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!
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.
Packet Party Time!
Posted by Jim KN6PE, 17 Sep 2016
What's more fun than pond full of ducks? How about no pond, no ducks, but a Packet Party in the Park! CARES hosted a hands-on packet session today to give our members a chance to get more up close and personal with packet operations.This idea came from one of the recommendations from our Comm Outage Exercise held back in May where packet was the main player for passing 9-1-1 messages (see the story further down in this list). Eleven CARES members came out with their own kits, or borrowed some of ours. We operated off the grid using newly created battery paks as well as one generator. With exercises in hand, everyone had plenty of time work packet!
Watch for more hands-on packet sessions planned for later this year!
Cupertino Hazards and Risks Update
1 Sep 2016
During the September General meeting, we took time out to review the various hazards that we face within the City, as well as what CARES, and Citizen Corps, has done to prepare for them.The top city hazards include dam failure, earthquakes, power failure, terrorism/WMD, and wildland fires. Cupertino Citizen Corps has had some type of exercise in almost all of these areas to test our readiness and refine our response.
To this end, there are exercises planned for later this year -- in October, Cupertino Citizen Corps will take the lead on testing our ARK Zone Safety Assessment process. In December, CARES will use an earthquake scenario where we will open all City ARKs for a Zone Reporting/Communications exercise. See the calendar for events leading up to both drills. More Details...
Upcoming Activities
4 Jul 2025, July 4 Fireworks Event
Provide communication to/from 3 viewing venues to net control at Incident Command Post More Details...
4 Sep 2025, General Meeting
Topic: TBD; St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00
2 Oct 2025, General Meeting
Topic: TBD; St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00
6 Nov 2025, General Meeting
Topic: TBD; St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00
4 Dec 2025, General Meeting
Year-End Review; St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00