Practicing for Disaster Communications in Winter

1/21/2023 0 Comments

Practicing for Disaster Communications in Winter

News Event: Winter Field Day Disaster Communications Drill
Date: ON-AIR Saturday Jan 28th 2023 2pm – Sunday Jan 29th 2023 2pm
Location: Ferncliff Forest, Rhinebeck NY
Attendees: Open to the public for interactive displays and demo’s
Media Attendance: Best time is Sunday Morning 08am -2pm (see below)

On the weekend of January 28th the Overlook Mountain Amateur Radio Club of Kingston NY will participate in a worldwide emergency communications and preparedness event known as Winter Field Day (WFD).

The purpose of Winter Field Day activities is to practice Emergency or Auxiliary Communications in a simulated catastrophic disaster situation. The assumption is an area has been hit by a calamity such as the severe weather events currently impacting several areas of the US, or something more local like the ice storm that hit Ulster County last year. Disasters like this often destroy local infrastructure (power supply, cellular service, radio towers, communication buildings,) making coordination of government disaster response communications difficult as well as overwhelming standard communication pathways with humanitarian and civilian welfare messages.

This is where Amateur Radio Operators (AKA Ham Radio or Hams) come in. Hams routinely train for situations like this and get out in the field (i.e., Field Day) twice a year to test and improve their equipment and skills.

For Field Day events all “Responding Units” must get themselves and their gear to a location and set up a temporary Pop-Up Emergency Communications Center to assist or take over emergency traffic.

This means no aid from standard sources of electricity, and no use of permanent locations or antennas. In other words, the pavilion area at Ferncliff Forest will go from a quiet local forest park to a major communications command center capable of conducting multi-mode communications around the world, as proven by communicating with as many other stations doing the same in other countries all over the world.

2022 Winter Field Day off grid demo station. Shane KD2YRB, Dave K2JLV, Steve K2GOG (Left to right)

Multiple radio techniques will be used including voice, morse code, location (GPS), radio teletype, satellite communications, and even a way of sending pictures and emails over radio waves.

According to the event chairman for the Overlook organization and UNDR Group “This year allows us to take what we learned during COVID times and come out even better prepared and better planned. We will for the first time operate multiple sites to allow more people to participate, even if they are not licensed amateur radio operators yet.”

Winter Field Day officially starts Saturday January 28th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time and concludes 24 hours later Sunday. Members of the public are invited to look us up on the official map at www.winterfieldday.com for our main site in Rhinebeck both days plus a mini “pop-up” location at Minnewaska State Park on Saturday only.

The public are encouraged to observe and even possibly even participate by getting On the Air under the club license and supervision.

FAQ's

What types of communications will be on display?

Voice radio for local and worldwide communications
Morse Code
SSTV Slow Scan Television – A way of sending pictures via radio around the world.
Satellite communications – Low power “walkie-talkie” that will fit in a day pack for long range communications.
WinLink & VaraAC – A way of sending email via radio
APRS – A way of messaging or sharing/seeing location of users in real time, use for search & rescue as example.
DV/DMR - Next generation digital voice and data communications
RTTY – Radio TeleType – send texts messages via radio
QRP – Low power radios capable of transmitting around the world that you can carry in a briefcase.

How many Ham Operators?
Anywhere from 6 – 10 Hams at a time. We are running 3 locations for this event

Ferncliff Forest (Rhinebeck NY)

Main Cabin – Traditional radio shack with 4 stations working simultaneously at 100 watts
QRP camp – QRP means low power. These operators will be using easily transportable low power radios (5 watts or less). These would be typical “First In” radio operators as they can literally walk into a location with everything they need in a back pack and be operational within 30-60 minutes.

Minnewaska State Park (Kerhonkson NY)

Another small 4-6 person QRP encampment set up for a few hours on Saturday 11am – 4pm only.

When will the radios be active?

Ferncliff Forest - We will have multiple radios active continuously from 2 pm on Saturday until 2 pm on Sunday.
Minnewaska State Park – Saturday only 11am – 4pm

When can the public attend?

Anytime from 2 pm on Saturday until 2 pm on Sunday. We will also be onsite a few hours before and after the event to set up and take down.

What can the public do?

Observe the various radio operators make radio contact with people all over the world
Chat with other club members about what is happening, how it is being done.
Attend any teaching demonstrations being given
Learn about viable options for personal and family Emergency Communications for local outdoor activities and disaster preparedness.
Depending on resources they might be able to go on the air under the supervision of a licensed Amateur Radio Operator using the club license.

Media attendance preferred Sunday Morning, a liaison will be available for you then.

Media can show up anytime but may not have anyone available to assist them.

Any media questions contact Steve Bossert below.

Steve Bossert
K2GOG@undr-group.com
+1-914-573-1799

Additional Press Photo Kit Images (From 2022 WFD)

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Practicing for Disaster Communications in Winter

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