CEWN Caribbean Emergency and Weather Net

 

The Caribbean Emergency & Weather Net   OPERATION PROTOCOL

The CEWN will be guided by its original spirit based on courtesy and respect for each other and voluntary service for the betterment of mankind. The primary function of the CEWN is to provide current meteorological, nautical, volcanic and seismic information (once available) twice daily (10:30 UTC & 22:30 UTC), the net going 'around the clock' when in 'emergency' mode.

All roles in the CEWN are voluntary and within the confines of a "gentleman's agreement" i.e. performing tasks volunteered and giving adequate notification when unable to perform such tasks . Whenever a crisis situation arises warranting the network to go into 'emergency' mode, the Net Manager or in his/her absence the Emergency Coordinator or Net Secretary (in that order) shall activate the net and request 'check-ins' and prepare a roster of net controllers.

These Net Control operators will work for three hour periods during times when large volumes of traffic are being passed, increasing to 4 or 5 hours per shift when traffic has lessened. It is expected that other stations monitoring the 'working frequency' will assist in relaying messages if band conditions, including QSB, QRM and QRN makes it difficult for the Net Control station to copy such traffic. It is advisable to have two or three persons available to assist with the necessary phone calls while the Net Control operator handles the inbound and out going traffic.

A separate message form must be used for each new message.

A debriefing with all network participants who took part in the exercise must be held within one week from the cessation of the 'emergency' mode. The emphasis will be to recognize the good practices and identify areas of the operation requiring correction. It is very important to review and update procedures. It must be noted that during the hurricane season as one storm has gone another is in the making, as a result we must continue to improve our skills and practices for handling communication traffic under stress.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

At the beginning of each year, and no later than the end of January, the network members will elect a Net Management Committee (NMC). The NMC is made up of a Network Manager, Network Secretary and Emergency Coordinator. A volunteer from each island, preferably the President of that country's ARS will be the contact person between the NMC and Hams in that country.

The roster of daily net controllers is organized by any member of the NMC or other network member who so desires with the consent of the NMC. Under normal circumstances net control operators volunteer their services for a particular day and time. Stations providing official WX reports will liaise with the operator coordinating the roster. As is the established protocol, should the assigned net controller not be in a position to take up the net at the scheduled time, ANY station who so desires should start the net with the established preamble and network practices, taking 'check ins' from North to South in the morning and from South to North in the evening.

The CEWN expects that courtesy and respect, the hallmark of a good net control station, will be the acceptable standard to be followed.

 

last updated July 27, 2005 by J79DL with input from J88CD and J79BB/J69BB Rosemond Clery email j69bb@hotmail.com ---

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