The annual Blossom Festival Parade in Canon City was a tactical exercise to test members’ operating skills and readiness in a medium-pressure situation lasting for several hours.
The event was initiated with a member sign-in and Emergency Response Kit check. A briefing and assignments were given at 1000 MDT at the D-15 ARES Mobile Command Center at 3rd and Main St. NCS was set up, and the portable simplex repeater belonging to the Royal Gorge Amateur Radio Association was accessed. This repeater was placed on the Sunflower Bank in downtown Canon City. N0CA, an experienced NCS operator, handled NCS operations.
The parade route was along Main St. from 3rd St. to 14th St., with bus staging areas for bands on the south side of Hwy. 50 and other entries staging along 3rd St. on the north side of Main St. Bands were to be bussed from their location south of Hwy. 50 to staging areas on the north side of the highway.
ARES personnel began staging at their assigned positions at 1130 for pre-parade activities. One member was assigned to shadow the parade director, one was assigned to the area where busses staged to load student bands, one to the bus unloading are, one member covered the judging stand, and two members assisted officials in the entry staging areas along 3rd St., and one member was stationed at the First-aid station. One member, located at the end of the parade route, was equipped with a S&R handheld which could contact Canon City Police Department dispatch center in the event professional assistance was needed. NCS was set up in the Mobile Command Center. In the event of repeater or NCS equipment failure, WA0KAQ was also available with a 50-watt back-up mobile station.
The parade began at 0100 and the exercise was terminated at 1530 following a sign-out and debriefing at the ARES mobile Command Center.
6.5 hours
ARES D-15, Fremont and Custer Counties
Canon City Police Department, American Red Cross
We had direct radio contact with Canon City PD Dispatch in the event police or ambulance assistance was needed. Red Cross assisted with medical aid and served as a center for hosting lost children.
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Bill Ewing (EC) WA0KAQ
Don Fuhs (RACES Liaison) KE0CQ
Chuck Ward (Fremont Co. AEC) NC0A
Jim Myers (Fremont Co. OEM Liaison) W0NZ
Walt Wells (Red Cross Liaison) N0RLC
Marvin Pratt (Resource Personnel) KA0SKK
Carlos Neuben (Member) KA0MAK
Derrick Houska (Member) N0TQ
Carol Kendall (Member) N0TIP
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Provide the Blossom Parade Committee with communications between their volunteers at various points in the parade route and staging areas.
Train new personnel who have not participated in tactical exercises and give normally inactive members a chance to participate and improve their skills.
Validate that the portable VHF repeater remains ready for disaster communications as well as for Public Service events.
Determine whether location assignments serve their intended purpose when used with the portable repeater and VHF simplex operation.
Determine whether VHF simplex communication is possible from a handheld radio from the end of the parade route to the Canon City Police Department.
Check members' equipment preparedness by inspecting their Emergency Response Kits.
Yes
Team members worked very well together.
While not fully functional, the new Mobile Command Center worked very well.
In a short debriefing following the event, all members agreed that the exercise went much more smoothly than last year, especially in staging areas north of Main Street. Only a few minor changes were recommended for next year's event.
The Parade Director was very pleased with our participation and service.
Have two outside antennas on the Mobile Command Center for VHF use next year, as we used two frequencies and handled all simplex traffic only with handheld radios this year.
Communications through the repeater were difficult from 1st and Main St.
Although members brought everything they needed to complete this small assignment, some Emergency Response Kits are still lacking required items.
Mobile Command Center may be moved to quieter location away from the parade route.
Since the First Aid Station was set up so close to the end of the parade route, the person normally stationed at the end of the parade route can be eliminated next year.
We may have to put up a portable antenna at 1st and Main St. next year.
No deficiencies were noted.
In a short debriefing following the event, all members agreed that the exercise went much more smoothly than last year, especially in staging areas north of Main Street. Only a few minor changes were recommended for next year's event.