This is a DRILL – Emergency Activation of Charlotte County FL A.R.E.S. Emergency Communication Team 7-27-2023 8:30AM-11:00AM

This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL

The Charlotte County Emergency Management team has advised us of a potential major weather event in the next 72 hours. Charlotte County FL is now at LEVEL 3 Alert.

This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL – This is a DRILL

Please complete a Radio Operator Availability Report (ROAR) online at this link  (in question #5 comments please indicate any “desired assignments” for the location you would like to staff): 

CCFLARES – Radio Operator Availability Report ROAR)     https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MRK8XMF

July CCFLARES Drill Overview

  1. The CCFLARES drill for this month will be conducted via modes and methods “Other than Voice” this included WinLink Emails, Text Messages, and a possible experiment with machine coded/decoded CW.
  1. We will attempt to staff all four hospitals, the EOC and deploy 1-3 UHF/VHF GoKits.

The goal is to make sure everyone has WinLink on the laptop you will deploy with, configured for nonverbal communications like we might have to do if the EOC or Hospitals or Shelters need to transfer a lengthy message with high accuracy (think several 2-4 page messages of patient information needing emergency transfer when a hospital or special needs Shelter is shut down)

Note: while transmitting WinLink messages via Radio is preferred, it is completely acceptable for this drill to use Telnet from any internet source you have available.

Actions to take NOW !!

Please make sure that you have a copy of the CCFLARES Roster downloaded and printed ( https://ccflares.org/documents-gallery/#elf_l1_TWVtYmVyc2hpcA ) This has both email addresses and phone numbers for texting, for everyone.

Update your Software:

Please make sure that your computer is “up to date” because pending updates can block functionality, especially if you are “way behind”

  • Make sure Windows is up to date
  • Make sure WinLink Express is up to date ( should be version 1.7.8.0 this shows at top of main window )
  • Make sure that VaraFM is up to date ( should be version v4.2.9 )

Thanks

Bob Bowes – KC1MAM

CCFLARES – AEC – Operations

CCFLARES.Ops@bbowes.com

603-464-9629