Welcome to Cupertino ARES/RACES
This site is operated by and for Cupertino Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CARES) members interested in emergency preparedness and amateur radio communication. Visitors are welcome to check us out.
What's News!
2017 ISA Exercise checks out several new processes
Posted by Jim KN6PE, 18 May 2017
We typically perform the Infrastructure Safety Assessment (ISA) about every other year. CARES uses these exercises as a chance to test new procedures and tools, and this year was no different.There were a few important changes for this mission that we wanted to check out, the first being a different ISA assignment process. Unlike past exercises where assignments were centrally made, we recognize the fact that our members are distributed throughout the city, and reducing the travel time to receive an assignment is important for our Served Agencies. Our new ISA Field Assignment process worked well.
The second big change was a test of our Alternate Response Plan equipment. In the event that our Public Safety Comm Vehicle is our of service, do we have the communications equipment in place to cover the response? With the city's help, a solution was defined, purchased, and deployed during the drill. The result was we were on the air from a non-standard location with solid communications with all field units. This new equipment capability can also support an ICP within the city whenever communications with the EOC or other field units is required.
The After Action Report is still in progress; watch for that to be posted for more details.
Emergency Response Go-Kits
Posted by Jim KN6PE, 3 Feb 2017
Go-Kits are the tools of the trade during all of our response activities. Yet, they are also a reflection of our personal style on how we respond to the field. The parts we assemble, how we store them, power them, and use them help ensure our success during a deployment.At our February General Meeting, we reviewed Emergency Response Go-Kits with the added twist of doing a deeper dive into some of the areas that needed more elaboration, specifically coax connectors and cower connectors. As usual, the resulting discussion did not disappoint!
Thanks to the members who participated in the show-and-tell, shared their experiences and kits, and what worked and didn't work for them. With this added input, we will definitely update to the presentation (will re-post later) to share with the membership.
See the Go-Kit presentation here, and watch for a re-post within a few days.
Earthquake Exercise tests CARES & CERT procedures
11 Dec 2016
This fall's CARES-sponsored exercise was designed to test a couple of new concepts related to both our communications capabilities as well as how we use the City's ARKs. Even with rain in the forecast (that started right after the drill debrief), 50 Cupertino Citizen Corps members (31 CARES, 29 CERT) turned out to participate in the exercise... a tremendous turnout!With 5 objectives set for the exercise, two in particular were watched closely. New ARK Activation Levels and ARK opening procedures were put to the test. Did they work? With all 6 ARKS opened and staffed for ARK Zone reporting and communications, the answer is a (conditional) YES! We received plenty of good feedback on the procedures and will hold the Citizen Corps final review in January.
Additionally, ARKnet was exercised with voice communications between the De Anza ARK and the EOC. Local ARK responders were able to communicate directly with the Citizen Corps DOC without issue.
All in all, we could not have asked for a better exercise or outcome. While there are plenty of things to work on, we see this drill as a win for Cupertino! Stay tuned for the After Action Report. More Details...
Citizen Corps completes the Zone 6 Assessment
Posted by Jim KN6PE, 29 Oct 2016
It looked like it was going to rain. But fortunately, the weather held up allowing the Cupertino Citizen Corps (CCC) to complete its Zone 6 Assessment Drill from the Hyde Middle School ARK.With 25 CERT and 15 CARES members participating, CCC deployed 10 teams of 2 or 3 responders into the neighborhoods to simulate identifying, collecting, and reporting on injuries and damage that could have occurred from an earthquake that was simulated to occur the night before.
We set up a local Net Control Station to manage communications with all field teams... all accounted for at all times! We also maintained voice and packet communications with the EOC, sending ARK status messages and receiving PIO notices for local posting.
This was a terrific drill where CERT and CARES tried some new things, we learned a lot, and have plenty to work on in anticipation for a real activation. Thanks to all for your participation.
Upcoming Activities
5 Dec 2024, General Meeting
Topic Year End Review, St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00
2 Jan 2025, General Meeting
Incident Action Plan, Loc: TBD, 19:30 to 21:00