AWIN Monthly - February 2024

March 2024

3/20/24 | Issue 28

19 Days & Counting

Do you have your proper ISO 12312-2 safety glasses for viewing the 2024 Solar Eclipse? Learn why they are necessary and more about "Total Solar Eclipse Safety" from NASA.

A Busy Time for AWIN

As part of the AWIN Team covers ESF-2 functions in the State's Emergency Operations Center, the rest of us will troubleshoot and cover other AWIN duties. During the Eclipse and for several days before and after, expect possible delays in some non-emergency AWIN services, including issuing new IDs, making alias changes, and processing AWIN Applications. Our first goal is always the safety and wellbeing of Arkansas' citizens and the many visitors we expect, but we will also strive to maintain routine services as promptly as possible.

Photo above: MiChelle Moore and Michael Hollinger at the ESF-2 station in the EOC.

Update to the Comms CONOPS

The Public Safety Communications Concept of Operations has recently been updated. A few minor changes have been made to planning for interoperability talkgroups and more. The most recent version of the Public Safety Comms CONOPS can always be found on the 2024 Solar Eclipse page of the AWIN website.

ADEM Trainer, John Minard, gave an excellent Zoom presentation of the updated CONOPS on March 14, 2024. PowerPoint slides from this informative webinar can also be found on AWIN's Eclipse page. Thank you, John, for your hard work keeping our community members informed.

Reminder: Do Not Count on the MACs

MAC talkgroups cannot be requested as part of routine communications backup during the week of the eclipse, as all MAC talkgroups will either be predesignated by purpose or kept on reserve by ADEM for critical situations, as described in the Arkansas Multi-Agency or Natural Disaster Interoperability Plan (a.k.a. "Arkansas Storm Plan").

PSAP-to-PSAP communications may access the LAW COMMON talkgroups for the ASP Troop area of the PSAP on the receiving end of the call.

Eclipse Preparation Videos

Communications students at Caddo Hills School have produced a small series of brief and professional quality videos on different topics surrounding preparing yourself for the 2024 Eclipse. These may provide helpful information even for the well-informed.

Perhaps you're already planning to stock up on groceries, but have you considered a plan for checking on elderly or disabled family and friends in the event that cell service is not available?

You've got a plan to avoid traffic at it's heaviest, but have you considered potential changes to trash and recycling pickup schedules?

Kudos to Caddo Communications for their good work! And thank you to Montgomery County Emergency Management for sharing this flyer and link with us. This and more can be found on the Eclipse page of the AWIN website.

Eclipse Communications Resources on the AWIN Web

A new tab has been added to the AWIN web page where public safety communications planning resources will be uploaded. The Eclipse Concept of Operations and Arkansas Storm Plan have been uploaded, as well as John Minard's PowerPoint slides from CONOPS above.

Visit the 2024 Solar Eclipse page of our Website

ARKANSAS WIRELESS INFORMATION NETWORK | [Website]