FUROR BOREALIS

The Ohio State Defense Force Primary-Alternate-Contingency-Emergency Information Network (OPIN) was ACTIVE for the 24-26 January 2026 severe winter storm event.

Mission

OPIN network operators to Be Prepared To (BPT) provide communication circuits for agencies of and within the State of Ohio during the 24-26 January 2026 severe winter storm to ensure data exchange capability in the event of loss of primary and alternate communication services.

Action

OPIN was continuously active during the operating period, featuring

• Twice-hourly staging of weather information products for Ohio from each of the five National Weather Service Forecast Offices covering the state,

• Preparation of weather alert products for authenticated radio relay at the top of each minute,

• Fetching of incoming messages to OPIN via Winlink in six minute windows,

• Fourteen scheduled manual HF radio nets

  • HF net operation: Over 13 hours

  • Unique stations: 21

  • Operator-hours: 115

  • Message relays: 284

    • Precedence immediate: 8

    • Precedence priority: 150

    • Precedence routine: 126

Before onset of the storm, service members were issued travel orders, Meigs County EMA sent an ICS 213RR Resource Request for HF Radio Communications Support Team, and the system was placed into ACTIVE state, with the Activation Notice FUROR BOREALIS issuing requests and instructions for conduct of operations.

Service members coordinated AUXC-qualified operators and other volunteers for operation, collected and compiled reports of ground truth information from the field as well as HF network operations.

Thank You!

Thanks to the operators of the following stations in the Amateur Radio Service for their support in this real-world event. Your time, skill, and service make for greater security and resilience of our communities and the State of Ohio.

AD8CM K8BCI K8ZD KB8JOE KD8TTE KE2I KE8FMJ KE8NHT KE8TEY KE8UUK KF8ATJ N2LC N2QFD N8ADO N8KTM N8TAG N8VJF W8KVK W8OMR WD8SDH

Contact

For more information about the Ohio State Defense Force Communications-Electronics (CE) Program, the Auxiliary Communicator (AUXC) training and qualification program, or FUROR BOREALIS, contact the CE Program Manager,

C. M. Curtin
Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Ohio), State Defense Force
Charles.Curtin@SDF.Ohio.gov