Emergency Services

Rochester Amateur Radio Club (RARC) members are participants in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) to provide communications support during both real and simulated emergencies in Olmsted county and throughout southeast Minnesota.

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Olmsted County ARES Organization

The Olmsted county ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) organization provides emergency communications for real and simulated emergency events in southeast Minnesota. The Olmsted county ARES organization provides emergency communications support for Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Deparment, Olmsted County Emergency Management Office, and the American Red Cross.


Bob Wiles ABØBW is the Olmsted county ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC). Four Olmsted county Assistant Emergency Coordinators (AECs) provide specific ARES operating specialties.

Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) ARES Operating Specialties
David, WØTMP Liaison to the MED-Com - headed by John NØHZN
Bill, NØNUV Liaison to Schaeffer Academy
Dave, KØVH Liaison to IBM club
Eric, KFØS Liaison to IBM club

Active ARES members are amateur radio operators who have completed a RARC ARES registration form. To become an active ARES member, fill out and submit the ARES Registration Form. Participation in ARES activities and nets determines the registered member's position on the ARES A or B teams. All RARC club members are associate members of the Olmsted county ARES organization.

All active ARES memebers are encouraged to purchase an ARES vest. If you need an ARES vest or would like to become an active ARES member, please contact Bob ABØBW.
ARES Vest

Olmsted county ARES volunteers are available to provide communications support on request by contacting either EC Bob Wiles ABØBW or one of the AECs listed above. Please contact the following for additional Minnesota ARES and Olmsted county emergency management information:

  • Skip Jackson KSØJ, Minnesota Section Manager (SM)
  • Frank Karhaushas, N1UW, Minnesota Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
  • open                 Wabasha County Emergency Coordinator (EC)
  • open                  Minnesota Southeast District Emergency Coordinator (DEC).
  • Terry Waletzki, Olmsted County Emergency Manager
  • Jon Turk, Rochester Emergency Manager

ARES and related information links:

Olmsted County Emergency Services Nets

An ARES net is activated whenever threatening weather or other situations warrant as determined by the National Weather Service office in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, or the Olmsted County Emergency Operations Center located at the Rochester airport. ARES nets are directed nets and all communications is controlled by the net control station (NCS) using a standard set of net operation procedures. Contact Bob Wiles ABØBW to become a ARES net control station operator.

The Olmsted county ARES net uses the WØMXW 146.820 repeater for emergency event activation and information. A CTCSS tone of 136.5 Hz is transmitted on the repeater to notify ARES members during overnight hours. The Olmsted County Emergency Management repeater WØEAS 147.255 (PL tone 100.0 Hz) is the backup for the 146.820 repeater and is also available to provide additional ARES communications.

During SKYWARN severe weather operations, the WØEAS 147.255 (PL 100.0 Hz) repeater is used for event activation and information. The WØMXW 146.820 repeater provides communications backup.

An ARES information and training net is held on Sunday evenings at 9:00 PM local time on the WØMXW 146.820 repeater. All registered ARES members are required to check into the weekly training net. Any amateur radio operator in the Olmsted county area is also invited to check into the net.

ARES net information links:

The Olmsted RACES/SKYWARN net is held on Monday evenings at 9:00 PM local time from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The net meets on the WØEAS 147.255 (PL tone 100.0 Hz) repeater. Items related to emergency communications and SKYWARN are highlights of the net. All amateur radio operators are welcome to check into the net. Comments and discussion suggestions should be sent to Steve, WØSTV.

Olmsted County ARES Frequency List

VHF
Channel Freg Name Tone Display Xband
1 147.585 Apha   ALP V  
2 147.525 Bravo   BRA V  
3 147.495 Charlie   CHA V  
4 146.535 Delta   DEL V  
5 146.475 Echo   ECH V  
6 146.565 Foxtrot   FOX V  
7 146.575 Golf   GOL V  
8 146.820 82 100 146.820 GOL U
9 146.625 625 100 146.625 FOX U
10 147.255 255 100 SkyWarn ECH U
UHF
Channel Freg Name Tone Display Xband
1 440.975 Alpha   ALP U  
2 440.925 Bravo   BRA U  
3 440.875 Charlie   CHA U  
4 440.825 Delta   DEL U  
5 440.775 Echo   ECH U  
6 440.725 Foxtrot   FOX U  
7 440.675 Golf   GOL U  
8 443.835 Roch 440 71.9 443.835 ECH V
Updated  10/28/2008 ABØBW

SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotting

Severe weather storm spotting and reporting in Olmsted county is coordinated by the Olmsted County Emergency Management Office. The Olmsted County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located at the Rochester airport, is managed by Joe Loftus, and coordinates spotter activity and reporting for Olmsted and six other counties in southeast Minnesota.

A SKYWARN weather net is activated when a potential for sever weather is determined by the National Weather Service (NWS) in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Olmsted Office of Emergency Operations Center. The WØEAS 147.255 (PL tone 100.0 Hz) repeater is used for SKYWARN nets, with the WØMXW 146.820 repeater providing backup communications. A SKYWARN net, when initiated by the EOC, may be operated from any SKYWARN trained NCS location until the EOC net control station is activated. Mobile radios are mandatory outside the Rochester city limits and should always be operating on high power.

A county grid map (pdf) or county grid map (jpg) is required to provide spotter locations for severe weather reports. SKYWARN spotters should keep safety in mind when tracking severe weather and always leave an escape route. Never obstruct traffic, park only where it is safe, be visible, and use vehicle hazard lights or other warning lights when parked. Use SKYWARN signs to identify vehicles and do not park on private property. SKYWARN spotters are required to have attended one National Weather Service (NWS) training class, sponsored and coordinated by Olmsted County Emergency Management Office, every two years. All SKYWARN mobile spotters must be 18 years of age or older.

SKYWARN, weather and climate information information links:

Olmsted County SKYWARN Resource

NWS La Crosse Severe Weather Spotter Resources

Minnesota

National Weather Service

Severe Weather Information
Last update: March 8, 2010