On Saturday, 6 Apr 2024 The WPA and EPA sections of the ARRL and the American Red Cross conducted the annual WPA Spring SET to test emergency communications in the sections.  Below is a summary of those efforts in Centre and Clearfield Counties.

Report of SET activity Centre County PA 6 Apr 2024 between 09:30 and 12:30

FM Analog on 146.85, W3YA Repeater
14 check ins with Name, Call, County, ability to deploy or operate base, equipment, power, and commitment time.

Winlink Check Ins
11 check ins with similar information, some were duplicates of the analog reports

Western Centre County, Philipsburg Area
Philipsburg Amateur Radio Association conducted a drill of their own design

Total 10 participants:

One EmComm coordinator

Three EmComm station operators
One for VHF repeaters
One for GMRS repeaters
One for Winlink VHF packet and UHF FM VARA

Two home-based station operators
One using VHF repeater
One using Winlink HF FM VARA

Four deployed to field locations
One using VHF mobile
One using Winlink VHF Packet
Two using VHF repeater and GMRS repeaters

Clearfield County (Clearfield does not have an EC)

At 10AM an operational net was held on the W3CPA 147.255 repeater. This repeater is owned and sponsored by the Clearfield County Department of Emergency Services with the Clearfield County Amateur Radio Club as the assigned operator of the repeater. There were 11 stations checking into the net.

Net participating stations with WinLink capabilities were asked to originate a WinLink message to Carmine K3CWP and Brett W3SWL. Carmine is the Centre County ARES/RACES/ACS contact and Brett is the State College region’s American Red Cross contact. Stations were to report their availability, location and operational capabilities. Five stations also sent Winlink messages to Carmine, K3CWP, and Brett, W3SWL, the ARC Liaison.

Thanks to the stations participating and especially the organizers for providing a drill session to test our communications capabilities in emergency and disaster situations.  Also the Red Cross for including amateur radio in their disaster planning.