Blount Emergency Amateur Radio Service

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.

This past weekend, Blount County ARES was proud to assist with the annual Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash, one of our largest events of the year. This cycling event attracts participants from across the region to enjoy a scenic and challenging route through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

Our team of volunteers provided critical communications support to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the event. From marking the course on Wednesday to covering the entire race on Saturday, Blount County ARES was there every step of the way, dedicating a total of 102 volunteer hours.

The event organizers, including the team at Dancing Bear Lodge, were very complimentary of our service, specifically noting our professionalism, skills, and the importance of our role in ensuring a successful event. Our work involved monitoring the cyclists, ensuring timely communication between organizers and support vehicles, and being on standby for any potential emergencies along the course.

We extend our thanks to the organizers for trusting us with this responsibility and to our dedicated team of ARES volunteers who gave their time and expertise. Supporting events like this strengthens our community ties and enhances our readiness for emergency communications when needed most.

Thank you to everyone involved, and we look forward to next year’s Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash!

There are some photos from the event in the 2024 Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash gallery https://bcares.teamapp.com/clubs/465784/photos/1930052?_detail=v1

As National Preparedness Month (https://www.ready.gov/september) draws to a close, it’s an important reminder for all of us to take stock of our readiness in the face of emergencies. While there are countless suggestions on how to increase your preparedness—from stocking up on essentials to having an emergency communication plan—one key fact stands out: when “all else fails,” and ARES is needed, our ability to respond effectively depends on how well we are prepared in our personal lives.

Personal preparedness is the foundation for effective response. Whether responding to communication outages during natural disasters or providing vital support during emergencies, we cannot effectively help others if we’re not ready ourselves.

Environmental Challenges in the Months Ahead While Blount County may not face the direct impacts of hurricanes, we are not immune to the secondary effects. The heavy rainfall and storms that sweep through can lead to localized flooding and even tornados. Recent years have shown how quickly remnants of tropical storms can cause flash floods, endangering homes and infrastructure.

East Tennessee’s wildfire season is another factor to consider. The dry conditions during fall, combined with high winds, create a recipe for wildfires, which can spread quickly and lead to evacuations. While wildfires may seem more prevalent out west, we’ve seen how unpredictable fire behavior can threaten even our region.

As we move deeper into the year, winter weather brings its own set of challenges. Snow, ice, and frigid temperatures can result in hazardous travel conditions, power outages, and even risks from extended periods of arctic cold. Staying prepared for winter weather events by having alternative heat sources and backup power plans is crucial.

Be Ready, Stay Aware To be fully prepared, we encourage everyone to take steps now to ensure their personal readiness. Build your emergency kits, establish communication plans with family, and review your local emergency plans. Additionally, stay alert to weather patterns and potential environmental threats that may arise.

When ARES is activated, it’s often in response to these very events. Being prepared personally allows you to focus on providing essential communication services when our community needs them most.

Helpful Resources for Personal Preparedness To help you on your path to being prepared, here are some key online resources:

- Ready.gov: The official national preparedness website provides comprehensive guidance for preparing for all types of disasters, from building an emergency kit to making a plan. [Visit Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/september)

- FEMA’s Ready Tennessee App: Stay informed about severe weather and emergencies with real-time alerts and information. Download the app for iOS or Android. [Learn more about ReadyTN](https://www.tn.gov/tema/prepare/ready-tn.html)

- National Weather Service (NWS): Keep up with local weather alerts and forecasts to stay aware of potential hazards. [Check your local NWS forecasts](https://www.weather.gov)

- American Red Cross: From disaster preparedness checklists to emergency apps, the Red Cross offers helpful tools for personal and family preparedness. [Get Prepared with the Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html)

- CDC Preparedness Guide: Stay healthy during an emergency with the CDC’s guidance on emergency supplies, safety, and evacuation. [Explore the CDC’s emergency preparedness resources](https://www.cdc.gov/prepyourhealth/index.htm)

- Blount County Emergency Management: Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans, evacuation routes, and shelters. [Visit Blount County’s Emergency Management page](https://www.blounttn.org/226/Emergency-Management)

Conclusion Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and let’s ensure we’re ready to respond when the call comes. Take action now to secure your personal preparedness, so that when ARES is needed, we can stand strong as a community.