County of Orange RACES

The next OCRACES meeting is on Monday, June 2, 2008, at 7:30 PM, at 840 N. Eckhoff Street, Suite 104, in Orange. A briefing will be given to County and City RACES members on our support of the June 3rd Statewide Primary Election ballot transportation.

OCRACES/Tri-Cities RACES Assist Vision Quest

OCRACES participated in an ACS activation with Tri-Cities RACES and SOARA (South Orange Amateur Radio) members in the Vision Quest Mountain Bike Pow Wow 2008 on March 1, 2008, which began at the Black Star Canyon gate at 0530. The OCRACES emergency communications response vehicle served as a command post at O'Neill Park.

OCRACES Radio Officers Scott Byington, KC6MMF (left), and Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP (left photo) check programming of APRS tracking boxes for Vision Quest, while San Juan Capistrano RACES Radio Officer Joe Lopez, W6BGR (who was also the race communications director), operates net control from the OCRACES van (right photo)

OCRACES/Tri-Cities RACES in SONGS Siren Test

County of Orange RACES and members of the newly forming Tri-Cities RACES unit, assisted by members of South Orange Amateur Radio Association (SOARA) participated in the annual test of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) community alert sirens on Thursday, December 6, 2007. Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC, monitored the siren at Oglebay Norton Industrial Sands east of San Juan Capistrano, while Chief Radio Officer Ken Bourne, W6HK, and Radio Officer Joe Selikov, KB6EID, monitored sirens at two sites at the Northrop Grumman Capistrano Test Site east of San Clemente. They reported test results via one of the OCRACES UHF repeaters to Walter Kroy, KC6HAM, at the Orange County EOC RACES Room, who communicated with OCSD Emergency Communications Coordinator Marten Miller, KF6ZLQ, at the siren panel in Control One.

Tri-Cities RACES personnel and SOARA members monitored sirens in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Dana Point, and coordinated their activities via the SOARA repeater. Test results were sent to Dan Cleavenger at Southern California Edison's San Onofre Diagnostic Center.

OCRACES Has Holiday Dinner on December 3rd

Members of OCRACES (Harvey Packard, KM6BV, Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP, Jim Carter, WB6HAG, Walter Kroy, KC6HAM, Ken Bourne, W6HK, Ernest Fierheller, KG6LXT, Scott Byington, KC6MMF, Martin La Rocque, N6NTH, Bill Borg, KG6PEX, Randy Benicky, N6PRL, Ray Grimes, N8RG, Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC, Steve Sobodos, KN6UX, Jack Barth, AB6VC, and Nancee Graff, N6ZRB) and their spouses celebrated a year full of activities at the annual holiday dinner at Marie Callender's Restaurant on Katella Avenue in Orange on Monday, December 3, 2007. They were joined by OCSD/Communications Director Robert Stoffel, KD6DAQ, OCSD Emergency Communications Coordinator Marten Miller, KF6ZLQ (who arranged the dinner), Gary Gray, W6DOE (former OCSD/Communications Engineering Manager), Eric Christensen, K6EJC (HRO Burbank store manager and BEARS City Radio Officer), and Tom Woodard, KI6GOA (American Red Cross/Orange County Chapter Disaster & Client Services Specialist). In addition to several certificates presented by Marten to members who showed the most participation during the year, plaques were also awarded to the Member of the Year (Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC) and Officer of the Year (Ken Bourne, W6HK), as a result of member votes.

OCSD Emergency Communications Coordinator Marten Miller, KF6ZLQ (left) presents Member of the Year plaque to Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC (left photo), and Officer of the Year plaque to Chief Radio Officer Ken Bourne, W6HK

RACES Responds to EOC for Storm/Evacuations

At 1041 on Friday, November 30, 2007, OCRACES was activated by OCSD Communications Division Director Robert Stoffel, KD6DAQ, who handled net control on the 2-meter repeater until Steve Sobodos, KN6UX, arrived at the EOC RACES Room at 1125.. The EOC was at Level 2 activation, due to a storm and eventual mandatory evacuation of Modjeska and Williams Canyons due to mud slides in the burn areas. American Red Cross/Orange County Chapter Disaster & Client Services Specialist Tom Woodard, KI6GOA, informed OCRACES Chief Radio Officer Ken Bourne, W6HK, at 1103 that he was monitoring from the Red Cross EOC in Santa Ana. Red Cross officially activated at 1130. Ken arrived at the Orange County EOC at 1248 and worked on scheduling other OCRACES members for four-hour shifts. Next to arrive was Radio Officer Scott Byington, KC6MMF, followed by Radio Officer Harvey Packard, KM6BV, and then Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC, who worked until past midnight, when RACES assistance was no longer needed. The EOC was officially deactivated at 1030 Saturday morning, December 1st.

Another weather activation at the EOC was declared on Thursday, December 6, 2007, due to another storm and potential canyon evacuations. Ken Bourne, W6HK, arrived at the EOC RACES Room at 1455 (shortly after participating in the SONGS siren test–see article above), and was relieved at 1900 by Scott Byington, KC6MMF. Scott was relieved at 2300 by Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC. Chuck was relieved at 0300 on December 7th by Tony Sanchez, AE6QT, who was relieved at 0700 by Tom Tracey, KC6FIC. Tom worked until 1100, when RACES assistance was no longer required. The EOC officially deactivated at 1200.

During both activations, situation status bulletins were read from the EOC RACES Room on the OCRACES 2-meter repeater and on the OA1, OA2, and WEROC (Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County) VHF low-band frequencies.

OCRACES Goes on Fire Patrol

County of Orange RACES activated early Saturday morning, November 24, 2007, for Severe Fire Wearther Patrol duty, in response to a Red Flag Warning that had been issued by the National Weather Service. Two-man patrols operated in approximately 5½-hour shifts, covering four areas of Orange County. Net-control operators were ready to telephone reports to appropriate fire agencies, if plumes of smoke or suspicious activity had been spotted.

Morning patrols were conducted by the following two-man teams: Ernest Fierheller, KG6LXT, and Tom Tracey, KC6FIC, Area 1; Ken Bourne, W6HK, and Scott Byington, KC6MMF, Area 2; and Randy Benicky, N6PRL, and Steve Sobodos, KN6UX, Area 3. Morning net control was handled by Tom Stroud, N6FDZ, on 2 meters, and Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP, on 70 cm. Afternoon patrols were conducted by: Jack Barth, AB6VC, and Harvey Packard, KM6BV, Area 1; Ken Bourne, W6HK, and Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP, Area 2; Randy Benicky, N6PRL, and Tony Sanchez, AE6QT, Area 3; and Nancee Graff, N6ZRB, and John Roberts, W6JOR, Area 4. Afternoon net control on both repeaters was Tom Tracey, KC6FIC.

Fortunately, the wind was relatively calm and no fires were spotted. The patrol provided a good test of radio coverage throughout a large portion of Orange County.

118 Attend RACES Academy on November 17th

Gordon West, WB6NOA (right), American Red Cross/Orange County Chapter, demonstrates his HF mobile installation to Brad Wilson, N3BSW, of Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service, after Gordon taught his course at the RACES Academy

A great learning opportunity for all radio amateurs involved in emergency communications occurred on Saturday, November 17, 2007. On that day, from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, County of Orange RACES conducted an academy of courses in emergency communications technology and operations at the Sheriff's Training Facility in Orange. This academy was open to all radio amateurs involved in emergency communications, including RACES, ACS, ARES, SKYWARN, REACT, SATERN, etc. Total attendance (students and instructors) was 118. The 50-minute courses included:

0830-0920: Amateur Television (ATV)
0830-0920: Health and Safety Considerations for First Responders
0920-1020: Winlink
0920-1020: NIMS IS-200
1030-1130: Setting up a Communications Command Post
1030-1130: HF Mobile Operations and Installation (followed by Display of HF Mobiles During 1130-1300 Lunch Break)
1300-1350: High-Speed Multimedia (HSMM) using 2.4 GHz 802.11 routers
1300-1350: Power Systems
1400-1450: D-STAR Digital Voice and Data Protocol
1400-1450: Developing Networks to Support Agency Communications
1500-1550: VHF/UHF Mobile Installations
1500-1550: Mutual-Aid Deployment to Other Areas
1600-1700: DC Distribution
1600-1700: Orange County 800-MHz Trunked Radio System

Two courses ran simultaneously in two separate classrooms, allowing students to attend up to seven classes throughout the day, free of charge, and without the pressure of drills and tests. Attractive certificates will be mialed to instructors and to students who attended at least five of the classes.

County/City RACES Support Golden Guardian

County of Orange RACES, as well as several City RACES units, supported the Golden Guardian exercise on November 14, 2007. Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC, operated from the EOC RACES Room, and communicated with City RACES stations on 2 meters and 6 meters, and with EOCs and WEROC (Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County) on VHF low-band.

Golden Guardian 2007 was sponsored by the State of California Governor's Office of Homeland Security and the Anaheim/Santa Ana Super Urban Area (UA) Security Initiative. The focus was on security and response for mass-transit and mass-gathering events. The exercise simulated a multi-discipline, UA-wide response to a high-explosive terrorist attack.

RACES Responds to Santiago Fire

County of Orange RACES was activated on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at 1819 hours, and provided 24/7 coverage at the County/Operational Area EOC until 1800 hours on Sunday, October 28th. A total of 32 volunteers provided continuous monitoring of EOC, RACES, and public-safety radio systems at the EOC. Participants includes RACES members from Orange County, Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Laguna Niguel, Placentia, Los Alamitos, and Irvine.

The Orange County Fire Authority requested the assistance of RACES volunteers on October 23rd, asking for 24/7 staffing at the Incident Command Post. A total of 54 volunteers provided continuous support at the ICP until November 5th at 2200 hours. Participants included RACES members from Orange County, Brea, Anaheim, La Palma, Westminster, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, and Los Alamitos.

OCRACES Exhibits at OCFA Open House

Lt. Scott Byington, KC6MMF (left), and Lt. Harvey Packard, KM6BV, with OCRACES emergency communications response vehicle at OCFA Open House

OCRACES exhibited its emergency communications response vehicle at the Orange County Fire Authority Open House on Saturday, October 13, 2007, at OCFA's Regional Fire Operations and Training Center (RFOTC) in Irvine. Many families visited our display and learned about amateur radio and what RACES can do during an emergency. OCRACES members at the event included Chief Radio Officer Ken Bourne, W6HK, and Radio Officers Scott Byington, KC6MMF, and Harvey Packard, KM6BV.

City/County/State/MOU Units Hold ACS Drill

OCRACES Radio Officer Joe Selikov, KB6EID (left), operates on 2-meter repeater from EOC RACES Room during City/County/State/MOU ACS Drill, while Radio Officer Scott Byington, KC6MMF, checks Winlink system

Members of OCRACES and 17 City RACES and ACS units, plus San Clemente, one of three cities forming the new Tri-Cities RACES unit, plus State OES ACS, the Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS), American Red Cross/Orange County, Orange County SKYWARN, and REACT participated in the City/County/MOU ACS drill on Saturday morning, October 6, 2007. The drill began with a simulated weather alert from SKYWARN, triggering a simulated severe flood. This was followed by a simulated break in Prado Dam, putting much of Orange County under water. Message traffic was heavy, involving requests for and offers of resources.

Communicators Participate at VMAD

At the VMAD Field Communications Command Post (OCRACES emergency communications response vehicle) are (left to right) OCSD PSR and OCRACES Member Chuck Dolan, KG6UJC, Lt. Scott Byington, KC6MMF, Martin La Rocque, N6NTH, Lt. Harvey Packard, KM6BV, and OCSD Emergency Communications Coordinator Marten Miller, KF6ZLQ

Almost 70 radio amateurs from 21 ACS/RACES, ARES, and SKYWARN units participated in the Orange County California Citizen Corps Council (OCCCCC) Volunteer Mutual Aid Drill (VMAD) on Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, 2007. The County of Orange RACES emergency communications response vehicle was used as the Field Communications Command Post, feeding messages to the Incident Command Post (ICP) from communicators on scenario teams in "Laser Village" in the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Training Facility. Besides voice communications on VHF and UHF frequencies, we also had printed messages to the ICP and Logistics via Winlink, thanks to OCRACES Radio Officer Scott Byington, KC6MMF, and we fed live images via Amateur Television (ATV), thanks to OCRACES Assistant Radio Officer Jack Barth, Martin La Rocque, N6NTH, and Orange County Red Cross Members Gordon West, WB6NOA, and Ken Leake, KB6EVR. An alternate net control was set up in a communications trailer in the Display Area, belonging to OCRACES Radio Officer Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP.

Participating units included Brea RACES, Buena Park RACES, City of Orange Amateur Radio (COAR), Costa Mesa RACES (MESAC), Fountain Valley RACES, Fullerton RACES, Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS), Huntington Beach RACES, Irvine Disaster Emergency Communications (IDEC), Laguna Beach RACES, Laguna Niguel ACS, Mission Viejo RACES, Newport Beach RACES, County of Orange RACES, Laguna Niguel ACS, Los Alamitos RACES, Orange County SKYWARN, Placentia RACES American Red Cross/Orange County, Seal Beach RACES, and Westminster RACES.

RACES Wants You!

Experience the most exciting and rewarding part of amateur radio. Being a RACES member gives you the opportunity to sharpen your operating skills and technical knowledge while volunteering your services in public-safety communications. Get involved in emergency communications now. Click the Contact OCRACES link for more information.

Events Calendar

May 19: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Ray Grimes, N8RG
Pager: Harvey Packard, KM6BV

May 26: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Walter Kroy, KC6HAM
Pager: Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP

May 31: 7 AM-4 PM
OC Red Cross May Day Communications Training Event, Santa Ana

Jun. 2: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Martin La Rocque, N6NTH
Pager: Joe Selikov, KB6EID

Jun. 2: 7:30 PM
OCRACES Meeting, 840 N. Eckhoff St., Suite 104, Orange

Jun. 3: 8:00 PM
RACES Support of Statewide Primary Election ballot transportation

Jun. 9: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Harvey Packard, KM6BV
Pager: Jack Barth, AB6VC

Jun. 16: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: John Roberts, W6JOR
Pager: Ken Bourne, W6HK

Jun. 23: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Tony Sanchez, AE6QT
Pager: Scott Byington, KC6MMF

Jun. 28-29
Field Day, Craig Regional Park, Fullerton

Jun. 30: 7:00 PM
OCRACES ACS Net
2 m: Ralph Sbragia, W6CSP
Pager: Jim Carter, WB6HAG

Jul. 7: 7:30 PM
OCRACES Meeting, 840 N. Eckhoff St., Suite 104, Orange

Jul. 27: 5 PM-11 PM
OCRACES at OC Fair Ham Radio Booth

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Webmaster: Ken Bourne, W6HK, Chief Radio Officer, County of Orange (California) RACES
Last Update: May 5, 2008