The Alabama Section Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 between 0900 and 1400 Central.
District B encompasses the following counties: Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Pike. See attached district map for reference.
To prepare for this event, each EC should reach out to a representative of each of the volunteer fire departments and each of the rescue squads in their county now to explain the simulated emergency test in which we are conducting statewide and how they can help. If they are on board with helping, explain that on the day of the SET (October 25, 2025), you will reach out to each of them to ascertain information that will be sent in on the ICS form. This information will include how many operational vehicles, how many non operational vehicles, whether or not they have emergency power, and if they are available to respond.
Ensure the owners of any local repeaters you plan to use are good with the use of their repeaters during the SET. I will primarily be on KR4FUB (which is also tied to EchoLink) and I will also be monitoring WinLink.
On the day of the event: ARES members will make contact with each of the representatives to ascertain the information for the ICS form and submit this to the EC (if no EC, submit this directly to the DEC via WINLINK). The EC will send this information to the DEC (K9ADE) via WINLINK, and this information will be forwarded up.
The following is the SET scenario:
A Category 5 Hurricane has entered Mobile Bay. Its predicted path will take a northeasterly track across Alabama. The effects of this storm will vary from its initial entry into the lower third of Alabama as it crosses from Mobile Bay (District A) to a more northeasterly track. Districts B, C, D, E, F, and G will experience wide ranging Hurricane effects such as high winds, possible tornadoes, downed trees, and loss of power as the remnants of this hurricane move through northeast Alabama.
Districts A and C are directly in the path of this large hurricane. District A will have sustained winds of 120mph at landfall. Prior to landfall, this Hurricane will reach a Category-5 with winds near 160mph. District A and C will have widespread power outages, flooding, road blockages from downed trees and power lines, and many destroyed homes and structures. Bridges over bays and canals will likely have heavy surf and surge damage making them unusable. Many residents will not be able to travel to shelters if they did not arrive before Hurricane landfall.
Expect nearly a complete loss of power in both Districts A and C. Potable water may well be an issue to resident as salt-water moves several miles inland into fresh water reservoirs. Generator safety protocols should be reviewed to eliminate any chance of back-feeding through the power company lines due to improper connection to the house wiring, thereby posing a great risk to power line personnel as well as a risk of fire.
Interstate 65 will be closed to southbound-traffic as all interstate lanes will be used for northbound evacuation during this emergency.
Districts B and D will be vulnerable to extensive flooding, blocked roads, high winds capable structural damage, road closures with downed trees, and power lines by this Hurricane. Winds at this point have fallen to 70-80mph but the risk of tornadoes will be significant within Districts C and D to the east as well as Districts G and E to the west. Localized heavy flooding is likely to occur. Expect loss of power due to hurricane force winds bringing down trees into contact with houses, power lines, and blocking roads.
Districts E, F, and G will experience high winds and torrential rain as the Hurricane has moved 250 miles inland to northern Alabama. While the winds have dropped to under 80mph, the risk of spin-up tornadoes remains high as well as localized flooding due to sustained rains from this large hurricane.
Downed trees and power lines resulting in widespread power outages and road blockages are possible. Residents seeking storm shelters should be in place before hurricane force winds arrive that may result in roads blocked by fallen trees, power lines, and bridges closed by authorities.
Frequencies/Modes of Operation by ARES / Alabama AuxComm.
1. Local 2m/70cm analog and digital (D-STAR, DMR) repeaters are encouraged to be used if available due to familiarity with local repeaters. HF on the Alabama ARES should use the 3965khz or the back up of 7243khz as band conditions allow.
2. WINLINK should be used to send reports either by locally available WINLINK Nodes (see map below) or by HF WINLINK PMBOs. WINLINK has the capacity to use ICS-213 forms. This ICS form is used in communications with served agencies and between amateur radio Operators during the Simulated Emergency Test.
Networked Repeaters and Links Used by Alabama ARES/AuxComm
● D-STAR: REF58B
● DMR: AL LINK on Amcomm Server 31010
● WINLINK NODES via RF or by internet connection. Winlink
Supports ICS-213 message forms and other ICS forms.
● Conduct a local area simplex net on 2m/70cm band with a net log
NIFOG Page 105: 2m Frequency: 146.520 or 70cm: 446.000mhz
Winning Strategies: MAXIMIZE YOUR POINTS VIA THE FORMS!
EXAMPLE: Five Amateur Operators: Small Group Amateur Set Effort
73
Kevin Turley, K9ADE
