Heads up ETECS!
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We have an opportunity to show CISA (Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of Dept. of Homeland Security) that Texans will respond and can answer the bell on short notice.
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Why:?The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (Formally known as the Office of Emergency Communications) has recently created a Federal level Fusion center (not to be confused with Yaesu Fusion).? The mission of the Fusion Center is to staff a coordinating center to process requests for Amateur assistance, at a Federal level, during large-scale disasters.?It will bring together various Amateur organizations, including ARES/RACES, Civil Air Patrol, ARC,?Salvation Army, REACT, and the VOIP Hurricane Net. CISA will request the Fusion Center¡¯s activation.
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Texas is the first state to be asked to participate in an exercise with the new Fusion Center. The activity will occur on Saturday, November 20, from 12 Noon to 3 PM Central Standard Time.
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The exercise is open to all ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), RACES, and AUXCOMM operators.??All ETECS members are included in this exercise.
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What will happen:? At 12 Noon on Saturday the 20th?of November, an alert will come to the several amateur radio organizations to have all members send a simple Winlink message to a couple of addresses. The message you are asked to send will contain answers to a couple of questions. The Winlink message each operator will send can be done using?Telnet or by radio using any Winlink RMS. ?Notice of the exercise may come by email and it will be posted on various agency (RACES, NTX ARES, etc.) websites. The exercise will be over at 3PM.
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Purpose:? Test the ability to efficiently alert amateur radio operators involved in emergency communications from a central point should CISA or other federal agencies ask for assistance.
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Other Notes:???There is no ICS form to prepare or read.? Simply send one message to a couple of Winlink addresses.? Please cc: me at W5MCT in the Winlink message. Everyone should send the message with the answers to the simple questions per the instructions provided in the alert.? The Texas Exercise notice will go out to ETECS, RACES, ARES, Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol and Salvation Army groups that are involved in providing Emergency Communications.? Some people will get multiple alert messages but they all will originate from the same?Fusion?Center for Amateur Radio.??Only one response per operator is required.
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Even if you do not have packet capability, please install Winlink Express on your computer from??and register your callsign.? You can then use a ¡°Telnet Winlink¡± session to send your message via the internet.
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Texas is the first state to be asked to respond using the?Fusion?Center for Amateur Radio. Let¡¯s shoot for 100% response from our ETECS members.
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We will not receive any alert message before Noon on the 20th.? ETECS will distribute notice of the activation via groups.io email.? Our membership will have to be standing by to respond once the notice is sent out.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at W5MCT@....
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W5MCT