Fri – Sun, August 11th-13th!

T-REX 2017 HEADLINE NEWS!

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO TEOTWAWKI READINESS EXERCISE 2017!

WHAT IS T-REX?

It is a nationwide scenario-based disaster preparedness exercise where we simulate that a catastrophic event has caused disruptions and/or failures in conventional services, such as the Power grid, Internet, Telecommunications, Transportation, etc.

It is a chance for you, your family, your group or team, or your organization to practice your emergency preparedness plan, and respond as though it were real.

Most importantly, it is an emergency communications exercise, where AmRRON operators across the country and elsewhere practice tuning in and listening for information and developments, reporting what’s happening in their area, and helping others get radio traffic passed across the network using unconventional communications — mostly Amateur Radio and the most popular digital modes.

 

WHAT IS THE SCENARIO FOR 2017?

This year we will be simulating a major seismic event, which will actually be TWO catastrophic earthquakes in different parts of the country, three hours apart.

At Noon Pacific time (1900hrs Zulu) the first, 9.1 earthquake strikes off the Pacific coast, followed by a devastating tsunami.  This is known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone.  Scientists claim we are overdue for a major event on the CSZ and that it is only a matter of when, not if. Power, internet, and telecommunications are lost to the western United States.

At 1700hrs – 5pm – (2200hrs Zulu) the second, 9.2 earthquake strikes in the New Madrid Subduction Zone in eastern Missouri. Power, internet, and telecommunications are lost to the remainder of the United States and two thirds of Canada.

 

WHAT DO YOU DO? 

Plunge yourself into darkness:

Depending on where you are located, turn your cell phone, internet, electricity, etc. off at the time the earthquake occurs (west of Mississippi River = Noon Pacific -or- east of the Mississippi = 5pm Central) aka. 1900Z and 2200z respectively.  Most of us have freezers, etc. that we can’t turn off.  That’s fine, just don’t use lights, internet, or traditional cooking appliances.  Get that dutch oven out, the Coleman lantern, and those two-way radios.

Tune in:

You need to know what’s going on.  What is the size and scope the the event?  Where is the damage concentrated?  What secondary safety hazards have been produced from the disaster?  What escape routes are available or closed?  Where and when is relief coming?  How can I check on my loved ones hundreds of miles away?

Heavy emphasis is placed on emergency communications.  Get out your radio and your AmRRON SOI (Signals Operating Instructions) and tune in to the AmRRON Nets.

Stay Informed:

With your SOI open and your radio tuned in, you’re almost ready to begin receiving information.  However, due to poor band conditions produced by the solar cycle we’re in (and will be for years) most information will be sent using the more robust and reliable digital modes.  The software is free to download and there are several articles that will walk you through, step-by-step, how to receive digital mode (text and forms) communications, such as , etc, all available at the AmRRON FORMS page.

Inform Others:

Net Control operators will be expecting everyone to send in County STATREPs (Status Reports).  This helps others with their situational awareness about the size and scope of the disaster when they learn how others in the network are affected.  The STATREP includes valuable information such as: Location, time, siesmic damage, and possibly radioactivity if the reporting station has radiological reporting capabilities.

You need to let others know if you have power, water, communications, medical services, etc., and whether the roads are passable, and the extent of damages to each of those services.  The County STATREP is a fundamentally important report that you should have in your comms binder as well as your digital comms flmsg custom forms folder in your NBEMS folder.

It is also available as a downloadable, printable PDF that you can use to give a STATREP over the air using voice modes.

WHAT TO REPORT:

Since this is an earthquake scenario, you will use the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale reporting standard, which is used to report the effects (felt and observed) and damage from an earthquake, or even a major explosion.

That is the information you will also place in Line 8 of the County STATREP before sending in your report.

You will also simulate that your basic services have been disrupted, and reflect that in the utilities and services portion of the STATREP.

 

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MERCALLI SCORE TO REPORT IN MY STATREP?

Excellent question!  We have the answer!

If you live in the central or eastern US, use the map below to determine what affect were (will be) felt at your location.  Use that to determine what Intensity Scale to report.  CLOSE COUNTS. Don’t stress out over it if you’re on a line:

The west coast is a bit more complicated, as the Subduction Zone extends hundreds of miles and all of it can (and likely will) break free at once.  So, look at the map below and use the scale created below the map:

Using the coast as your beginning point, determine how far you are from the Cascadia Subduction Zone (you know where you live and how close you are from the CSZ than we do).  Use the chart below to determine what intensity scale to report.

Miles      Intensity

*10         11

10-25       10

25-50        9

50-75        8

75-100      7

100-150   6

150-200   5

200-250   4

250-350   3

350-400   2

400-500   1

500+      0