This week we’re deviating from our normal exercise schedule. Instead of Wednesday this week’s exercise will be for Thursday. This will allow each participant to submit their DYFI Report in a real time (your schedule permitting) along with many other agencies.

 

If you connect to a WINLINK HF RMS to relay your messages they could be busy. Please check before transmitting and be courteous to other operators. 

 

Overview:

Purpose: This exercise is designed around the International Shakeout Day, which is always the third Thursday in October. For 2025 that is 10/16/2025. The purpose is to familiarize users with the USGS event and the built-in “Did You Feel It” (DYFI) form in Winlink. 

The basic exercise scenario is a major earthquake that occurs near your location at 10:16 AM local time on Thursday, October 16, 2025. 

In this scenario, you definitely feel the earthquake and after taking proper safety precautions (Drop, Cover, and Hold) and checking on the safety of your family and structure, you then report what you’ve (virtually) experienced using the DYFI form. 

Objectives: 

  • Use Winlink Express to create and send a “USGS DYFI.txt” form 
  • Participate in the 2025 Shakeout Event as part of a joint exercise collaboration with the ARES LAX Northeast District and the Winlink Development Team. 
  • Create a Winlink “Did You Feel It” (DYFI) message. You will be describing a fictitious, major earthquake that occurred at 10:16 AM local time. You will want your responses to describe an earthquake intensity of at least V (5), so be extravagant with your damage reports! 
  • Send the message to: dyfi_reports_automated@usgs.gov and CC: SHAKEOUT and TNWLNET.

 

This event is generalized. Each operators event magnitude and damages are similar. If such an event occurred anywhere within or near our state many of the responses would be similar. 

 

Keep in mind this is an “EXERCISE“. Use your knowledge, training and imagination when creating reports to mimic a real situation as closely as possible. 

 

Send all CC and Forwarded emails to the tactical address’s indicated unless otherwise instructed. See the General Guidelines. 

 

The EVENT Date/Time is: 10/16/2025 10:16 CDT

 

You may participate in this exercise any time on Thursday. Just be certain the event date and time are listed as 10/16/2025 10:16 on the form.

 

(If you’re unable to complete all of the following assignments, please submit those you can. During an emergency some information is better than no information). 

 

EXERCISE INSTRUCTIONS

***The attachments below are for use as a guide and instructional aid along with a sample form for completing your DYFI form.

*** Remember the event is set for October 16, 2024 at 10:16 AM. Send your DYFI form to the pre-loaded USGS address and CC a copy to “SHAKEOUT and TNWLNET“.

***If you’re unable to participate on the above date, send your DYFI form  to only  “TNWLNET”  (remove the USGS auto address) anytime before the weekly TN Winlink Training Net cutoff at 2359Hrs on Thursday.

***Exercises forms other than the DYFI form may be submitted anytime during the normal exercise period.  Please send the DYFI form to the USGS only on Thursday if possible. 

 

***If any of the requested forms have the availability to be marked as an exercise, please do so, if not please write “This is a Drill ” either in the comments section or the email Subject line.

 

 

General Guidelines: 

 

Each Winlink operator is asked to:  (Use RF on Packet, VaraFM, Mesh if available), HF if it’s not  or (Telnet if RF is not available).

 

1) Send a “DYFI” form to the USGS with the simulated exercise details that you think should pertain to your area. 

1a) Be certain it’s posted as an “EXERCISE“. (DO NOT CHECK “REAL EVENT”). Send using Winlink Express or similar program, not the USGS website. This form is automatically addressed to the USGS, so accuracy is important. 

1b) Optional Exercise ID is “SHAKEOUT“. 

1c) The simulated Date and Time of the  earthquake event is “10/16/2024” at “10:16” regardless of what time the form is created or sent. 

1d) In the comments section add: “TN Winlink Net, Organized Exercise, (your mode), (your band),”.

1e) Add a “CC” to “SHAKEOUT;TNWLNET“. (If you are participating with other groups also add them)

Complete the remainder of the form as appropriate. (See Attached DYFI Form Tutorial) 

(NOTE: Answer the questions to indicate a Mercalli Intensity of V or higher, i.e. indicate a moderate to

extreme earthquake).

 

Send the following forms or info ONLY to “TNEMCOMM”

 

2)  Send a “Winlink Check-in” form sent to “TNEMCOMM” stating you are on stand-by for emergency traffic and that This is an Exercise. Use the Setup button to label the page title “TWN 2025 SHAKEOUT EXERCISE”. 

 

3) Send a “Field Situation Report ” to “TNEMCOMM“. Task# SOE251016

Name the page title “TWN 2025 SHAKEOUT EXERCISE”. In the comments box add “This is an Exercise”. In the POC box enter your Callsign, First Name, and a means of making contact with you.  i.e. Phone number, Email address or Street address. (These can be fictitious for the exercise). Also add “TWN 2025 SHAKEOUT EXERCISE and your sending mode” in the comments section. 

 

4) Send out a POSITION report, then request a “W2LK_NEARBY” report. Use this to determine area contacts for assisting with message relays if needed. Forward “without change” a full copy of your “NEARBY” report to “TNEMCOMM“. 

 

5)  Send a “Winlink Check-out” form sent to “TNEMCOMM” stating your stand-by status if emergency traffic occurs and that “This is an Exercise”. Use the Setup button to label the page title “TWN 2025 SHAKEOUT EXERCISE”. 

 

Additional Information to consider:

During a disaster the first priority is to establish the well being of your loved ones. It is extremely difficult to properly function as a first responder to help others if your are concerned about the safety or well-being of family or friends.

 

Be Prepared: 

After you have completed the above reports don’t forget to verify that your off-the-grid backup system will probably function for only an extended period of time. Be sure to have paper and pen handy for use and then check your local repeaters and simplex contacts for availability. Once you establish who and where you can make contact, you should then be capable of relaying emergency traffic.

 

Have fun,