Are you ready to respond to a local communications emergency? How about within your area, state or beyond? The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) -- an exercise that enables you and your local, District and Section leaders to test equipment, modes, operating skills and emergency deployment plans to see if everything is in place and ready for an actual emergency event -- is October 6-7, 2012. The SET is one of the premier events of the year that invites the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the National Traffic System (NTS), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN, members of the ARRL Field Organization and other groups to work in concert together to practice and prepare.

ARRL Field Organization Leaders at the Section and local levels -- along with many other volunteers who are active in public service and disaster preparedness communications -- are developing emergency-like scenarios in consultation with a variety of agencies for that rely on radio amateurs to provide service during emergencies. Make this the year that you decide to create a personal plan and to be ready and help if and when you’re needed. Taking part in an SET is one step toward doing just that. To find out how you can be a part of the local or Section-level SET and other related activities, contact your Section Manager (refer to page 16 in any issue of QST or click here).

The wider community is also encouraged to be involved in the SET by way of working relationships and agreements with community and public service agencies, giving everyone a chance to test and improve these cooperative agreements. The ARRL maintains national agreements and/or Memoranda of Understandings with several organizations, including the American Red Cross (ARC), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Salvation Army, Civil Air Patrol, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) and others. More information on these and other national served agencies and partners may be found here.

National Preparedness Month

ARRL is a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member. Held each September, National Preparedness Month (NPM) is a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The US Department of Homeland Security is working with a wide variety of organizations -- including the ARRL -- to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement through events and activities across the nation. We encourage you to consider this year’s Simulated Emergency Test and all preparations for it as a demonstration of Amateur Radio’s readiness and as an active participant in National Preparedness Month. Find more information on National Preparedness Month here.

SET on the Calendar

In consideration of local and Section-wide schedules with agencies and many others participants, ARRL Field Organization Leaders have the option of conducting their local or Section-wide Simulated Emergency Test on another weekend. Check with your local ARRL Field Organization leadership for the exact date in your area.

The Simulated Emergency Test guidelines and the 2012 SET reporting forms (including Emergency Coordinator Annual Report forms) are posted on the ARRL website. If you are the Emergency Coordinator, Net Manager or a Section Leader who is in charge of reporting this year’s SET activity on behalf of your group, please feel free to download the forms on the web page, fill them out as appropriate and return them to ARRL Headquarters as suggested on the forms. Thank you -- and good luck in the SET!