Message Origination In a Disaster: BLACK SWAN Drill 2149A

Weekly radio messaging training over on the QTC Mailing List has some good training for amateur radio traffic handlers, showing the value and correct use of the radiogram in a disaster response. It's training event (drill) "2149," a flood of the Ohio River. Scenario A calls for use of the radiogram to message between an Incident Command Post on the scene and some kind of support element in Columbus.

The training assumes that the operator understands message precedence and other details that go into message origination.

So let's take a look at BLACK SWAN Drill 2149, Scenario A:

You are a volunteer ICS Radio Operator (RADO) at an Incident Command Post at the Ohio River at Portsmouth. The Communications Unit Leader (COML) instructs you to send the following as fast as possible:

From Byron O'Brien, Incident Commander, Training 2149 Portsmouth
To Planning Section, TF Training 2149, Columbus
PORO1 at 64.12 feet rising at 0.20 feet per second

Controller Instructions:

Use an amateur radiogram.
Use your station as the station of origin.
Use Portsmouth OH as the place of origin.
Use the time and date of when you enter the net to transmit the message
Use the word EXERCISE at the end of the message text
Direct your message to amateur station W8OMR
Transmit the message via BLACK SWAN Net on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday if possible. Relay by voice or NBEMS. If you cannot make BLACK SWAN Net send your radiogram by Winlink to station BLACKSWAN.

If you don't want to transmit the message or don't have any of those methods available, you can still originate the message and then have a look at how your work compares with other participants, and enjoy some helpful commentary on proper origination. See Exercise 2149 Scenario A Results and Discussion.