introductory remarks.

Session 01: Keynote Speaker – "Interoperability is more than hardware"

Every disaster in the past several decades has emphasized the failure of communications - often because various agencies couldn't talk to each other. Interoperable communications solutions have focused on hardware, but, in reality, more important to achieving the goals are training, standardizing protocols and procedures, and inter-agency, inter-team cooperation and coordination.

Barb Graff was appointed Director of Seattle Office of Emergency Management in June of 2005. Her responsibilities include managing the multi-hazard interdepartmental emergency management program for the City of Seattle and coordinating its relation to other emergency response agencies and community groups. Prior to Seattle, Graff worked for the City of Bellevue for 21 years; seven of those in the City Manager's Office and fifteen as Emergency Preparedness Manager.

Session 02: Volcanic Effects on equipment and communications – John Labadie

This presentation addresses techniques for mitigating the effects of volcanic ash on selected categories of critical equipment. It is based on information developed and experience gained in dealing with volcanic ash fallout produced from the eruption of Mount St. Helens in the State of Washington. The likelihood or magnitude of a volcanic eruption cannot be forecast with confidence. However, if an eruption of significant magnitude occurs, the volcanic ash cloud and fallout could be a hazard to a variety of operating systems.

John R. Labadie, Ph.D., has more than thirty years' experience in the management of hazardous materials and emergency preparedness planning and operations for federal agencies, state and local governments. Dr. Labadie developed a Comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Renton, WA in 2003. He has developed Comprehensive Emergency Management plans for newly-incorporated cities in Washington and has developed and conducted emergency management exercises, including local participation in Soundshake ‘98. He developed a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for the Washington State Department of Health and Emergency Response Plans for WDOH facilities. He has conducted Disaster Planning training courses for public utilities, sponsored by Green River Community College.

Session 03: WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Awareness (FEMA) – Chandra Fox

A discussion of terrorism, the threat of potential terrorist activity and precautions to help protect oneself. While this is a remote possibility for most of us, understanding potential threats, and knowing what to do about it is valuable information to have.

Ms. Chandra Fox is an Emergency Management Coordinator and CERT Program Manager for the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA) in Brier, Washington. In this role, she is responsible for administering ESCA's public education services and programs.

Session 04: Emergency Communications – the Wireless response – Brian Daly, WB7OML

We have all heard that Amateur Radio is there "when all else fails". But what are the other forms of communications that can be called upon in times of disaster? This talk will look at the strengths and limitations of communications systems such as the PSTN, cellular phones, the internet and VoIP, trunked radio systems, and satellite phones in time of disaster, and to see how Amateur Radio has a role when those systems fail. The talk will look at recent case studies such as the hurricanes in the Gulf to see how these communication networks withstood Mother Nature, as well as the recent London subway bombings. Finally, what are likely scenarios on communication systems in the Pacific Northwest if we have a major event such as an earthquake, and how should Amateur Radio be prepared "when all else fails"?

Brian Daly, WB7OML, is a Director at Cingular Wireless, in Redmond. He is deeply involved in developing new wireless technologies and standards for the industry, and holds a number of patents for cellular technologies. He is the former Emergency Coordinator of Maricopa Co. ARES, and is currently the Emergency Coordinator for Medical Services Communications in King Co. He was first licensed in 1977.

Session 05: Digital Radio for the Last Mile – Pete Loveall, Icom

This session will discuss amateur radio deployment during and after emergency and disaster events. Focus will be on supporting served agencies in a manner unknown to them until now. Areas of interest will be using the D-STAR high speed radios to provide high speed IP access reliably over a large area to core emergency communications facilities.

Also discussed will be the benefits of digital radios operating both voice and data on a single channel providing SAR and damage assessment capabilities with little or no infrastructure.

Peter Loveall has been an amateur radio operator for over 30 years and has worked in the data communications and telecommunications industries for over 25 years. He has been active in many modes of amateur radio operation both personally and working in public events and emergency activities. He is currently an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Collin County, Texas and has provided communications support for situations such as the Katrina and Rita hurricanes. He is the author of javAPRSSrvr, the primary server software used in APRS-IS. He is also the author of the D-STAR/APRS interface called D-PRS.

Interim Satcom Incident Site Communications cancelled this time slot because speaker deployed to Iraq.

Session 06: Urban Survival - Richard Nelson

This presentation discusses emergency survival in an urban setting. The information is also fundamental for survival in a wilderness environment as well. Learn to develop the state of mind of a "survival attitude". Learn how to think what kind of tools a would be useful.

Richard Nelson is a Wilderness Ranger in the Alpine Lakes area of Mt. Baker / Snoqualmie National Forest. Nelson has been teaching survival, navigation, and GPS to the general public and search and rescue teams for more than three years and has been an avid backpacker for more than 25 years.

Session 07: The Nature of Disasters – Implications for Amateur Radio – Tom Cox, VE6TOZ

This course defines Emergency versus Disasters, the major characteristics of disasters and Implications for an Amateur Radio response. It includes a discussion of communications failures, convergence, scope, initial assessment, unusual responses, unusual locations, Incident Command, hospitals, logistics and planning.

Tom Cox has been actively involved in first aid, evacuations, emergency social services and emergency communications for 16 year and has presented at three previous Communications Academies. His hands-on experience, straight talk and realistic outlook have confronted hams with the shortcomings of the hobby, yet gives those who are committed to serving their communities the confidence and tools to help move amateur radio emergency communications volunteers forward in their capabilities and understanding of this fascinating hobby. Tom is currently the ARES Edmonton Region Emergency Coordinator and his group responded to 22 callouts and 10 events in 2005.

Session 08: Haz-mat Certification Course (Part 1 of 2) - Rich Tokarzewski (class size limit 20)

Rich Tokarzewski is a Program Coordinator for the King County Office of Emergency Management since August 1992. His assignments include the Hazardous Materials Program, coordination of disaster exercises, and the recovery program. His duties include the writing, exercising and coordinating of the King County Hazardous Materials Plan with municipalities and response agencies at federal, state and local levels. Rich earned a BA in Chemistry from Rutgers University and an AAS in Hazardous Materials Management from South Seattle Community College. He earned the CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager) designation in 1994. Rich has taught Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents at both Green River Community College and South Seattle Community College. He is a qualified instructor in several hazardous materials topics.

Session 09: Latest Developments in Emergency Alert Systems – DeWayne Sennett, KE7DXW

With the recent series of disasters that have plagued various regions of the country, enhancements to the existing Emergency Alert System are being considered by the US Congress and the FCC. This presentation will discuss the status of these regulatory and legislative activities and will discuss the potential impacts to various forms of wireless communications.

DeWayne Sennett, KE7DXW, has been involved in telecommunications systems for over 25 years. On behalf of his employer, Cingular Wireless, DeWayne has been in several industry activities regarding potential enhancements to the Emergency Alert Systems. These potential enhancements include the expansion of the existing Emergency Alert System to also include wireless and other communications systems. DeWayne earned his Technician Class license last August and is currently working on getting his General Class license. DeWayne is a member of the Redmond ARES Group and the Western Washington Medical Services Communications Team. DeWayne is also a certified CERT instructor.

Session 10: ARES/RACES/ACS Forum – moderated by Ed. Bruette and Jim Pace

Session 11: Partnership of Amateur Radio and the National Weather Service - Ted Buehner, KD7PWK

This session will focus on the valuable relationship between amateur radio operators and the National Weather Service (NWS). Background information will include the common mission of both parties, NWS operations and all-hazards weather support, Pacific Northwest weather hazards via the popular Washington Weather Hazards video, NWS terminology, and how to get and use NWS products and services. Given this background, there will be an interactive discussion about how amateur radio operators work with the NWS throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you are interested in weather or work with emergency management who are involved in weather or all-hazards emergencies, this is a session you cannot afford to miss.

Ted Buehner is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle, a key customer liaison position. He works toward enhancing the "end-to-end" forecast and warning system by more closely tying the agency's mission of protecting lives and property, and enhancing the region's economy, with its customers, such as emergency managers, the media, and the marine community. Ted has been with the NWS since 1977, this position being his third tour of duty in Seattle. Ted also served one year in Boise as a forecaster, six years in Portland as a Lead Forecaster, and two 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 12: Katrina: Let's not go there again – our first true disaster – Capt. Alvin Lee

WA-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) deployed to New Orleans following the hurricane Katrina, and had their first true experience practicing disaster medicine in the U.S.

Capt. Alvin Lee received his Pharmacy degree from Oregon State University in 1977 and is a Registered Pharmacist in Oregon and California. He has been a U. S. Public Health Service pharmacist primarily with the Indian Health Service for over 26 years. He has been involved in Emergency Services for over 30 years from EMS in San Francisco to wilderness search and rescue in Alaska. He has been a Regional Emergency Coordinator for the Dept. of Health and Human Services since June 2002, which was transferred to the Dept. of Homeland Security as the National Disaster Medical System Section in March 2003, where he is responsible for Federal medical asset preparation and response under the Federal Response Plan.

Session 13: continued from #8 – Haz-mat Cert

Session 14: Dual-band NVIS Antennas for a Space-challenged City Lot - Ed Bruette, N7NVP and Tom Sanders, W6QJI

Many of us live on a small city lot where there just isn't space for a full sized 75 meter NVIS antenna. This paper offers a design for dual-band NVIS antenna which meets this requirement, is inexpensive, is easy to erect and which works very well in the NVIS mode. Additional material covering the selection of the optimum frequency for NVIS propagation over a specified path or distance has been added. This is the fourth in our series of NVIS Antenna presentations.

Ed Bruette, N7NVP is a retired US Navy Submarine Navigator and Communications Officer who was first licensed in 1988 and became active in emergency communications the following year. He served as Kitsap Co. ARES Emergency Coordinator for 4 years, Assist. State RACES Officer for 4.5 years, ARES WWA Section Emergency Coordinator for 5 years. Ed currently is the State RACES Officer and has recently been reelected as the ARRL WWA Section Manager. His interest in NVIS was sparked by the need for reliable statewide HF communications.

Tom Sanders was first licensed as W6QJI in Sept. 1938, and with the exception of four years during WWII, he has been continuously active. During WWII he was an ET in submarine Radar with five successful war patrols. He is a graduate of the V12 Naval Officers Engineering program through the end of WWII. Throughout his ham career, his principal interest has been antennas for use in EmComm, DX and an occasional rag chew. He holds DXCC, WAS and WAZ certificates. Working with the Western Washington Section Mgr. Ed Bruette (N7NVP) and the Pierce Cty DEC Mark Yordy (W7BBO), they have developed a series of very successful NVIS antenna designs

Session 15: Interoperability: Clearing up the Confusion – Nick Sutton, N7QOR

"Interoperability" is the latest buzzword in public safety communications, and more recently in our public news media. Yet rarely has one word caused the confusion and fear this term does. During this session we ask and answer many questions, including; What does "Interoperability" really mean? How do we achieve Interoperability? What Interoperability initiatives currently exist?

This session explores the differences between "physical" and "user" interoperability, the types of interoperable situations, the many methods used to achieve interoperability and initiatives under way to support this need.

Nick Sutton, N7QOR, has been a licensed HAM for 15 years. Nick was employed by ICOM America until recently, when he joined the Clover Park School District as Manager of Technical Services. During employment with ICOM, Nick specialized in training and support of ICOM Land-mobile products. He has traveled extensively throughout the US providing training in a wide variety of land-mobile radio matters ranging from support of legacy systems to use and implementation of new digital technologies. During the last 18 months Nick assisted in introducing P25 technology to the ICOM Dealer network, providing training and support to both dealers and government agencies.

Nick's amateur radio interests include HF, VHF/UHF, digital modes and satellite communications. He supports the WW-MST as a system technician and operator at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way.