Registration

Session 16: Keynote: Tom Miner, US&R Response to New Orleans: Lessons Learned

Tom Miner, Program Manager, WA-1 Urban Search & Rescue Team, will discuss the catastrophic events that occurred during the last hurricane season and offer lessons learned that could apply to the Pacific Northwest.

Session 17: Designing your Amateur Radio Emergency Exercise – Tom Cox, VE6TOX

How do you prepare your group for disasters when disasters rarely occur and when they do, many of the events are totally unexpected? Determining the training needs, selecting a scenario, making it realistic, evaluating and reviewing your Standard Operating Procedures are all covered. A number of exercise ideas will be presented for competition, table-top, messaging, and problem solving. Everything from fun, simple exercises to large-scale multi-city exercises will be covered along with a few ideas of how to use exercises to build both relationships and credibility with served agencies.

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 18: Marine and Coast Guard Communications: Present & Future – Dave Smith, N7CGA

Here in Puget Sound we live in one of the 2nd largest commercial and public marine environments in the US. This session will cover current and future communications issues. Information on such topics as VHF radio, New Coast Guard Rescue 21 communications upgrade, DSC emergency systems and VTS locations systems here in Puget Sound. We will also talk about the USGC Auxiliary communications Program. This is a timely session for any ham boater.

David M Smith, N7CGA, has been in volunteer in emergency communications in SAR, Marine and ham radio for over 25 years. He has worked as a Police dispatcher, and been a volunteer for DEM in Skagit Skagit county. He is currently the Communications officer for Division 02 USCG Auxiliary in the Seattle area. He works closely with USCG in USCG District 13 on communications issues.

Session 19: Basic ICS -IS-100 certification course (FEMA) – Ned Worcester, KB7NFO

All federal, state, territorial, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the entry level, first line supervisor level, middle management level and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-100 level training.

Course objectives include: the purposes for using ICS, the basic features of ICS, the Incident command structure, General staff functions, basic ICS facilities, and the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities of ICS positions.

Ned Worcester, KB7NFO, is an Emergency Preparedness coordinator, in charge of strategic communication systems, for Seattle Public Utilities, since 2001. Prior to that, he was the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Group Health Cooperative. He has been a licensed ham for almost 20 years. He is a volunteer Disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross, and a member of King Co. Search and Rescue 4x4 unit.

Session 20: Personal & Family Preparedness – Jim Pace, K7CEX

Job one for any emergency worker is to make sure that their family and property are protected and secure prior to responding to any emergency away from the home. This course is a discussion of what needs to be done at home, prior to, during and after any emergency. A simple Family Emergency Plan – developed specifically for your home – is your task, once you have completed this course.

Jim has been a Ham since 1957. His experience in EmComm goes back to the Civil Defense days with Kitsap County Civil Defense. He is currently the Section Emergency Coordinator for Western Washington and the Assistant Stare RACES Officer for Western Washington. Jim is a Contract Planner and has written Bio Terrorism Response Plans for several Western Washington Counties; he also developed the framework for Bio Terrorism Response Plans, that is being used in most Counties in Washington State. Jim represents the Amateur Radio Community on the State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) which oversees the EAS and AMBER systems in Washington. Jim currently teaches Personal and Family Emergency Planning to various organizations and churches.

Session 21: EMS Response Coordination to 9/11 Pentagon - James Baumann

Discussion of the multi-jurisdictional EMS response as pertains to the military responders at the Pentagon on 9-11. Specific discussion will focus on the challenges faced by civilian responders in attempting to work with the military.

Mr. Baumann is currently the Emergency Manager for VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He has a dual Bachelors degree from George Washington University in Emergency Medical Service Systems Management and Emergency Management where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is a Certified Emergency Manager and a Certified Emergency Management Specialist. He has attended numerous courses through the Emergency Management Institute including the Emergency Management Professional Development Series. He is currently pursuing his MBA/MHA. He is a lifetime member of both graduate and post graduate Honor Societies. Mr. Baumann has 7 years experience in Emergency Management and 6 years experience as a Rescue Chief in both Fire and EMS organizations.

Session 22: Introduction to radio communications – Bruce Miller, KC7IAY

This session and #22 are free. If attending only 22 or 27 or both, register, but don't pay. This session is for neighborhood groups, block watch captains, and workers in non-profit organizations and businesses who know almost nothing about radio, but want to get a basic understanding of what's what. The class will: a) clarify the different groups of radio communication (such as CB, FRS, GMRS, Ham, Public Service, broadcast, cellular); b) differentiate different types of radios (receivers, transceivers, hand-helds, mobiles, repeaters, base stations, scanners); c) discuss the different types of radio transmissions (AM, FM, simplex, duplex, repeaters, trunked radio); d) define various key terms in radio to establish a basis for selecting radios or for further study (such as CTCSS; e) provide tips for creating your own neighborhood radio network; f) provide tips for buying FRS (Family Radio Service) radios. There will be a radio show and tell.

Bruce Miller is a life-long radio listener, getting the bug to assemble a Heath Kit radio in the 8th grade. Shortly thereafter he was using a very heavy (for teenager) WWII BC-342-N receiver to listen to international shortwave stations. Later he put together a popular manual for scanner listeners. He is currently the Public Information Coordinator for the Western Washington Section of the American Radio Relay League.

Session 23: NIMS - IS-700 certification course (FEMA) - Ned Worcester, KB7NFO

All personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response must complete this training. IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction is a Web-based awareness level course that explains NIMS components, concepts and principles. Emergency response providers and disaster workers, entry level to managerial level including Emergency Medical Service personnel, firefighters, medical personnel, police officers, public health personnel, public works/utility personnel, and other emergency management response personnel.

Ned Worcester, KB7NFO, is an Emergency Preparedness coordinator, in charge of strategic communication systems, for Seattle Public Utilities, since 2001. Prior to that, he was the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Group Health Cooperative. He has been a licensed ham for almost 20 years. He is a volunteer Disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross, and a member of King Co. Search and Rescue 4x4 unit.

Session 24: When Marine transportation stops, so does everything else – Russ Read, N7HOV

When Marine transportation stops, so does everything else. It's happened twice in the last five years (Nisqually Earthquake, West Coast Labor Dispute) and it will happen again. Will you be ready when the Port facilities cannot facilitate the transportation of goods to you? What can you do in a maritime disaster to make sure the shelves of your local grocery store have food during the winter, and the other supplies you need throughout the year. Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and how facilitate the viability of the marine transportation system as citizens and communicators will be discussed.

Russ Read is a graduate of Oregon State University and has spent the last fifteen years involved in law enforcement and security in the Northwest. He was a deputy sheriff in Lane County, Oregon, and spent twelve years in the US. Coast Guard, with tours at Coast Guard Headquarters and the Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, in Seattle. His background in the Coast Guard includes environmental and emergency response, container inspections, foreign vessel regulatory compliance, contingency and operational planning, communications and intelligence. Russ is currently the Seaport Security Systems Manager and Facility Security Officer for the Port of Seattle seaport, and is responsible for seaport security systems integration and regulatory compliance for the Port’s Seaport facilities.

Session 25: Amateur Radio response to Gulf Coast: Personal experiences – Richard Green, KR7L

This slide show and discussion presents the author’s experiences and preparation for supporting disaster relief in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. He spent about a month in the Gulf Coast on varying assignments. His perspective on the event is interesting and informative.

Dr. Green was employed as a rocket scientist for 30 years with specialties in solid and liquid rocket propellants, and turbojet and ramjet fuels. He received his PhD degree in Physical Chemistry in 1965 at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He has been technology manager on several rocket motor programs in both the military and civilian sectors. He served as the technology manager of Life Support Systems on the International Space Station in Huntsville, Alabama for 3 years. He retired in 1998. Dr. Green was first licensed as an amateur radio operator with technician privileges in Huntsville in 1992. He currently holds Amateur Extra license call KR7L. Dr. Green serves as a member of the Maple Valley ARES team where he lives and as a member of the Western Washington Medical Services Emergency Communications team where he is currently treasurer.

Session 26: Portable FM Repeater System Design and Fabrication - Lee Neth, KD7MQM

The design and manufacturing of a self-contained portable FM 70cm repeater system.

Mr. Neth has over 20 years experience with the design, construction, and startup of industrial instrument and control systems.

Session 27: Integrating CERT and ARES - Exercises, Training, Procedures - Ward Silver, N0AX

This session and #22 are free. If attending only 22 or 27 or both, register, but don't pay. Vashon-Maury Island is a suburban Puget Sound community of around 11,000. We have a growing base of CERT volunteers in an active training program - currently approaching 75 graduates. Our ham population is approximately 100, with 30 active and 20 signed up for ARES. Several of the ARES are also CERT members. This presentation discusses how ARES and CERT leadership are collaborating to improve communication skills, plan training exercises, and develop procedures that allow the groups to work together.

Ward Silver N0AX is a well-known author of amateur radio books and articles, including the well-received "Ham Radio for Dummies" by Wiley Press. His new book, "Two-Way Radio and Scanners for Dummies" is aimed at the person interested in personal and emergency communications. An electrical engineer, Ward spent 20 years in product development before changing careers to teach and write. He has been a ham for 34 years and is the Emergency Coordinator for his local ARES team as well as Communications Coordinator for his community's emergency planning program.

Session 28: Pandemic Influenza-What happens when commerce and government shut down - Mandi George

Learning Objectives are to understand the history of pandemics and the current avian flu outbreak, list the potential impacts such a pandemic has on our community, and understand roles in the prevention of and response to a pandemic.

Mandi George is the Education & Training Program Manager for Emergency Preparedness, Public Health Seattle & King County. She has been with King County since August of last year. Her main responsibility is to educate and train Public Health Workforce around emergency preparedness topics. Prior to King County, she was an employee of 5 years with Snohomish County Health District developing employee wellness and community based disease prevention programs. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and in her free time enjoys spending time with family and friends and the great outdoors.

Session 29: Field Communications (classroom discussion) – Ralph Javins, N7KGA

A discussion and demonstration of equipment to support field communications, includes useful ideas for packaging, emergency deployment, alternative power sources, etc.

Session 30: Field Communications (outside demonstrations) - continued