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Kent County Emergency Services Team
(ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, AUXCOMM)
2025 Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
Saturday, October 4, 2025 – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Operation Assured Contact: Overview
Each year, Amateur Radio operators nationwide take part in the Michigan ARPSC Simulated Emergency Test (SET) — a chance to test our personal skills, equipment, and readiness under realistic conditions.
In Kent County, Michigan, we will be conducting Operation Assured Contact, an exercise simulating an ice storm and infrastructure failure. This will test our ability to maintain critical communications between community partners when normal systems are down. Exercise Objectives
- Establish communications between the Kent County EOC, Salvation Army, Red Cross, and partner radio rooms using several methods and locations.
- Deploy and operate remote and portable stations under field conditions.
- Provide situational reports from multiple sites using voice, digital, GMRS, and Amateur Radio.
- Integrate operators from ARES, GMRS, and the broader community into a unified exercise.
- Practice formal traffic handling by sending, receiving, and logging ICS-213 messages via Winlink.
- Conduct tactical operations, including repeater switching, simplex testing, and multiple communication modes.
Why This Matters
When traditional systems fail, Amateur Radio is often the last line of communication. The SET gives us the opportunity to:
- Deploy quickly in a simulated disaster scenario.
- Demonstrate skills and readiness to local agencies and partners.
- Build a pool of operators interested in supporting emergency communications.
- Identify gaps before a real incident occurs.
- Spot training needs and develop offerings for the community at large.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone curious about emergency communications and willing to learn.
Licensed Amateur Radio Operators of all license classes.
Licensed GMRS Operators.
September 24, 2025 Exercise Message: Early Warning
Sept 24 (Ham Net) – Early Warning
This is an exercise message.
The National Weather Service is tracking a developing system in the Great Lakes region. Long-range models are showing the potential for significant icing conditions across West Michigan in early October. Emergency management is advising partners to check their readiness and ensure communication plans are current.
For more information, visit KCEST.org/set2025 or our Facebook page. Messages will continue to be released on the ham nets and GMRS nets until the event.
This is an exercise message.
September 26, 2025 Exercise Message: Growing Concern
This is an exercise message.
Updated forecasts are increasing confidence that a major ice event may impact multiple counties in West Michigan. Heavy icing could down trees and power lines, leading to extended power and communication outages. Families and responders should begin preparing backup power and alternate communication methods.
More information is available at KCEST.org/exercise or on our Facebook page. Messages will continue to be released on the ham nets and GMRS nets until the event.
This is an exercise message.
October 1, 2025 Exercise Message: Confidence High
This is an exercise message.
The latest briefing warns of catastrophic icing conditions expected late this week. Forecasts now call for widespread ice accumulation up to an inch in parts of West Michigan. Emergency management officials have begun staging crews and are advising residents to prepare for extended power outages and communication disruptions.
More information is available at KCEST.org/exercise or on our Facebook page. Messages will continue to be released on the ham nets and GMRS nets until the event.
This is an exercise message.