PERFECT STORM UPDATE  --  Messages and traffic to the SEOC can be relayed through the TRI-Service MARS. Navy MARS is participating and possibly Air Force MARS.  Navy stations have the equipment and some stations have already contacted the SEOC with questions. 

Also all traffic to the SEOC will be by Winlink.  They will not have MT-63.  However, MT-63 traffic may be presented on the MARS nets and a station with both MT-63 and WL2K will relay.

- Update provided by:  David Wolfe - TN Emergency Management Agency
                                       Lowell Bennington - TN Section Emergency Coordinator

Description:

On October 4, 2008, starting at 8 am eastern and running to 1 pm eastern, there will be an exercise of "TN Perfect Storm," to practice city and county ARES groups in the state of TN. TEMA and TN Army Mars will also activate during this exercise. There will be assigned "Players" for other state agencies, such as TDOT, TVA, TSA, National Guard, Red Cross, and South Bears. The TN state ARRL ARES goal for each city/county will be to send at least one message from its city/county to TEMA and/or other state agency "Players" and to receive a response message back. The channel for these messages is from city to county to MARS, then to TEMA and state agency "Players." Message traffic may be by VHF, HF, or Digital Modes, including Winlink. No message will be allowed to pass via traditional e-mail or phone service, including cell phone.

Each city/county is asked for a minimum participation of a 2-hour time block from 8:00 eastern to 10:00 eastern for counties in East TN, 8:00 central to 10:00 central for Middle TN, and 10:00 to 12:00 central for West TN. All cities/counties may elect to participate for the full 5 hours of the exercise.

Scenario

The exercise scenario is that there are two category 5+ hurricanes, one coming in from the Gulf of Mexico, heading towards West Tennessee, and one coming in from South Carolina, heading towards East Tennessee. Expect flooding, wind damage, power outages and road closings to occur during the exercise. Each city/county ARES group may design its own exercise and goals based on this scenario. All After-Action Reports are to be sent via proper channels.

How to participate:

Each ARES group needs to contact the DEC by September 1, 2008, with the following:

Group name and contact person's email and phone number;
Location you will be working or managing;
Participating group members' names and call signs;
Local agencies willing to participate : name, contact person, and email address;
Frequencies you will use during the exercise;
Your plans during the exercise and your goals.

By September 22, 2008, we will publish a complete Players list including frequencies and times. We will also provide a more complete overview of the exercise.

updated:  03 October 2008