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On Friday, March 2nd, because of the heavy rains, road flooding, and potential for catastrophic failure of two bridges and a small dam across Latimer Brook, the Town of East Lyme issued a mandatory evacuation order this afternoon for residents on the East side of Route 161 South of Silver Falls Pond.

ARES members in Region 4 were activated at the request of the Emergency Management Director for the Town of East Lyme. The ARC shelter at the East Lyme Senior Center was staffed by Dave W1RED and Nancy N1QKY. The East Lyme EOC operators were Bill 1GTT and Wayne N1CLV. Jim KB1KCA and Ron K1VSC were on standby to cover the shelter for the overnight hours, if needed. Mike KB1HHN staffed the Montville EOC during the evening, with Emil KB1KMW as backup.

At 2005 the Town of East Lyme rescinded the mandatory evacuation order and allowed

residents to return to their homes. The ARC-staffed shelter at the East Lyme SeniorCenter topped out at about 39 evacuees and was subsequently closed.

Overall the activation ran very smoothly! We were highly praised to the First Selectman by the Emergency Management Director for our quick and professional response. Thanx to all who supported this outstanding effort!

73, Wayne, N1CLV, DEC CT ARES Region 4

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Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department's year-old experiment with Fire Corps development proved invaluable in mid-May when a line of severe thunderstorms swept the town dropping trees and power lines in over 80 locations.

Ham radio operators- all members of the combined department's Fire Corps program - helped locate stranded school buses and set up command and control for the department's Fire Police Unit when communications traffic badly overloaded the shared fire and public works highway frequency. At one point, over 80 percent of the town's residents were without power. That didn't stop the Fire Corps Ham communicators who ran their radios by battery power and generators, and in mobile units.

Chief Heather Burford, who initiated the Fire Corps program when she took command of the department in April 2006, has sponsored broad training for the volunteer communicators and used their services during POD exercises for pandemic flu and at large public gatherings that require ICS-type management.

"Most of our Fire Corps communicators have received training through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)," says Chief Burford. As trained, volunteer emergency communicators, they are knowledgeable and able to use any number of communications methods and equipment. This gives them the ability to operate under all types of unusual emergency situations."

Locally, the Ridgefield Fire Corp communicators call themselves "R-COMM" and receive training in hazardous materials recognition and fire ground safety from professional department training personnel. In turn, R-COMM members have trained several sworn members of the RFD leading to their FCC Technician Class licenses. Fire Corps R-COMM members also manage and staff the town's EOC ESF-2 services.

RFD's Fire Corps also includes volunteers in other trained skills who provide a wide range of services, including such things as making daily checks on seniors living alone, writing grants, and photographing fire/rescue scenes. Currently the department is developing a Fire Corps canteen/rehabilitation unit to help out at emergency scenes and at the EOC. Additionally, a CERT will also be a part of the FEMA-sponsored Fire Corps program.

"The Fire Corps has been a tremendous success for us," says Chief Burford. When questioned about integrating "civilian" personnel into a combined department comprising "sworn" career and volunteer fire fighters, Chief Burford said there were no significant problems. "It was simply a matter of letting everyone know what's going on."

Richard Aarons, W1RNA, Town of Ridgefield, Emergency Communications Coordinator