September 14, 2024 Exercise

by Andy Davis, KJ7JDN

Hello Eugene Emergency Communication (EmComm) Team,

I hope each of you have had an enjoyable summer with many fun activities with family and friends. As August is soon coming to a close we can see what is just around the corner in September and October. As many of you know in September we do an EmComm “Dry Run” exercise in preparation for the October city-wide EmComm exercise. This year’s “Dry Run” exercise will be held on September 14th starting at 10am and end at noon followed by a 1pm zoom debrief to discuss the process and flow of the “Dry Run” exercise. The yearly city-wide EmComm exercise will be held on October 19th starting at 10am and end atl noon with a follow up zoom debrief at 1pm. I hope all of you will be able to make both dates for these training exercises. It is important we keep our skill level up so we will be ready and prepared if a major event should hit our area in order to give the needed support to the city and our neighbors.
This year’s exercises will be different from past exercises and as you read the exercise scenario you will see the added “wrinkle” to the exercise. Below are some important points to remember.

  • The flow of emergency messages from the neighborhood field teams to the EOC is still the same.
  • Each team originating messages has a limit of 3 and that is due to the exercise time limit.
  • All generated messages will use the ICS-213 general message form.
  • All messages being passed will start with block 2, EOC and the communicator will say, “block 2” then “EOC”
  • Each remaining blocks of the ICS-213 will be identified and block information given all the way down to block 8.
  • Remember to speak slowly, 5 or 6 words at a time, pause wait until you hear reply of “copy” before moving on to the next block.
  • District Net Controls still set priority of each messages.
  • All incoming and outgoing radio messages will be logged on the 309 radio log.

With all that being said, I have attached blank ICS-213, 309 radio log, ICS Numbering Scheme and the Exercise Drill Plan.
The ICS Numbering Scheme is there for reference to those of you that have been using the message identifiers in your training or maybe your neighborhood or district have been thinking about incorporating the identifiers into your training or this year’s exercise.
I know each of you in your neighborhoods and district have been training and practicing ever since last year’s exercise. This September and October you will have a chance to put all the training to a test.
As a P.S. side note, you are welcome to participate on Oct. 3rd at the Eugene Fire Training Center from 6pm to 8pm an FRS radio exercise. The training center is located at 2nd & Chambers bring your FRS radio.
Remember to have fun; try to make the exercise in your neighborhood and district as realistic as possible. If anyone needs help with messages to send, call me or send an email.

Andy Davis
KJ7JDN – Amateur Radio
WRDE880 – GMRS
Eugene EMCOMM Net Manager
Northeast District CERT Leader