Two local emergency operations centres, the CRD EOC (VE7CRD) and Victoria EOC (VE7VEP), participated in an amateur radio & military (RJOC Pacific – Esquimalt & EMBC) interoperability exercise (Sweeper 2018) on Thursday, May 4, 2018. The primary responsibility for the CRD EOC and the Victoria EOC was to relay of verbal messages to Esquimalt and EMBC.
Four clubs (CVARS, Strathcona, Powell River, Oceanside) in the Cowichan Valley also participated in the exercise. They were the primary clubs interfacing with a Canadian Forces aircraft (JTOC Pacific) flying over Texada Island. Messages on amateur radio bands (HF) and a commercial radio band EP1 were sent amongst the participants.
Another example of such a radio amateur & military (Iowa National Guard) interoperability exercises (Exercise Stable Mercury) took place in the USA on April 23-24 using digital modes on 60-metres.
The disaster scenario for the Iowa exercise was a very interesting one: The scenario for the drill was based on an actual severe weather event that occurred 20 years ago, and the April exercise used radar feeds and storm spotter reports taken from the June 29, 1998, Iowa Derecho to inform this training event.
This is a very interesting read and another example how WARA volunteers can help the CRD prepare for emergencies.
In just over one year from now, the Scout camp at Camp Barnard in Sooke will be hosting the Pacific Jamboree (i.e. PJ19), for some 3000 youth aged 11 to 14 years old for 8 days (July 6 -13, 2019). There is also the possibly of us doing it all again in 2020 for SOAR, the Girl Guide’s big Jamboree for some 2800 girls.
