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Florida Statewide Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
April 12, 2025
EXERCISE COMPETED
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I want to thank all those who participated in the April 12th Florida statewide Simulated Emergency Test. The exercise was indeed challenging. It afforded us the opportunity to see just how useful and effective amateur radio can be in times of disaster and when normal means of everyday communications are interrupted.
This exercise tested our ability to "adapt and overcome" unexpected and changing conditions. The exercise required collaboration between ARES, RACES, CERT and SKYWARN. It tested our equipment and effective operating range. It tested our abilities as emergency communicators.
My preliminary assessment is that locally the exercise went very well. I want to especially thank Gene King, our Planning Section Chief, who spent numerous hours planning the ARES side of this exercise. I also want to thank the Sumter County Director of Emergency Management, Dave Casto, for supporting the exercise, and the Team Leaders from RACES, CERT and SKYWARN for their collaboration.
Click here to view the After Action Report. Again, thank you!
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Sincerely,
Mark Newby, KX4LEO
Emergency Coordinator
Sumter County ARES