This is an old revision of the document!
Members of W7VMI participate in a number of Amateur related Emergency preparedness activities including search and rescue and communications related activities.
We are lucky to have a strong partnership with Vashon Fire and Rescue and VashonBePrepared .
We maintain a radio room at the Vashon EOC inside the Main Firestation, Station 55, located at 10020 SW BANK RD. We conduct periodic drills in the radio room in an effort to stay prepared in the event of a real emergency. We have HF/UHF/VHF/CB/Marine cability as well as Winlink and Internet from this location. The site is backed by a generator.
W7VMI maintains a Communications trailer. This trailer is has been deployed during search and rescue operations on Vashon Island and during field day, “Heart of the Sound” and various community events. We've put a lot of work into the trailer in the last 5 years or so.
Read about the trailer here w7VMI trailer article in PDF format
We use the Winlink system to communicate via email. The user interface is very similar to standard email clients. The system connects to local and remote Winlink nodes via HF/VHF/UHF around the region and around the world. Email is especially powerful in an emergency when we may need to send long messages. Having the ability to do this without a local or regional Internet connection is a great tool in our emergency preparedness toolbox. Digital modes Digital Plan Emergency Prep Digital Plan
How to user RMS Express to send email over Ham Radio RMS Express howto in PDF format
How to use RMS express from W7MVI LACC radio caches in pdf format