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Contents ARES Information Calendar of Events Current News Net Information Public Service Repeater News Skywarn Training Winlink Initiative

ARES Coordinators

David Beltz - WD8AYE Stark County EC Terry Russ - N8ATZ Assistant EC ARECC Level III Certified Mobile Number 330-802-0958 Mike Lackney  - KB8MIB ARES Net Manager - General Operations Phone 330-488-6230 Michele Gill - KC8ZEJ ARES Net Manager - Net Control Coordinator Phone 330-484-3164  Mike Palmer - KD8ENV ARES Assistant Net Manager Link to Contact Page

Served Agencies

Training News

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. Using Amateur Radio in an Emergency. The Emergency Alert System. NOAA Weather Radio. Educational Weather  Information Page. The Current National Weather Map. A great source of Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) information on the internet is available at EMCOMM.org.

Skywarn News   (Jun 21, 2011) -- The National Weather Service (NWS) has updated its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ARRL (scroll below to access a link to the document). The updated MoU serves “as a framework within which volunteers of the ARRL may coordinate their services, facilities and equipment with the NWS in support of nationwide, state and local early weather warning and emergency communications function.” In May, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed on behalf of the ARRL, and in June, NWS Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services’ Director Dave Caldwell signed on behalf of the NWS. The ARRL and the NWS have had a formal working arrangement since 1986. The NWS, in the MoU, acknowledges that Amateur Radio operators can be of valuable assistance in early severe weather warning and tornado spotting. Through its SKYWARN program, the NWS recognizes that Amateur Radio operators have assisted as communicators and weather spotters since the program began in the late 1960s. “In areas where tornadoes and other severe weather have been known to threaten, the NWS recruits volunteers and trains them in proper weather spotting procedures,” the MoU states. “These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS forecast office. SKYWARN spotters are integral to the success of our nation’s severe weather warning system.” Click Here for the Complete Story.... ************** Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio is a resource for the Amateur Radio operator who volunteers as a trained storm spotter. This book includes information on resources, training, equipment, safety, storm spotter activation procedures, reportable weather criteria, developing a local storm spotter manual, and the experiences of storm spotters from around the country. It also provides some meteorological information about severe weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, floods, damaging wind, and winter weather. A comprehensive index is included with weather-related web sites and a state-by-state listing of SKYWARN® web sites. This new publication is available from the ARRL Bookstore for $22.95. ************ Gary Garnet with the Cleveland NWS handed out a Spotter Reference Sheet during the Spotter Training meeting. Supplies were limited and were gone before everyone got a copy. He recently provided us a copy in Pdf form that has been added to our website. Click Here to download a copy!  *********** Severe Storms Rock Stark County during Summer 2007.  Click Here for a review of the 2006 severe weather season from Cleveland NWS. Stark County Skywarn Spotter Statistics. Damage Assessments Report over 268 Million in damage to 60 Ohio Counties during February Flooding. Stark ARES Assists Ohio EMA. ************** Emergency Preparedness Guideline Basic Spotter Information An excellent full color booklet titled "Basic Spotters' Field Guide" is also currently available from the National Weather Service On-line library of Publications. CLICK HERE for a listing of their currently available information guides. **************** Other News NOAA Weather Alert Comes to Ham Radio. Severe Weather Paging Notification Comes To An End. *************** Weekly Weather Fact     The National Weather Service is second only to the Postal Service among government agencies in day-to-day contact with U.S. citizens. And the public seems pleased with what it gets. The NWS's approval rating has jumped to 70%, up from 51% in 1948. Those saying that it was doing a poor job fell from 15% to a mere 7%. These numbers would please many a politician.      Amateur Radio  Supporting Homeland Security "Amateur Radio - The only fail-safe method of communication." Riley Hollingsworth FCC Special Council Retired ------------------ "Amateur Radio - The Last Line of Defense" Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator     Click on the link above to get a birds eye view from the repeater site !

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ARES Forum at Hamvention
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

  (May 12, 2012) -- The Ohio ARES will conduct their annual forum at the Dayton Hamvention on Saturday, May 19th beginning at 2:30 PM. The forum will take place in Room 3 and will run about 60 minutes.

Scheduled speakers are expected to be Ohio Section Manager Frank Piper, KI8GW, Ohio SEC Matt Welch, W8DEC and PIC Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ.

Schedules permitting expect a few words from several other ARRL officials including Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager.

The agenda is still being set but expect current news about the ARES program and the League's future plans for this program. This forum is always well attended and is sure to be a standing room only crowd. I hope to attend and will post a full recap sometime after Hamvention.

ARES Supports Airport Drill
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

  (May 5, 2012) ---  Stark County ARES participated in a full-scale airport disaster drill at the Akron-Canton Airport last Wednesday that involved more than 50 area emergency responders.

The scenario involved a cargo plane colliding with a passenger plane over Stark County. Debris from the make-believe crash was scattered in multiple locations throughout the area. The participants in the drill included FBI agents, airport security, multiple area police & fire departments and Stark Co ARES.

ARES responded to the Stark Co EMA office to activate our emergency response plan that included operators at the EOC and establish an emergency net in case additional operators would be needed.

Three members of the Stark ARES including Assistant EC Terry Russ, N8ATZ; Wade Huthmacher, WD8MIU and Don Wade, W8DEA activated our 2 meter station and established an emergency net on the 147.12 Repeater. Check-ins were taken on the repeater to solicit volunteers in case we were needed to support response and relief operations including establishing evacuation centers.

We were also requested to monitor county drill communications for any traffic to the EOC for Director Tim Warstler. ARES members have the responsibility to use county communications equipment to support all drill operations.

During the drill approximately 20 operators responded to our request for assistance. This was done via the county emergency repeater on 147.12 and the Massillon ARC 147.18 Repeater. The Alliance ARC also stood by with several operators.

The drill concluded at approximately 1:00 PM. Director Tim Warstler appreciated our assistance during this annual drill. Participation in these area drills provides us with important experience and the interaction with area support agencies that would be necessary in the event of an actual emergency. 

The EOC Operations Room converted to manage the Airport Drill. Multiple agency representatives coordinate drill operations.

Firefighters practice response operations at the Akron-Canton Airport drill.

MARC Assists With MS Walk
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

    (April 28, 2012) -- Saturday, April 28th marked the official opening of the 2012 public service season as members of the MARC again assisted with the annual Spring MS Walk in Massillon at the Massillon Recreation Center.

Sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society communications volunteers staffed rest stops and provided safety and support communications for this years event. Communications was also maintained between the transfer busses and the Recreation Center.

EComm 1, the clubs Emergency Communications Trailer was stationed at the Rec Center and provided Net Control operations for the Walk. A cold day did not deter the nearly 400 participants this year. Local MS Walk Coordinator Dick Kulick expressed his sincere appreciation to all of the amateur volunteers for their continued assistance year after year.  The overall event went very well with only a few needing transport back to the Recreation Center.

The following volunteers assisted with this years MS Walk. Terry Russ - N8ATZ, Jim Farriss - WA8GXM, Don Finley - W8DEF, Jeff Gortney - KC8CFM, Sam Swisher - N2TJX, Wade Huthmacher - WD8MIU, Mike Palmer - KD8ENV, Don Wade - W8DEA, Ted Armstrong - K8TWA, Dan Anastis - N8DZM and Russ McMahen - N8PII. Future ham Dan Fouts also provided support.  This event provided 44 Community Service Hours.

ARES Antenna Mount
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

(Apr 1, 2012) --- As amateurs involved in public service events, we are often called upon to setup communications in a number of unconventional places. In the last few years we have been asked to provide communications in everything from RV's to Rescue Squads to City Busses. The trouble with some of these vehicles is that the bodies are aluminum, not suited to amateur magnetic mount antennas. This forces us to use our hand held using only it's stubby antenna. This means limited range making reliable communications impossible.

After some research and discussion at ARES events and meetings throughout last year, a few ideas came to mind to overcome this problem. It's a simple antenna mount that is inexpensive and work well as a temporary antenna mount. Click Here for complete details including some pictures of the mount in action.

Canton Marathon
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

  (Mar 18, 2012) -- The Stark County ARES has been requested to provide safety and support communications for the first annual Canton Marathon which is scheduled for Sunday, June 17th, 2012. 

Multiple public safety agencies are currently planning for this large scale event and amateur radio operators are also working with event organizers to determine our participation which is expected to include staffing operators along the route, shadowing race officials, aid stations and SAG support. 

Please consider volunteering for this very important community event which will showcase amateur radio to the community. We hope to provide a minimum of 25 operators in support of this event.

Please contact Communication Coordinators Wade Huthmacher, WD8MIU by email to wd8miu@gmail.com phone (330) 704-2100 or Terry Russ, N8ATZ to truss@sssnet.com phone (330) 837-3091.

Additional information on the marathon is available by clicking here.

Skywarn Spotter Training
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

    UPDATED (Mar 17, 2012) -- Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Stark County unofficially started on Monday, March 12th as countless Amateur Radio operators and other Public Safety workers participated in our annual Skywarn Spotter Training Seminar.

Each year local amateurs involved in the Skywarn Spotter program provide countless hours of community service by providing severe weather spotter reports to the Cleveland National Weather Service (NWS). Thanks to this training, spotters provide actual visual confirmation to the potentially severe weather seen by the NWS. Forecasters depend on these reports to issue Watches and Warnings for our area. The reports are relayed via Amateur Radio directly to the Cleveland NWS forecast office.

Hosted again this year by Stark State College of  Technology and moderated by Tim Warstler,  Director of the Stark County Emergency Management Agency, the seminar was presented by Cleveland Weather Coordinating Meteorologist Gary Garnet, KC8TJI returning for his thirteenth consecutive season.

The training seminar which covers the science of severe weather teaches spotters to observe cloud formations and the signs that severe weather is approaching. The course also covers spotter safety and how to report weather to the NWS.  This years training included new material covering a recap of last years severe weather.  Our appreciation to local Skywarn coordinators Mike Lackney, KB8MIB, Michele Gill, KC8ZEJ and Mike Palmer, KD8ENV who assisted with the registration.

This years attendance was nearly 160, with nearly 40 first time guests who earned their Skywarn Spotter Certification. New spotters are issued spotter numbers which assist forecasters in locating the spotters precise location. As usual nearly 30% of the crowd was comprised of area amateur radio operators.  EMA Director Tim Warstler was also very pleased by the solid turnout and has  been well  aware of the local ham operators support to both the Skywarn program as well as his office. "My experience is that they are extremely talented and very professional radio operators who have been a valuable asset to this office."

Cleveland WCM Gary Garnet was also impressed by the turnout. "The amateurs of Stark County have always been strong supporters of the Severe Weather Spotter program, Stark County always rates as one of the largest groups for our Spotter Seminars."

Marvin Secrest of M & K Engraving was also in attendance again this year. Marvin is our exclusive supplier for Skywarn ID badges and was very busy throughout the seminar.

A brand new redesigned Weather Spotter's Field Guide released in June 2011 was handed out during the seminar that provides tips on severe weather spotting. If you didn't get a copy you can download a pdf version by clicking here. A more advanced color basic spotter's field guide is also available from the National Weather Service website. Click Here to download this 22 page pdf guide.   

If you missed training in Stark County, the following counties still are scheduled for the remainder of March. Summit on 3/19, Trumbull on 3/20, Mahoning on 3/21, Crawford PA on 3/22, Lucas on 3/24, Huron on 3/26, Erie PA on 3/27, Crawford OH on 3/28 and Marion on 3/29.  Additional information and training sites are posted on the Cleveland NWS website and is available by clicking here. 

Our thanks to all of the presenters and those who took time out of their busy lives to support this important training.

ARES Digital Workshop
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

  UPDATED  (Feb 29, 2012) --  Members of the Stark County ARES including Assistant EC Terry Russ, N8ATZ and Digital Coordinator Ralph Bugg, K8HSQ attended a FLDigi Workshop in Mansfield on Saturday, February 25th.

The workshop was sponsored by the Richland County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and EC Danny Bailey, KB8STK.

FLdigi is a computer program for Amateur Radio Digital Modes operation and is one of a new slate of multi-mode programs that support multiple operating protocols that are quickly finding their way into emergency communications on both HF and VHF. Another plus is that the program is available for either Microsoft of Linux operating systems.

The latest version of this free open source program was distributed to workshop attendees and included installation and setup on everyone's laptop.

One unique aspect of this software program is it's ability to automatically generate standardized message forms currently in use by both the amateur service and public safety forces that comply with the new FEMA Incident Command System.

Participants then practiced on-air demonstrations of several modes that would most likely be used for emergency communications.

A special thanks to Richland County ARES for sponsoring this workshop. Stark ARES may consider sponsoring a similar mini workshop for our own members interested in learning more about this messaging program.

Richland County ARES FLDigi Workshop Attendees

ARRL ARES E-Letter Posted
Terry Russ, N8ATZ - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

   (April 18, 2012) --  The  April 18, 2012 edition of The ARES E-Letter is currently posted and includes the following highlights;  FCC Seeks Public Comment on Emergency Communications by Amateur Radio and Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications; North Texas ARES/RACES Ops Respond to Tornados; ARRL EPM Mike Corey, KI1U; Put Your Emergency Operations Center on the Air; Amateur Radio in Tsunami Exercise: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands; California Emergency Preparedness Expo Showcases Amateur Radio EmComm , plus additional news.   You can read the entire newsletter on the ARRL website. Click Here for a direct link.

Iowa Hams Support Local Officials Before, After Tornado
Courtesy of the ARRL

(Apr 19, 2012)  --- On April 14, a string of tornados swept through the Central US and Great Lakes Region, including an EF2 tornado in Creston, Iowa, causing severe damage to the Greater Regional Medical Center and the Southwestern Community College campus. Prior to the tornado, radio amateurs in Creston reported storm observations directly to the National Weather Service. After the storm forced the evacuation of the hospital, hams provided communications support to local officials.  Read More....

North Texas Hams Respond When Tornados Strike
Courtesy of the ARRL

    (Apr 12, 2012) --  On April 3, 2012, perfect conditions conducive to tornado activity converged on North Texas. A slow moving front, combined with abnormally warm temperatures and moist air coming in from the south, produced large hail, numerous funnel clouds, and tornados. As the weather worsened, hams in North Texas activated ARES® and RACES nets. Spotters reported their observations to their local Emergency Operations Center, which acted on that information in a timely manner to inform the public of the approaching storms, giving them time to get to safety. A total of 21 confirmed tornados -- including one EF3 and two EF2 twisters -- swept through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex during the seven hour storm.  Read More...

Hams Provide Support Communications During and After Tornado Outbreak
Courtesy of the ARRL

   (Mar 14, 2012) --  A devastating storm system moved across the United States on March 2, spawning a slew of tornadoes that contributed to at least 28 fatalities in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. These tornadoes followed an earlier outbreak that began on February 28 and left 13 dead across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee and battered parts of Kentucky. The Clark County (Indiana) Emergency Management Agency activated the local RACES team to help provide communications support, hams in Eastern Kentucky set up SKYWARN nets to assist the local National Weather Service office and Cincinnati-area hams supported the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross.  Read More....

   Monitor the 147.12 Mhz Repeater for Severe Weather information here in Stark County !

Our thanks to Mercy Medical Center for their commitment to the Stark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and First Communications for their support of Stark County Winlink.

 
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The Stark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Canton,  Ohio  44701

ARES^®, Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the ARES logo are registered trademarks of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated and are used by permission.

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Welcome to the new Stark County ARES Website. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed Amateur Radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public interest when disaster strikes.

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