Blount Emergency Amateur Radio Service

It’s that time of year again—Spotter Training Classes from the National Weather Service (NWS) are in full swing! These classes are a great opportunity to sharpen your severe weather observation skills and become a certified storm spotter.

The first class of the season kicks off tonight at 6 PM in Jefferson County.

Currently, no classes are scheduled for Blount County. However, if you’re interested, there are plenty of opportunities to attend a session in one of the surrounding counties. Check out the full schedule on the NWS website: [Skywarn Spotter Training Classes](https://www.weather.gov/mrx/skywarn_classes).

Don’t miss this chance to enhance your knowledge and help keep your community safe during severe weather events. Stay safe and stay informed!

Dave, N9KMY, shared this article by Arc Thames, W4CPD, that discusses the ICS system,

Understanding the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) is crucial for volunteers in disaster response and emergency communications. ​ Many agencies require basic training before allowing volunteers to participate. ​ This training helps volunteers understand the ICS organization and work effectively within the established chain of command. ​ The article emphasizes the importance of training and provides a guide to the primary ICS courses required for volunteers. ​

Read the complete article at
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:56bcc2db-5a26-4dc9-be99-111d10008308

With great sadness report that Henry (Nick) Hanson passed away November 24.

His obituary with the details of services can be found at https://www.mccammonammonsclick.com/obituaries/henry-nicholas-hanson

His years of service for Blount Count ARES will be missed. He served as our Net Manager for the last 5 years. He frequently served as Net Control Station.

He also assisted with the trailer upgrade project with ideas and labor to complete some of the items. He was always a willing helper for our public service events.

Please continue to pray for his wife Carolyn and his family.

Volunteers needed for the 2025 Strawberry Plains Half Marathon

Date, Time, & Place: Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 8:00 am

Location: The Half Marathon & 10K run concurrently and start and finish at Rush Strong School (3081 W Old Andrew Johnson Hwy, Strawberry Plains, Tennessee 37871).

Directions: From Knoxville, take I-40 East and take Exit 394 (11E/25W/70). Turn left off the exit ramp and head east for 6 miles. Bear Left on Hwy 11E. Go 3.25 miles and turn left on Old Andrew Johnson Hwy. (Eastview Memorial Gardens will be on your right). Go 0.8 miles to the school.

If you wish to sign up send your
- Name
- Call Sign
- Email
- Phone number
- Desired Water Point

to
Lloyd Pitney [email protected]
KN4ZGB
865-740-0128

At the meeting last night, we were talking about adding an antenna to the trailer for packet work. Having two radios in close proximity on the same band can cause interference – this can be reduced by isolating the antennas.

Vertical separation of the antennas provides significantly more isolation than horizontal separation.

Attached is a one pager showing isolation expectation for various frequencies and distances, both horizontal and vertical. These numbers represent center to center separation of dipole antennas.

Review the numbers:
> 30’ vertical= horizontal distance ~400’. (54 dB)
> 20’ vertical = horizontal distance ~300’. (46 dB)
> 10’ vertical = horizontal distance ~50’. (35 dB)

How to read the charts? Go to the frequency and distances on the vertical separation to find the dB isolation. Now look at that same frequency and dB isolation to see the matching horizontal distance separation.

Dave, N9KMY

On October 17, join FEMA and millions of people worldwide in the annual [ShakeOut](https://www.shakeout.org/) earthquake drill. Designed to promote earthquake preparedness and safety, this international event takes place at 10:17 a.m. local time, allowing participants to practice the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique.

FEMA enters its 15th year supporting ShakeOut through its National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program partnership with the Statewide California Earthquake Center. Your participation in these drills increases earthquake resilience and reinforces a collective commitment to safeguarding our communities.

Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, it’s important to practice earthquake safety in different locations when possible. The general guidance for most situations is three key steps:

1. Drop to your hands and knees to prevent being knocked over.
2. Cover your head and neck to protect yourself from falling debris, and if available, take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture.
3. Hold On to your shelter until the shaking stops.

The ShakeOut drill is not only about practicing earthquake safety but also serves as a reminder to check and update [emergency plans](https://www.ready.gov/plan) and [emergency supply kits](https://www.ready.gov/kit). Register at https://www.ShakeOut.org/register and be sure to include your family, friends, and colleagues! You can also find out who else is participating in your community at https://ShakeOut.org/whoisparticipating.

In addition to registering, you can also text “ShakeOut” to 43362 to receive Great ShakeOut updates from FEMA. You will receive information on how to prepare for earthquakes and what actions to take during and after the shaking.

Earthquakes are an ever-present threat, and everyone has the responsibility to be well-prepared for the unexpected. With over 335 million people living and working in the United States, the potential devastation from a major earthquake cannot be understated. With millions of lives potentially affected by a major earthquake, knowing what to do before, during, and after such an event can make all the difference in survival and recovery. By participating in ShakeOut, individuals and organizations can ensure they are better prepared for an earthquake, potentially saving lives and reducing injuries when an earthquake occurs.

Visit the [National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program website](https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/earthquake) to learn more about earthquake risk.