Southwest Florida Tech Net
Southwest Florida Watch Net - www.SWFLTech.Net
Our Purpose is to Establish Continuous Communications with Radio Amateurs Before, During, and After Local or Regional Actual or Forecast Events of Magnitude, not relay information to the ARES. We Will Gather Skywarn Reports and Pass Them Along through the WX4E / CCFLARES and NI4CE SkyWarn Nets or Directly by Email or Winlink if Available to NOAA Ruskin.
Further we aim to Facilitate Communications between Radio Amateurs and other Cut Off Individuals to Points Outside the Affected Area using various Means Including HF Winlink, HF Digital, and HF Voice. Our Operations will Always take Place Outside any Frequencies or Repeater Pairs being Utilized or on Standby for Use By any Local Government, ARES Team, or Emergency Management for Any Operations.
Purpose
*To Prepare for a Disaster, Weather Calamity, or Civil Unrest through Participation and Training
*To Provide Pre Storm Information and Discussion in a Radio Net format
*To Test and Ensure Readiness of Communications Equipment Before The Storm Arrives
*To Monitor 2Meter Call and an Operating Repeater to provide Local Information as Requested
*To Maintain a Watch Net as the Storm Approaches or Event Unfolds
*To Monitor and Maintain an “On Demand Net” During the duration of any Calamity or Event affecting SWFL
*To Quickly Establish a Full Range of Communications Methods following the Storm
*Quickly began to relay information as requested to Points Outside the Affected Area.
*Assist Radio Amateurs with Connections, Relays or Assistance as requested when able
Basic Operation
The SWFL Watch Net will Meet, Train, Plan, and Practice for Operations Before, During and After Events of Magnitude. When an Event or Storm of Magnitude is Forecast for our area or Unfolds without Warning, The SWFL Watch Net will Active and Begin an On Demand Information and Welfare Net.
When Is The Net Activated
Anytime a Storm or Potential Disaster Threatens Our Area. Generally Speaking the net will activate hours before the onset of Tropical Storm Force Winds. For Suddenly Occurring Events and Severe Weather the Net will be activated as soon as the need is recognized and the system can be activated. The Net will Close when the Threat is gone and it is Established that Power, Cell Phone, and Internet are available in the area and no further calls for assistance are being received.
Pre-Storm Operation
This applies primarily to Hurricanes or other storms or Camilities where Advanced Warning is Possible. Prior to the Arrival of Storm Force Winds the On Demand Net will Start on the Designated Repeater Pair. We will take checkins and begin a list of folks that will be riding out the storm with us on the air. After Checkins we will pass available Storm Information from NOAA and Local Meteorologists. We will also take questions and requests for relays. We will also ask if there is anyone you are keeping in contact with that we can’t hear.
Storm Operation
During Storm Conditions the On Demand Net will Remain Active asking for Checkins or any Emergency Traffic at 15 to 30 minute Intervals. The Net Controller will provide Hourly Updates to Net Participants as they are sent from NOAA, State and Local Emergency Management, and Local Meteorologists. Any Emergency Traffic or Requests for Emergency Assistance will be Relayed to the EOC if Direct Communication is Not Possible. It is recommended that you call your Counties ARES / DEM on the Frequencies they have Established and use our Net as a Last Resort. We love to help, but this is not our Primary Purpose, and it is theirs. On The Spot Weather Reports, Damage Reports, and Condition Reports will be taken as offered by Net Participants. We will run a Roll Call Hourly to see who we can still make contact with.
Post Storm Operation
Following the Event we will Stay Active as long as the Need Persists. If Cell Service is Down and we are Still Up, we will Continue to Operate 24/7 as we are Able to get Health and Welfare Messages out of the Affected Area. We can help coordinate assistance between Hams and Facilitate Information on Local Information, Local Frequencies, and Local Directions to Any Hams that need it.
NOTE: This is NOT ARES or RACES. We work Alongside and Separate achieving different goals and objectives. ARES and Other Official and Sanctioned Communications Programs are Always Respected and we will Relay Information to these Systems only when Radio Amateurs are Unable to Contact them Directly.
Operating Frequencies 444.775+ 136.5
www.SWFLTech.Net
