After Action Report
04/24/04, District 15

Submitted by:

Bill Ewing
WA0KAQ
E-mail:
District 15

1. Date of activity:
   • Saturday, April 24, 2004

2. Description of activity
   • The annual March of Dimes Walk America event was designed as a fund-raiser for the organization. It provoked a tactical exercise to test our members' operating skills and equipment during the first public service event of the season.

     The event was initiated with a member check-in and Emergency Response Kit check at 0800 MDT at the Recreation Department in Canon City. Personnel began staging at their assigned positions at 0830.

     The planned walk route was along the Arkansas Riverwalk in Canon City, with walkers trekking up to 5 miles. A spring storm dumped up to 12" of snow in Canon City during the two preceding days, however, bringing down many branches, and only a one-mile stretch of the trail was cleared. This cut the walk to a maximum of two miles. ARES members were stationed with handheld radios at the starting point and various locations along the route. Fifty walkers signed up, and a total of 60 walkers were counted on the trail.

     Communications were through the Royal Gorge Amateur Radio Club's portable repeater on 146.835 set up by NC0A and KA0SKK at a non-participating member's home. 147.550 used as a back-up simplex frequency in the event of repeater failure.

     Following a sweep of the route by members, the event was terminated at 1030. A sign-out and debriefing followed.

3. Duration of activity
   • 1.5 hours

4. Serving amateur radio groups participating
   • ARES D-15, Fremont and Custer Counties

5. Served agencies participating
   • None

6. Describe served agency participation
   • None

7. Number of amateurs participating
   • 6

8. List of amateurs participating
   • Bill Ewing (EC) WA0KAQ
   • Don Fuhs (RACES Liaison) KE0CQ
   • Chuck Ward (Fremont Co. AEC) NC0A
   • Marvin Pratt (Resource Personnel) KA0SKK
   • Carlos Neuben (Member) KA0MAK
   • Derrick Houska (Member) N0TQ

9. Person-hours of amateur service
   • 20

10. Describe goals of activity, both for served agency and serving group
    • Provide the Fremont County March of Dimes organization with communications to aid walkers needing police or medical assistance along the walk route.

      Provide training for a new person in NCS operation in a relatively small event without pressure.

      Train new personnel who have not participated in tactical exercises.

      Validate that the portable VHF repeater remains ready for disaster communications as well as for Public Service events.

      Determine whether pre-designated staging areas along the route are able to serve their intended purpose when used with the portable repeater at a new location this year.

      Determine whether VHF simplex communication is feasible by handheld radio from one end of the route to the other.

      Check members' preparedness by inspecting their Emergency Response Kits.

11. Did the event fulfill the goals?
    • Some.

    • Due to the winter storm which dumped up to 30" of snow in Custer County and cut power for up to 36 hours, the new members from that area were unable to participate. This kept us from training new members in tactical nets as well as a first-time NCS. Only a 1-mile trail was cleared for walkers, so we were unable to check communications over the full planned route. Other goals of this event were fulfilled.

12. What went well
    • Predetermined staging areas along the route were are able to serve their intended purpose when used with the portable repeater at a new location this year.

      Team members adapted quickly to the changes in the route and in our lack of participation from members who were unable to participate due to the storm, and the event went smoothly for us.

      The March of Dimes chairperson was very pleased with our participation and service.

13. Areas needing improvement
    • This was our first check of Emergency Response Kits, and several members were found not to have all the required items. The check also brought out the need for a map of Canon City with locations for the PD, SO, hospital and other important sites shown. This should also be posted on our district's Website for other districts to use when providing mutual aid.

14. Lessons learned
    • The walk route runs through both the Canon City PD and Fremont County SO jurisdictions, not just PD as first thought.

      A heavy April snowfall can curtail the number of committed walkers, but the event will not be postponed by March of Dimes headquarters.

      Although members brought everything they needed to complete this small assignment, Emergency Response Kits should be checked at each event in which we participate.

15. Additional training needed
    • N/A

16. General comments
    • Planning on the part of the March of Dimes was slightly better than last year, but they didn't know the western trailhead was closed due to construction on the trail. Also, they do not station any of their volunteers at checkpoints. We had to make several minor adjustments to compensate. ARES was well organized and handled these changes without incident.