On 3 October 2020, R1D5 was activated via Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer, a system managed by Colorado Department of Health and Environment, and the SET scenario was structured as follows:
“Foreign hackers have successfully hacked into Colorado’s power grid shutting down power across the entire Front Range region. The power grid shutdown leaves most of the Front Range without power and Internet service. There are amateur repeaters running on backup power along the Front Range mountains, but because the outage duration is unknown hams are directed to stay off permanent repeaters except for emergency traffic. Public safety radio communications have also been impacted by the power outages and ARESDEC has been asked to be prepared to pass traffic for Douglas and Elbert Counties EOCs as a backup to public safety radio systems.”
We staffed the Elbert EOC and used our trailer as a pseudo Douglas EOC. We provided backup communications from the Parker Adventist and Sky Ridge hospitals via the pre-existing radio communications rooms. Other members operated from home or deployed to locations where they operated on battery power.
All participants gave actual (not made up) sitreps for their locations. All Reports were made via Winlink using form ICS-213, although the ability existed to make them verbally. Activity logs were sent on an ICS- 214 using Winlink’s built in form. Many ARESDEC members have abilities to use Winlink, VARA FM and VARA HF. We used both VHF/UHF (repeater and simplex) and HF channels of communication. These abilities were all brought to bear during the exercise. As this was an exercise, and knowing every radio communication can be heard by the public, all verbal communication was preceded and ended with the phrase “This is an exercise.”
Twenty-four ARESDEC members participated in the annual SET and successfully exercised our ability to operate radio communications using alternate power and adapt to a changing communications environment. Situation reports sent by Winlink were received, consolidated, and reports via Winklink were sent to a simulated Colorado state EOC and to the ARES North Central Region Emergency Coordinator. Much was accomplished during the annual SET and we had fun while doing it.
Pictured above, right, Hal Jennings (KE0KFB) and Brad Tombaugh (W0BDT) operating at Parker Adventist Hospital during the 2020 SET. Parker has two radios, programmed and ready to be used on location, with emergency power sockets and antennae connections.
ARESDEC PIO, pio@aresdec.org