NTS Operations Integrated in Eastern Massachusetts ARES “Summer Strike” Exercise
The following update was included in the August NTS Letter by Phil Temples, K9HI:
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES® conducted a summer exercise on August 2, 2025, called “Summer Strike,” and NTS health and welfare operations were integrated into the plan. According to Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, the exercise, held the same day as a Section-wide exercise in Rhode Island, called for heavy wind and storm surge damage to portions of coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition, western Massachusetts suffered from catastrophic flooding, limiting roadway access to much of the state. The scenario called for simulated shelter openings. The fictional devastating weather conditions compromised much of the state’s telecommunications infrastructure.
The summer ARES® exercise utilized voice nets on 60 and 75 meters. NTS voice traffic nets were also active on VHF repeaters, along with an HF NBEMS net to handle health and welfare radiogram traffic.
Eastern MA Section Nets included:
EM2MTN (Eastern Mass 2 Meter Traffic Net) Voice FM
145.23- PL88.5 Boston
MARIDN (Mass – Rhode Island Digital Net)
Primary: 7042.5 kHz 40m USB THOR22 1500Hz center
Secondary: 3582.5kHz 80m USB THOR22 1500Hz center