Hall County ARES :: Gainesville Georgia

Ham Cram - This Saturday!

2012-05-09T01:08:08Z

It's that time again! Hall County ARES and the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club are teaming up to sponsor another Ham Cram. Here are the details from the Tri-County ARC website:

The Tri-County Amateur Radio Club and Hall County ARES announce a joint 6 hour Ham Cram class for Technician and General amateur radio licensing.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Where: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), 1234 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA

Schedule: Registration begins at 8am. Class runs from 8:30am to 2:00pm. Includes a 30 minute lunch break

Testing: Testing for "walk-ins" will begin at 1:30pm. Testing for students of the Ham Cram will begin at 2:00pm

Details:

Pizza take-out orders will be collected and paid for if desired in order to stay on schedule.

Test registration requires $10.00 cash and a valid driver’s license.

General and Extra testing require that you present you last ARRL/FCC license.

Riverside Drive is on the northeast side of Gainesville off old US129 just north of Longstreet’s Restaurant. Riverside Military Academy and the VFW are also on Riverside Drive.

Upon registration, you will be sent a formal email with a study guide and other study materials enclosed.

Bob Scott - Silent Key

2012-02-23T16:14:16Z

It is with great sorrow that Hall County ARES announces the passing of Bob Scott of Flowery Branch. Bob was a long time member of ARES and devoted Family man. Visitation and funeral information follows below.

Mr. Robert Allen Scott, age 80, of Flowery Branch, passed away February 20, 2012 at home surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 25, 2012 from the Chapel of Memorial Park South Funeral Home with interment following at Memorial Park South Cemetery. The Rev. Bruce Shortell will officiate. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, February 24, 2012 at Memorial Park South Funeral Home.

Mr. Scott was born August 31, 1931 to the late Robert William & Ida Margaret Scott of Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha National Fraternity. Mr. Scott entered the United States Army in January of 1953 serving in the Korean War and earning the National Defense Service Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal. He was a resident of Hall County for the past 21 years and was retired from Citizens and Southern National Bank where he served as Loan Officer & Branch Manager.

Mr. Scott attended Bulloch Chapel at University Yacht Club and was a member of University Yacht Club, along with The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Lions International, Lanierland Amateur Radio Club and The American Red Cross Northeast Georgia Chapter, Disaster Services.

Survivors include: wife of 57 years, Anne Scott; daughters & sons-in-law, Lynn & Richard Gable of Conyers and Dea & Kirk Weller of Claremore, OK; daughter, Susan Scott of Cumming; 6 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Eagle Ranch, P.O. Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, GA 30502 or American Red Cross, Northeast Georgia Chapter, 675 White Sulphur Road, Suite 230, Gainesville, GA 30501

Obituary courtesy of Access North Georgia

ARES Help Desk

2012-02-16T16:40:36Z

We have created an ARES help desk to assist our members with questions they may have regarding ARES, Amateur Radio or with the Web site. This system provides a way for you to track your question from the time you submit a request for help as it is assigned to various staff members who can best provide a solution. As this system is used it will help us generate a FAQ section to assist other users not only in Hall County ARES but users abroad. Feel free to give it a try it is located Here

Ready Georgia

2012-02-16T16:31:32Z

To make emergency preparation more accessible, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA) and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) have partnered to create the Ready Georgia mobile app. The free app, available for both iPhone and Android devices, supports Ready Georgia’s mission to encourage residents to prepare, plan and stay informed for emergencies. From up-to-the-minute weather and hazard alerts based on a user’s location, to customizable emergency preparedness checklists, the app combines a robust set of features not previously available in one mobile application.

“Preparation is key to surviving disasters, and the Ready Georgia mobile app makes it easier than ever for Georgians to get prepared, just in time for National Preparedness Month, which runs through September,” said GEMA Director Charley English. “If you’re shopping for emergency supplies, you have a checklist in your pocket. If you see storm clouds, you can check weather alerts. You can even pull up a local map to see if a shelter has been opened in your community.”

Before an emergency, users will be able to create customizable checklists of emergency supplies, make disaster plans for their families and check flood risk levels and historic tornado data near their location. During an emergency, the app will deliver severe weather alerts, show the locations of open Red Cross shelters and provide information on what to do during different types of disasters.

In addition to localized severe weather alerts, users will also receive alerts from GEMA and DPH in the event of other emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, infectious diseases or biological threats.

“Diseases spread fast and the need to reach people in real time with life-saving information is more important than ever,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., Commissioner of DPH. “The Ready Georgia mobile app gives us the ability to instantly deliver potentially life-saving information to almost anyone with a smartphone.”

Despite all the extreme weather in 2011, a majority of Georgians are still not fully prepared for an emergency, according to a recent study from GEMA. According to the GEMA survey, 53 percent of households aware of Ready Georgia are more prepared to survive a disaster than those who are unaware of the campaign. With the number of smartphone users expected to grow 55 percent in 2011, the mobile app offers an opportunity to engage a large number of residents in a new way.

Residents can also visit the Ready Georgia website, www.ready.ga.gov, to learn how to prepare for emergencies.

To get more information on the mobile app visit this link.

Article from the Ready Georgia website.

Tropical Storm Lee Update

2011-09-03T20:58:27Z

With Tropical Storm Lee sitting in the Gulf poised to bring rainfall to a much needed area I thought it might be a good idea to pass along some information regarding this weather event. There was a impact briefing on Lee which can be found here. This is a very informative briefing and that I recommend everyone to take a look at. As you can see from the map the expectation for rain looks to be great over the next few days. Stay tuned to local media outlets, Hall County ARES repeaters and of course the ARES website for more information as it becomes available.

9 August 2011 ARES Meeting

2011-08-09T17:22:30Z

At our August meeting we are going to have a very special speaker. All parties interested in emergency response whether they are radio communicators or not are invited and encouraged to come. Dr. Wentworth is a wealth of knowlege in emergency preparedness. See below for his credintials.

Name and Affiliation:
Robert W. Wentworth, Ph.D., Emergency Preparedness Manager
Institute for Health Management and Mass Destruction Defense, College of Public Health, University of Georgia

Dr. Wentworth joined the University in 1999 to coordinate the laboratory, radiation, and hazardous materials safety functions, including preventing, preparing for and responding to releases of hazardous materials to the environment. Dr. Wentworth brings more than 20 years experience in the classroom and training environment, having personally trained hundreds of University and community partners in emergency preparedness, hazardous materials management, and managerial leadership.

Education 1998 Ph.D., Environmental Toxicology, University of Georgia
1984 B.S., Agricultural Biology, Univ. of Georgia College of Agriculture; cum laude
Professional Experience:

Aug. 2002 - ____: University of Georgia Office of Human Resources: Personally trained hundreds of employees in emergency preparedness, CPR, response to chemical emergencies, etc. Developed work/life balance and wellness materials and programs; provided consultations for employee queries regarding workers compensation, insurance, and related benefits. Conducted or prepared materials for professional seminars in succession management, workforce development, and response to hazardous materials exposures. July 1999 – Aug. 2002: University of Georgia Environmental Safety Division: Directed twenty staff in emergency operations, laboratory safety, radiation safety, disposal of hazardous materials, etc. Developed and directed safety training including live classes and online courses. Developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) for emergency planning and response for UGA main campus. Conducted or coordinated training and symposia for staff, faculty, and the public. Developed and coordinated distribution of information to the University community, regulatory agencies, and the media. Nov. 1998 – July 1999: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Vaccine Safety Program. Coordinated data analysis for projects involving medical staff, Ph.D. researchers, statisticians, and field staff. Sept. 1998 – Nov. 1998: University of Georgia Interdepartmental Program in Toxicology. Graduate Research Assistant. Conducted research on hazardous material releases, health effects, and response to such releases. Sept. 1997 – Aug. 1998: United States Environmental Protection Agency Graduate Fellow, with UGA Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology. Evaluated EPA’s EnviroFacts data system, including customer surveys; developed recommendations for improvements. Sept. 1994 – Aug. 1997: University of Georgia. Graduate student; National Defense Science and Engineering Fellow and University-wide Graduate Research Fellow. Conducted research related to radioactive and chemical releases to the environment.

Appointments

2008 Georgia Department of Human Resources Region Two Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases Planning Board. 2005 Northeast Georgia Health District Planning Team 2001 UGA Bioterrorism Conference Planning Committee. 2001-2002. 2000 UGA Bio/Chemical Emergency Preparedness Task Force. 2000-2002. 2000 UGA Student Affairs Crisis Response Team. 2000-2002. 1999 UGA Radiation Safety Committee. 1999-2002. 1999 UGA Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee. 1999-2002. 1990 UGA Reaffirmation and Accreditation Committee: Student Services Committee

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Tornado Drill Information

2011-06-15T15:41:34Z

After last nights meeting I have taken the information that was gathered about location coverage and made a topic in the forums that is dedicated to the tornado drill. This post has the locations and the current operators that have signed up to cover. If you are unable to cover your location for any reason during one of the four scheduled events then post something in this forum so we can find a replacement. At the bottom of the post is an attachment that displays the various siren locations. The forum post can be found here. If you have any questions please use the contact us portion of the website and we will respond to your question as soon as possible.

18 May 2010 Tornado Siren Test

2011-05-12T15:52:12Z

On 18 May, 2011 at 10:00 hours there will be a test of the Hall County tornado sirens. We need volunteers to physically go out to each site and report whether or not the sirens function properly. We need to cover all of these slots if possible. It is first come, first serve for dibs on particular locations. We already have a few slots covered so check the online discussion boards for additional information. I will be operating as net control from the Hall County EMA unless another of our EMA response team members would like that job and then I will fill a tower slot. Email the E.C. or post to our discussion group on the website to confirm your slot.

Update: The sign up list in the forum has been updated please take a look and verify your position. If you have not signed up yet now is the time to do it. This event will only take about 10 minutes of your time but could be the difference between life or death to the families of that community.

Here is the link to the thread:Tornado siren thread

Boulderdash 5K

2011-04-18T16:09:34Z

Hall County ARES was contacted and asked if we would like to set up at Boulderdash this year and explain to the community what we do. First I would like to give you a little insight as to what Boulder dash is. This is an exerpt from their website

"The Healthcare Association of Forsyth County (HCA) is a business unit of the Cumming Forsyth Chamber of Commerce. One of the fastest-growing and influential industry sectors in Forsyth County is the healthcare industry. The association is a collective voice for current healthcare issues affecting Forsyth County and provides a conduit for information and resource to ensure the highest quality of healthcare to meet the needs of those living and working in our community.

The HCA and Lafarge teamed up with the Forsyth County parks and Recreation Department to emphasize the Association's Envision a Fit Forsyth program on community health and wellness. Proceeds from the Boulder Dash 5K go directly to the Parks and Recreation Department to create an Envision a Fit Forsyth fitness program within the Big Creek Greenway."

This event is in it's second year and had in excess of 1,200 participants for the 5k Run/Walk. After being contacted for the event Forsyth ARES was contacted so they could participate in conjunction with Hall ARES in an effort to become more familiar with neighboring ARES groups. While each county has it's own group we still fall under the ARRL umbrella with ARES. We arrived at 7:30 am with the Emergency Communications Mobile Command unit and was promptly met and directed to our location. In about 20 minutes we were set up and ready to communicate on HF and VHF should the need arise.

Tony (KF4WUI) and Myself Bob (N4YT) made the journey to the Lafarge Quarry for the event in the rain and wind, luckily for us the rain quit but the wind was a factor all day. The event was a huge success with the attendance in excess of 2,000 people. We met many nice people that day and spread the word about ARES and Amateur Radio.

12 April 2011 Meeting

2011-04-12T14:12:02Z

The 12 April 2011 Hall County ARES meeting venue will be at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center at 7:00 pm. We will meet at the South Entrance which is the door to the right of the Emergency Room entrance when facing the hospital. We will rally at this entrance and then at 7:00 pm sharp we will be escorted to the hospitals Emergency Operations Center for our meeting.

We will be discussing our mission of supporting the hospital and also tour our new radio facility. We ask that all of our attendees try to be prompt. If you are late, you can call seven 70-five33-two8zero1 and we will send someone to escort you to the meeting but please try to be prompt. This should be a fun and informative meeting. We hope that all of our members will be able to attend.